The Passion of Bruce Springsteen is a liturgy inspired by The Boss’ music. It was first used on April 21, 2013 at Church of the Redeemer in Toronto, Ontario and written by Brian Walsh.
As with all our resources, if you choose to use this elsewhere, please credit the original author, and provide a link to its source.
Throughout the liturgy, the words of the leader / celebrant are in plain text, and the words for the congregation are in bold. All songs are meant to be sung together.
Gathering of the Community
(please stand if you are able)
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
May his grace and peace be with you.
May he fill our hearts with joy.
[words of welcome by Celebrant]
Opening Song The River (from the album The River)
I come from down in the valley
where mister when you’re young
They bring you up to do like your daddy done
Me and Mary we met in high school
when she was just seventeen
We’d ride out of this valley down to where the fields were green
We’d go down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Oh down to the river we’d ride
Then I got Mary pregnant
and man that was all she wrote
And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat
We went down to the courthouse
and the judge put it all to rest
No wedding day smiles no walk down the aisle
No flowers no wedding dress
That night we went down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Oh down to the river we did ride
I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain’t been much work on account of the economy
Now all them things that seemed so important
Well mister they vanished right into the air
Now I just act like I don’t remember
Mary acts like she don’t care
But I remember us riding in my brother’s car
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I’d lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take
Now those memories come back to haunt me
they haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true
Or is it something worse
that sends me down to the river
though I know the river is dry
That sends me down to the river tonight
Down to the river
my baby and I
Oh down to the river we ride
Opening Litany
(please stand if you are able)
Who are you?
A thirsty people,
in a parched land.
Then come and drink.
We’ve come down to the river,
though we know the river is dry.
So why are you here?
[silence]
This is a place of prayer,
so what is your prayer?
[silence]
Speak! Damn it!
Is a dream a lie
if it don’t come true?
What do you want?
I want a thousand guitars,
I want pounding drums,
I want a million different voices speaking in tongues.
So you want Springsteen?
You want the Boss?
No, we want to blow away the dreams that tear us apart.
Blow away the dreams that break our hearts.
Blow away the lies that leave us lost and brokenhearted.
Take away the lies and pretension,
and give us the promised land.
For that you will need a story,
for that you will need a song.
(all are seated)
Song: “We are Alive”
(from the album Wrecking Ball)
There is a cross up yonder up on Calvary Hill
There is a slip of blood on a silver knife
There is a graveyard kid down below
Where at night did come to life
And above the stars, they crackle in fire
A dead man’s moon throws seven rings
Well, we put our ears to the cold grave stones
This is the song they’d sing
We are alive
And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark
Our spirits rise to carry the fire and light the spark
To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart
A voice cried out, I was killed in Maryland in 1877
When the railroad workers made their stand
Well, I was killed in 1963 one Sunday morning in Birmingham
Well, I died last year crossing the southern Desert
My children left behind in San Pablo
Well they left our bodies here to rot
Oh please let them know
We are alive
Oh, and though we lie alone here in the dark
Our souls will rise to carry the fire and light the spark
To fight shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart
Let your mind rest easy, sleep well my friend
It’s only our bodies that betray us in the end
I awoke last night in a dark and dreamy deep
From my head to my feet, my body gone stone cold
There were worms crawling all around me
Fingers scratching at an earth black and six foot low
And alone in the blackness of my grave
Alone I’d been left to die
Then I heard voices calling all around me
The earth rose above me, my eyes filled with sky
We are alive
And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark
Our souls and spirits rise
To carry the fire and light the spark
To fight shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart
To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart
We are alive
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the John the Revelator
Gradual Hymn: “My Father’s House”
(from the album Nebraska)
Last night I dreamed that I was a child
out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home
through the forest before the darkness falls
I heard the wind rustling through the trees
and ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin at my heels
I broke through the trees and there in the night
My father’s house stood shining hard and bright
the branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell shaking in his arms
I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again sir tear us from each others hearts
I got dressed and to that house I did ride
from out on the road I could see its windows shining in light
I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
a woman I didn’t recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story and who I’d come for
She said “I’m sorry son but no one by that name lives here anymore”
My father’s house shines hard and bright
it stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling so cold and alone
Shining cross this dark highway where our sins lie un-atoned
The Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to St. John.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of Response: “Hungry Heart”
(from the album The River)
Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack
I went out for a ride and I never went back
Like a river that don’t know where it’s flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
I met her in a Kingstown bar
We fell in love I knew it had to end
We took what we had and we ripped it apart
Now here I am down in Kingstone again
chorus
Everybody needs a place to rest
Everybody wants to have a home
Don’t make no difference what nobody says
Ain’t nobody like to be alone
chorus
Prayers of the People
(please stand if you are able)
In a world of broken dreams,
failed expectations,
and deep, deep longing,
we bring our prayers to you.
(singing)
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody needs a place to rest,
everybody wants to have a home,
and so we pray tonight for the homeless
in our city;
those who live in shelters,
those who live under bridges and in the valley,
those who call this church home five days a week.
And we pray for the homeless around the world;
those displaced by war,
refugees fleeing persecution,
the marginal left to the side by affluence.
In a world of hunger and homelessness we pray.
(singing)
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Ain’t nobody like to be alone,
and so we pray for the lonely,
for the sick, the dying,
those who mourn,
those who can’t find a way back to their father’s house.
[silent and spoken prayers]
We pray for justice in our land and in all lands;
a caring justice in the face of ecological collapse,
a restorative justice in places of violence and war,
a healing justice where deep hurt has been done.
[silent and spoken prayers]
In thanksgiving that we are never alone,
and that great artists give us songs to sing
that express our deepest longings, we sing;
(singing)
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
The Peace
The peace of the Lord
be always with you.
And also with you.
[We pass the peace to each other]
The Celebration of the Eucharist
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Almighty God, good Father to us all,
your face is turned towards your world.
In love you gave us Jesus your Son
to rescue us from sin and death.
Your word goes out to call us home,
to the city where angels
sing your praise.
We join them in heaven’s song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Creator of all, we give you thanks
for every gift that comes
from your hand.
To the darkness Jesus
came as your light.
With signs of faith and words of hope
he touched untouchables with love
and washed the guilty clean.
This is our story.
This is our song.
Hosanna in the highest.
The crowds came out to see your Son,
yet at the end they turned on him.
On the night he was betrayed
he came to table with his friends
to celebrate the freedom
of your people.
This is his story
This is our song.
Hosanna in the highest.
Jesus blessed you for the food:
he took bread, gave you thanks,
broke it and said:
This is my body, given for you all.
Jesus then gave thanks for the wine;
he took the cup, gave it and said:
This is my blood, shed for you all
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in remembrance of me.
This is our story.
This is our song.
Hosanna in the highest.
Therefore, Father,
with this bread and this cup,
we celebrate the cross
on which he died to set us free.
Defying death he rose again
and is alive with you
to plead for us
and all the world.
This is our story.
This is our song.
Hosanna in the highest.
Send your Spirit on us now
that by these gifts we may
feed on Christ
with opened eyes and hearts on fire.
May we and all who share this food
offer ourselves to live for you
and be welcomed at your
homecoming feast,
where all creation worships you,
Creator, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessing and honour
and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.
And now as our Saviour taught us,
let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
In the face of hunger,
you are bread.
In the face of deep thirst,
you are wine.
In the face of tragic endings,
you prepare a banquet for us
in your kingdom.
Happy are those who are called
to the supper of the lamb
These are the gifts of God,
and they are for the people of God
Thanks be to God.
The Communion
Song during Communion: Rocky Ground
(from the album Wrecking Ball)
(I’m a soldier!)
(I’m a soldier!)
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
Rise up shepherd, rise up
Your flock has roamed far from the hills
The stars have faded, the sky is still
The angels are shouting “Glory Hallelujah”
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
Forty days and nights of rain have washed this land
Jesus said the money changers in this temple will not stand
Find your flock, get them to higher ground
Flood waters rising and and the kingdom’s on fire
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
(I’m a soldier!)
Tend to your flock or they will stray
We’ll be called for our service come Judgment Day
Before we cross that river wide
Blood on our hands will come back on us twice
(I’m a soldier!)
Rise up shepherd, rise up
Your flock has roamed far from the hills
Stars have faded, the sky is still
Sun’s in the heavens and a new day’s rising
You use your muscle and your mind and you pray your best
That your best is good enough, the Lord will do the rest
You raise your children and you teach them to walk straight and sure
You pray that hard times, hard times, come no more
You try to sleep, you toss and turn, the bottom’s dropping out
Where you once had faith now there’s only doubt
You pray for guidance, only silence now meets your prayers
The morning breaks, you awake but no one’s there
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
There’s a new day coming
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
(I’m a soldier!)
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
Oh, a new day’s coming
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
(I’m a soldier!)
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
Oh, a new day’s coming
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
(I’m a soldier!)
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
There’s a new day coming
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
We’ve been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
Song After Communion: If I Should Fall Behind
We said we’d walk together baby come what may
That come the twilight should we lose our way
If as we’re walking a hand should slip free
I’ll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
We swore we’d travel darlin’ side by side
We’d help each other stay in stride
But each lover’s steps fall so differently
But I’ll wait for you
And if I should fall behind
Wait for me
Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
But you and I know what this world can do
So let’s make our steps clear that the other may see
And I’ll wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me
Now there’s a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There ‘neath the oak’s bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
I’ll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin’ I’ll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me
Prayer after Communion
(please stand if you are able)
Let us pray,
God of kept promises,
if I should fall behind,
wait for me.
If my hand should slip,
wait for me.
When my love fails,
wait for me.
When I’m lost in my disappointment,
wait for me.
Wait for us, loving God
cause darling, we’ll wait for you.
Ending Song: Land of Hope and Dreams
(from the album Wrecking Ball)
Grab your ticket and your suitcase,
thunder’s rollin’ down this track
You don’t know where you’re goin’
But you know you won’t be back
Darlin’ if you’re weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry
And we’ll leave the rest
Big Wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
I will provide for you
And I’ll stand by your side
You’ll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine
And all this darkness past
Big wheels roll through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This Train
Carries whores and gamblers
This Train
Carries lost souls
This Train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This Train
Faith will be rewarded
This Train
Hear the steel wheels singin’
This Train
Bells of freedom ringin’
This Train
Carries broken-hearted
This Train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This Train
Carries fools and kings
This Train
All aboard
This Train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This Train
Faith will be rewarded
This Train
Hear the steel wheels singin’
This Train
Bells of freedom ringin’
Dismissal
Get on board this train, little children
and go forth to the bells of freedom ringing
to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia!
Faith will be rewarded,
thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Announcements
Postlude: Born to Run
(from the album Born to Run)
In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through the mansions of glory in suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin’ out over the line
Oh, Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we’re young
`Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
yes, girl we were
Wendy let me in I wanna be your friend
I want to guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs ’round these velvet rims
and strap your hands ‘cross my engines
Together we could break this trap
We’ll run till we drop, baby we’ll never go back
h-Oh, Will you walk with me out on the wire
`Cause baby I’m just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta know how it feels
I want to know if love is wild
Babe I want to know if love is real
Oh, can you show me
Beyond the Palace hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard
Girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
The amusement park rises bold and stark
Kids are huddled on the beach in a mist
I wanna die with you Wendy on the street tonight
In an everlasting kiss
1-2-3-4!
The highway’s jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
Everybody’s out on the run tonight
but there’s no place left to hide
Together Wendy we can live with the sadness
I’ll love you with all the madness in my soul
Oh, Someday girl I don’t know when
we’re gonna get to that place
Where we really wanna go
and we’ll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us
baby we were born to run
Oh honey, tramps like us
baby we were born to run
Come on with me, tramps like us
baby we were born to run
Ru-uh-uh-un
Mm-mm-mm-mm
Uh-uh-uh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Ru-uh-uh-uh-un
Mm-mm-mm-mm
Whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Ru-uh-uh-un