Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration for Good Friday

Tell Me Dear Tree

 Tell me dear tree on which my Lord, my blessed Lord did hang,

How could you hold the spotless Lamb, be party with the gang?

That cheerless day, that shadowy hour, my blessed Savior died,

to free my soul for heavenly things, O tree, you must have cried.

Yes all your fibers must have screamed for you one time did live

a green and growing tree, alive, but your whole self did give

to be the instrument of death, to be the very tree

to be the place for Christ to die upon dark Calvary

Wait! Do I hear a shout of joy from somewhere deep within?

Your duty done; the battle won so all the world might win.

How beautiful your love for Him. He sewed it long ago

You bore the weight. You took the stain, and now the world must know

The tree of death felt every wound, felt all the pain and loss.

She loved her maker through it all, was glad to be His cross.

Teach me dear tree on which my Lord, My precious Lord did die

To treasure grueling duties done so Christ is lifted high

 You can sing this poem to tunes with this meter: 86.86 double (CMD)

Suggested tune: KINGSFOLD

Tell Me Dear Tree © 1992 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com

O God, whose beloved son gave up his life on the cross that we might have life and have it abundantly; we who have known but refused his salvation appeal to thy mercy and seek thy help. Pardon and deliver us, we beseech thee, from tempers and ambitions that make for destruction and death, from all greed of gain, all lust for power, all pride of race or class, all contempt of others, all willingness to reap an advantage at the expense of the poor and the unprotected.

Shame and arrest us by the pain of those who have been wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. And direct our hearts to the steadfastness of Christ, who consented to suffer at the hands of others but never to inflict suffering upon any man or woman or little child. Give us grace to follow the example of  his great devotion, and bring us to his trust and confidence in thee, that so we may be no longer the agents of death but of life and joy and peace, through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Ernest Fremont Tittle