Tenebrae Service
(Important notes to be included in the
bulletin)
The service of worship tonight is taken
from an early Christian service called Tenebrae. The name Tenebrae is the Latin
word for "darkness" or "shadows." Tonight we will experience only a small
portion of Christ’s pain and suffering the day of His crucifixion. One of the
most conspicuous features of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles
until only a single candle, considered a symbol of our Lord, remains. As it gets
darker and darker we can reflect on the great emotional and physical pain that
was very real for Jesus that evening. Toward the end of the service, the Christ
candle is hidden, typifying the apparent victory of the forces of evil over
good. At the very end, a loud noise is made, symbolizing the earthquake at the
time of his death (Matthew 27) and his resurrection (Matthew 28:2). At the
moment of the earthquake, the temple veil was torn apart, making the Holy of
Holies exposed to public view. This is understood to represent God's change
toward us with direct access to him, no longer requiring the ceremonial acts of
the priests for our forgiveness of sin. The hidden candle is then restored
to its place, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. By this single light we
all depart this service in silence.
Our Gathering
(Side and altar lights are
off. Church is dark. Two ceiling lights are very dim and are turned out at the
point of reading of the Matthew passage.)
Leader: Bless the Lord who forgives all our
sins.
People: His mercy endures forever.
Leader: Almighty God, to you all hearts are
open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts
of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love
you, and worthily magnify your Holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leader: And this is the judgment, that the
light has come into this world, and we loved darkness rather than light.
People: God is light, in whom there
is no darkness at all.
Leader: For God sent his Son into the
world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
People: Every one that does evil
hates the light, and does not come to the light. But all who do what is true
come to the light.
Leader: Come, let us worship in sprit and
truth.
The Passion of our
Lord
Leader: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you.
Silent Prayer: Most gracious God, look with
mercy upon your family gathered here for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was
betrayed, given into sinful hands, and suffered death upon the cross. Strengthen
our faith and forgive our betrayals as we enter the way of His passion; through
Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen
(all lights except the candles
will be turned off)
Matthew 26:30-46
First candle is extinguished
Matthew 26:47-56
Second candle is
extinguished
Matthew 26:57-75
Third candle is extinguished
Matthew 27:1-5
Forth candle is extinguished
Matthew 27:6-23
Fifth candle is extinguished
Matthew 27:24-31
Sixth candle is extinguished
Matthew 27:32-44
Seventh candle is
extinguished
Matthew 27:45-50
Christ candle is hidden
(percussionist
symbolizes the agony of Jesus’ death and the earthquake)
Matthew 27:51-54
Christ candle is returned
Song of the Suffering
Servant
Isaiah 53:4-9
Dismissal Blessing:
Go in peace. May Jesus Christ, who for our
sake became obedient unto death, even death on the cross, keep you and
strengthen you this night and forever more. Amen.
Please depart from the service tonight
in silence.
_____________________________
Notes:
You will need:
1) seven candles located in the alter area
plus an additional Christ candle (eight candles total). The Christ candle
and possibly one or two others should be next to the lectern to permit
sufficient light for reading of the scriptures.
2) one candle snuffer
3) one very faint flashlight for
reader to use for reading Matthew 27:51-54 when all candles are out.
4) Carefully marked New Testament at the
lectern for each of the readers to use.
5) Percussionist with timpani and cymbals
in the back of the church, used at the point of Jesus’ death. After the Christ
candle has been silently and slowly carried from the altar down the center isle
of the church out of the worship space total darkness remains. After about 10
seconds of total darkness and silence, the percussionist will start a quiet roll
on the timpani which will build in intensity and then decrease again two or
three times, each time getting stronger and stronger. It will then slowly and
quietly reduce to silence after several small buildups. Immediately there will
be one large crash of the cymbals. The sound should die to a deafening silence.
After about 15 seconds of silence (darkness continues) the person will return to
the worship space with the Christ candle still lit and place it back in the
stand and then sit down. The next scripture is then read.
6) In rotation of years the passion can be
read from other gospels. The following are suggestions of possible readings.
There are many variations of this service
of Tenebrae. This particular example does not employ any music. This might be a
bit unusual in some churches. You might consider experiencing it in this form.
There are many examples that do include music. There are even musical
productions written to be performed by choir and congregation on the theme of
Tenebrae.