*Opening Hymn ‘O Sacred Head, Now Wounded’ UMH#286
Opening Prayer:
Old Testament Isaiah 53 1-12
New Testament 1 Corinthians 1 18-31
12:25 AM The First Word: Bro. Sunil Robert Vuppula
“ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do ”
When they came to the place called "The Skull", they nailed Jesus to the cross there, and the two criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said "Forgive them, Father! They do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:33-34
12:45 PM Special Song: 'Jesus Messiah' UECF Choir
The Second Word: Rev. David C. Mertz
“Verily, I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with me in Paradise”
One of the criminals hanging there threw insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The other one, however, rebuked him, saying: “Don’t you fear God? Here we are all under the same sentence. Ours, however, is only
right, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!” Jesus said to him, “I tell you this: Today you will be in Paradise with me.” Luke 23:39-43
01:05 PM Special Song: ‘Paapaala Bhaarambu Mosi' UECF Choir
The Third Word: Rev. Dr. Susan Iliff
“Woman, Behold thy Son! … Behold, thy Mother!”
Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that time the disciple took her to live in his home. John 19:25-27
01:25 PM Special Song: 'Naligaava Naakai Yesu' UECF Choir
The Fourth Word: Bro. Josiah Srigiri
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Elo-i, elo-i, lama sabach-thani?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Mark 15:33-34
Offertory
01:45 PM Special Song: Mrs. Lavanya Devi
Offertory Prayer:
The Fifth Word: Bro. Charles Praveen
"I thirst."
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture),
“I Thirst.” John 19:28
02:15 PM Special Song: Mrs. Sunitha Mare &
Bro. Samuel Chilaka
The Sixth Word: Bro. Nagesh Kola
“It is finished”
A bowl was there, full of cheap wine mixed with vinegar, so a sponge was soaked in it, put on stalk of hyssop and lifted up to his lips. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished"; John 19:29-30
02:35 PM Special Song: Mrs. Kavitha Shaik &
Bro. Charles Praveen
The Seventh Word: Rev. Dr. David Ravinder
“Father into thy hands I commend my spirit”
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46
02:55 PM *Closing Hymn: ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’ UMH#298
*Closing Prayer & Benediction: Rev. Dr. David Ravinder
*Please stand up, if you are able
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SPEAKERS:
Bro. Sunil Robert Vuppula is a communicator with 20 years of experience globally. As a lay leader he has served on the boards and faculty of mission organizations like RZIM, Haggai Institute and Youth for Christ. He was the youngest faculty member at Haggai and taught Communications and Youth Culture at their centers in Maui and Singapore. His interests include Music, Writing and Travel. He lives in Edison with Prafulla, Aman and Sahil.
The Rev. David C. Mertz is senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, Westfield. An ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, Rev. Mertz has served churches in Minnesota, Texas, and New Jersey. Having completed his M.Div. at Union Theological Seminary in New York, Rev. Mertz is completing a D.Min. in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He has been at FUMC Westfield for four years. His wife, Nancy J. Duff, is the Stephen Colwell Associate Professor of Theological Ethics at Princeton Theological Seminary. They have two grown children, McKinley and Adam.
Rev. Dr. Susan Iliff is Associate Pastor of the Westfield United Methodist Church in Westfield, NJ. She is a 2010 graduate of Drew University’s Theological School and is a commissioned deacon in the Greater NJ Annual Conference. Rev. Iliff has served as a member of the Westfield UMC staff since 2009. She is currently also appointed to Overlook Medical Center, in Summit, NJ, serving in the Pastoral Care Department.
Bro. Josiah Srigiri has served both in Elmwood Park Bible Chapel and UECF for few years in various leadership positions and actively involved in ministries such as Bible Study, Nursing Home, Jail Outreach, Music ministry and Sunday School and actively involved in other Christian Organizations. He also served as a faculty both in India and USA teaching Integrity and Apologetics in Haggai leadership Seminars. He has a passion for soul winning. He has migrated to USA in 1999 after working as a Scientist at National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad for more than 20 years. Since 1999 he has been working as an IT professional. He lives in Elmwood Park with his wife Satya and children Joash and Sharon.
Bro. Charles Praveen is an IT Consultant, came to know the Lord at an age of 15 by experiencing God's love. God used him for his glory as a lay young leader among youth through Evangelical Union and IEM ministries. While studying, he was used by Lord in sub-urban areas of Vijayawada and Guntur mostly among non-Christians. He has served as an Interpreter/Translator and shared the Word of God in India, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. His wife Pavithra works at Deloitte and they have two children, Immanuel and Tabita.
Bro. Nagesh Kola comes from originally a staunch Hindu family whom God in his mercy has saved during his early days of school. Since then he has been enjoying the relationship with Jesus over the high and low experiences of life with a desire to be a constant testimony for HIM. Currently Nagesh lives with his wife Pallavi and 4yr old son Sean in Piscataway, NJ and is working as an IT Professional in Metlife Morristown, NJ.
Rev. Dr. David K. Ravinder is the Senior Pastor of the Whitehouse United Methodist Church in Whitehouse, NJ. He is an ordained Elder in the Greater NJ Annual Conference. Following the completion of his Ph.D from Princeton Seminary, Dr. Ravinder started his pastoral ministry in 1985 having served churches in Warren, Bridgewater, Berkeley Heights, Roselle Park and Whitehouse UMC. Since 1997 he has served as the Hon. Senior Pastor of the United Evangelical Christian Fellowship (UECF). He has taught courses in Counseling in India, Singapore and USA.