Good Friday

The second of our Holy Week services is our Good Friday Tenebrae Service. I love the simplicity of this service. During a Tenebrae, the Passion narrative is broken up into sixteen readings, paired with the extinguishing of candles. This service speaks to me because it leaves space for the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the reading of the Bible. There is not a sermon, commentary, or exposition; you get to hear the story in its entirety by itself, with time to meditate and pray. Each of us are invited to hear the heartbreaking story of Jesus’ final hours on earth and reflect on his journey to the Cross. We feel devastated as we hear what Jesus our Savior went through; yet at the same time are grateful for the difference he made for the whole world. We know that Sunday is coming, that the Resurrection is coming; but on this night, we wait. The tomb is full when we leave this service. We, like the disciples, hear of the death of Jesus and are left to puzzle over his words, “from that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” On this night, we will sit in the darkness by the tomb, awaiting Sunday.

I hope you will join us Friday, April 19th, at 6:00pm for our Good Friday Tenebrae service.