What is a Tenebrae Service? The word ‘tenebrae’ is Latin for shadows. The purpose of the Tenebrae service is to recreate the emotional aspects of the passion story, so this is not supposed to be a happy service, because the occasion is not happy. If your expectation of Christian worship is that it should always be happy and exhilarating, you won’t appreciate this service until the second time you attend it. The service was originally designed for Good Friday, but it can be used for Maundy Thursday as well. Both services have long Scripture narratives, which for this service are divided into seven, eight, or nine parts, assigned to different readers. The service may include other parts, such as solemn hymns, a sermon, and Communion, but the core of the Tenebrae service works like this: it starts out with the church in candlelight. there are as many candles as there are readings, plus a white Christ candle. The readers read each selection, and one of the candles is extinguished, until the last candle, the Christ candle, is extinguished, leaving the congregation in near total darkness—and near total devastation. After the prayers, items are removed from the church in silence, and the service ends. There is no benediction and the people leave in silence. (The lights are turned up but remain dim so that people can see their way out.) The purpose of the service is to recreate the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of the events; and it is left unfinished, because the story isn’t over until Easter Day. If you see only the happy ending of a movie, you go away saying, “So they were all hugging each other. So what?” But if you see the beginning and the middle part, with all the suspense and grief, you understand what the characters overcame, and the happy ending is all the happier. So to me, attending the Easter service without attending the Holy Week services is like watching the happy ending of the movie without seeing the middle—you only rob yourself of joy. Adapted from “What is a Tenebrae Service?” © 1995-‐2004 by the Rev. Kenneth W. Collins. All rights reserved. Reprinted by Permission. We Listen to the Story TRINITY UNITED CHURCH March 29, 2013 – Good Friday Minister – Rev. Jeff Seaton Mark 14:1-‐11:  Hymn VU 129 – Said Judas to Mary Words printed in bold are spoken or sung by everyone. At places marked, you are invited to stand, as you are able. Mark 14:12-‐25: Mark 14:26-‐35: Words of Welcome  Hymn MV 73: In the Garden at Night Choir Song – Stay with Me (VU 950) Mark 14:36-‐52: The Hour Has Come Hymn VU 133 – Go to Dark Gethsemane (v. 1) Mark 14:53-‐72: Trial and Denial Choir Anthem – Bitter Was the Night (VU 132) Mark 15:1-‐21: ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Hymn VU 133 – Go to Dark Gethsemane (v. 2) O God, Why Are You Silent? Mark 15:22-‐32: Three Crosses Choir Anthem – Kyrie Gathering Prayer Saviour of the world, what have you done to deserve this? And what have we done to deserve you? Mark 15:33-‐41: arr. Diana Ward ‘He breathed his last.’ Piano Instrumental – Prelude No. 20 in C Minor Mark 15:42-‐47: Strung up between criminals, cursed and spat upon, you wait for death, and look for us, for us whose sin has crucified you. Burial Choir Anthem – Were You There arr. Diana Ward We Respond The Prayers of God’s People To the mystery of undeserved suffering, you bring the deeper mystery of unmerited love. Forgive us for not knowing what we have done; open our eyes to what we are doing now, as, through wood and nails, you disempower our depravity and transform us by your grace. Amen. A Final Meal Choir Anthem – Christ, Let Us Come with You (VU 458) We Gather In Community Call to Worship Where Christ walks, we will follow. Where Christ stumbles, we will stop. Where Christ cries, we will listen. Where Christ suffers, we will hurt. When Christ dies, we will bow our heads in sorrow. When Christ rises again in glory, we will share his endless joy. A Good Service The Lord’s Prayer (said – VU 921) Stripping the Sanctuary (All leave in silence) Prayers are from the book Stages on the Way © 1998 Wild Goose Resource Group.