And a cross for a kiss...
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I led you forth from the land of Egypt
And delivered you by the waters of baptism,
But you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I led you through the desert forty years,
And fed you with manna:
I brought you through tribulation and penitence,
And gave you my body, the bread of heaven,
But you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I planted you, my chosen and fairest vineyard,
I made you the branches of my vine;
But when I was thirsty, you gave me vinegar to drink
And pierced with a spear the side of your Savior,
And you prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I went before you in a pillar of cloud,
And you have led me to the judgment hall of Pilate.
I scourged your enemies and brought you to the land of freedom,
But you have scourged, mocked, and beaten me.
I gave you the water of salvation from the rock,
But you have given me gall and left me to thirst,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I gave you a royal scepter,
And bestowed the keys to the kingdom,
But you have given me a crown of thorns.
I raised you on high with great power,
But you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
My peace I gave, which the world cannot give,
And washed your feet as a sign of my love,
But you drew the sword to strike in my name
And seek high places in my kingdom.
I offered you my body and blood,
But you scatter and deny and abandon me,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I sent the Spirit of truth to guide you,
And you close your hearts to the Counselor.
I pray that all may be one in the Father and me,
But you continue to quarrel and divide.
I call you to go and bring forth fruit,
But you cast lots for my clothing,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I grafted you into the tree of my chosen Israel,
And you turned on them with persecution and mass murder.
I made you joint heirs with them of my covenants
But you made them scapegoats for your own guilt,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters;
I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
Naked and you did not clothe me,
Sick and in prison and you did not visit me,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I led you forth from the land of Egypt
And delivered you by the waters of baptism,
But you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I led you through the desert forty years,
And fed you with manna:
I brought you through tribulation and penitence,
And gave you my body, the bread of heaven,
But you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I planted you, my chosen and fairest vineyard,
I made you the branches of my vine;
But when I was thirsty, you gave me vinegar to drink
And pierced with a spear the side of your Savior,
And you prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I went before you in a pillar of cloud,
And you have led me to the judgment hall of Pilate.
I scourged your enemies and brought you to the land of freedom,
But you have scourged, mocked, and beaten me.
I gave you the water of salvation from the rock,
But you have given me gall and left me to thirst,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I gave you a royal scepter,
And bestowed the keys to the kingdom,
But you have given me a crown of thorns.
I raised you on high with great power,
But you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
My peace I gave, which the world cannot give,
And washed your feet as a sign of my love,
But you drew the sword to strike in my name
And seek high places in my kingdom.
I offered you my body and blood,
But you scatter and deny and abandon me,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I sent the Spirit of truth to guide you,
And you close your hearts to the Counselor.
I pray that all may be one in the Father and me,
But you continue to quarrel and divide.
I call you to go and bring forth fruit,
But you cast lots for my clothing,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I grafted you into the tree of my chosen Israel,
And you turned on them with persecution and mass murder.
I made you joint heirs with them of my covenants
But you made them scapegoats for your own guilt,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.
O my people, O my church,
What more could I have done for you
That I have not done?
Answer me.
I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters;
I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
Naked and you did not clothe me,
Sick and in prison and you did not visit me,
And you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God,
Holy and mighty and immortal
Have mercy upon us.