Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows
We are using YouTube links for the music
If you want to extinguish candles – you will need 7 lit candles before you start the service.
Welcome:
The service of Tenebrae, meaning darkness or shadows, has been practiced by the church since medieval times. It was once a service for the monastic community, but Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of common folk during Holy Week.
Tonight we will use the liturgy of Tenebrae as a meditation on Christ’s suffering.
With readings from the Gospel of John, we will trace the story of Christ’s passion, with music portray his pathos and with the power of silence and darkness reflect the drama of this momentous day. As candles are extinguished, we will ponder the depth of Christ’s suffering and death and remember the nature of his sacrifice.
Tonight, we gather to remember our Saviour Jesus and his sacrifice of love for us. We pause to remember his last meal with his closest friends and disciples.
We pause to remember the betrayal he would suffer. We pause to remember the pain that would be his to bear.
We gather to bear witness; to grow in faith and be renewed by the story of mystery.
The Approach to God: Prayer of Illumination
Opening Sentences
The light has come into the world
But the world loved darkness rather than light.
Come let us worship the Lord, who was obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Opening Prayers
Let us pray
Let thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open unto the prayers of thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
O Lord, open up your word to us and our hearts to your Word, that we may come to know you better and love you more.
Help us, with your spirit, O Lord, that thinking upon your cross and Passion we may worship you with thankful hearts.
We know that Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed,
And to suffer death on a cross for our sake.
O Saviour of the world, who by thy cross, and precious blood hast redeemed us,
Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
Hear our prayers, O God,
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen
God so loved the World (Stainer) – click on this link to listen: https://youtu.be/X5Akz6J8Rw0
The lights are dimmed
Jesus washes the disciples feet
John 13.1-17
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus predicts his betrayal
John 13.18-36 -
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me’. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Candle 1 extinguished.
Jesus predicts Peter’ denial
John 13.31-38 -
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Candle 2 is extinguished
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
3. Matthew 26:26-30 -
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to his disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body”. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom”. When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The betrayal and arrest of Jesus
John 18.1-14
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Emendemus In Melius (Byrd) – click the following link to listen: https://youtu.be/MjjDwoh0h0M
Translation
Emendemus in Melius que ignoranter peccavimus, Let us amend what we have transgressed through ignorance,
Ne subito praeoccupati die mortis Lest, should the day of death suddenly overtake us,
Quaeramus spatium poenitentiae. Et invenire non possumus. We seek time for repentance and cannot find it.
Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against thee.
Adjuva nos, Deu salutaris noster, Et propter honorem nominis tui, Libera nos. Help us, O God of our salvation, and, for the glory of thy name, Deliver us.
Candle 3 is extinguished
Peter’s First Denial
John 18.15-18
Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Candle 4 is extinguished
Jesus Before Pilate
Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”
They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!”
Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
Candle 5 is extinguished
The Shadow of Mockery
Jesus Sentenced to be crucified
19:1-16
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
Candle 6 extinguished
Crucifixus (Lotti) – click on the following link to listen: https://youtu.be/89shqLBkDvw
Translation:
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis; sub Pontio Pilato passus et sepultus est.
He was crucified also for us, under Pontius Pilate he suffered and was buried.
The Shadow of Crucifixion
John 19:17-24
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
So this is what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Ah Holy Jesu (Cruger) – click on the following link to listen: https://youtu.be/ifRdosvMmb8?t=5
The Shadow of Death
Matthew 27:45-51,54
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now, leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
Final (Christ) candle extinguished
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
The earth shook, and the rocks were split.
Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what had took place, they were terrified and said “Truly this man was the Son of God!”.
Ave Verum Corpus (Byrd) – click on this link to listen: https://youtu.be/vFZZMF7SRRo
The Shadow of Burial
The Burial of Jesus
John 19:38-42
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.
He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
A period of silence
Let us pray
Thanks be to thee, our Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits which thou hast won for us,
For all the pains and insults which thou has born for us.
O most merciful redeemer, friend, and brother,
May We see you more clearly, Love you more dearly, And follow you more nearly, day by day, Amen
To God the father, who loved us and made us accepted in the Beloved
To God the Son, who loved us, and loosed us from our sins by his own blood
To God the Holy Spirit, who sheddeth the love of God abroad in our hearts
To the one true God be all love and glory for time and for eternity, Amen
May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, keep you and strengthen you this night and for ever. Amen.
O Nata Lux – Morten Lauridsen. Click on the following link to listen: https://youtu.be/AI9P6HoiJy8
Translation:
O nata lux de lumine, Jesu redemptor saeculi,
O Light born of light, Jesus, redeemer of the World
Dignare clemens supplicum laudes precesque sumere.
Mercifully design to accept the praises and prayer of your supplicants
Qui carne quondam contegi dignatus es pro perditis
O you who once deigned to be hidden in flesh on behalf of the lost
Nos membra confer effici Tui beati corporis
Grant us to be made members of your blessed body
The people leave quietly
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