Thursday April 17 Maple Avenue will hold a Tenebrae Service at 6 pm

 

The word “Tenebrae” is a Latin word meaning “shadow” or darkness. The Tenebrae Service is the only service in the Christian calendar that is not celebratory. This service acts as a discipline in acknowledging Christ’s suffering, a prolonged meditation on His darkest hours. This is a service of grief. Thankfully, we do not grieve as those who have no hope, and so we eagerly await Easter Sunday morning! However, in this service we honor Christ’s request to stay with Him in His hour of suffering.

 

This Service of Shadows acquired its name organically. In old cathedrals a millennium ago the service was lit by candles. As each candle was blown out successively, new shadows would emerge throughout the evening until the shadows would finally overtake the congregation, leaving them in complete darkness.

 

This is a liturgical service. The definition of “liturgy” literally means ‘of the people” or participation by the people.” The congregation will be participating in readings and song. We will guide you through those times.

 

Tenebrae is a service filled with symbolism and tradition. However, traditions do not make us holy. They don’t cleanse our sins. They do not secure our position as a child of God. There is something beautiful, and rich and grounding when we join saints from the past 1,200 years who met each year on this tonight to stay with Christ in His suffering. This service is deeply rooted in our Christian Heritage.

 

The service is divided into five different Shadows. After each shadow, we will blow out a candle. The final candle to be snuffed out tonight will be the Christ Candle. (Note: the Christ candle is the final advent candle to be lit on Christmas mornings, symbolizing Christ’s birth).

 

The Shadow of Loneliness

The Shadow of Desertion

The Shadow of Accusation and Denial

The Shadow of Humiliation and Cruxifiction

The Shadow of Death

 

Please join us as we gather on this night of reflection and shadows.