Good Friday Tenebrae Service

Good Friday

First Presbyterian Church &

Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church

April 2, 2021

Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows

The service of Tenebrae, or “shadows” is marked by the gradual extinguishing of lights and candles.  It is a worship service of devotion in which we recognize the shadows that came over the life of Christ in Jerusalem during what we now call “Holy Week.”  The candles represent the disciples and followers of Christ and as they are extinguished,we are reminded of their fear and flight as the crucifixion of Jesus drew near. After all the readings the Christ Candle will be removed to represent Christ’s days in the tomb.But, before the service concludes, the Christ candle will return offering a symbol of resurrection hope. The service we end in silence so that we each may reflect on the power of the crucifixion story.

Welcome                                                                                             

Lighting the Candles            

Call to Worship: from Philippians 2:8

Leader:       Blessed be the name of the Lord our God,

People:       who redeems us from sin and death.

Leader:       For us and for our salvation, Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

All:             Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

 

 Hymn:                              Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed                                    #212           

Prayer of Confession   (Unison)

Eternal God, whose covenant with us is never broken, we confess that we fail to fulfill your will. Though you have bound yourself to us, we struggle to fully bind ourselves to you.  In Jesus Christ you serve us freely, but we refuse your love and withhold ourselves from others. We do not love you fully or love one another as Jesus has commanded us to do.  In your mercy, forgive and cleanse us this Good Friday.  Lead us once again through this day of darkness and betrayal into the joy of Easter New Life.  Forgive us. Prepare us.  Awaken us, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness                                                                

Leader:       Friends, hear the Good News from the prophet Isaiah:

                              Surely he has borne our infirmities

                                        and carried our diseases;

                              yet we accounted him stricken,

                                        struck down by God, and afflicted.

                              But he was wounded for our transgressions,

                                        crushed for our iniquities;

                              upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

                                        and by his bruises we are healed.

                    Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel.

All:             In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

 

Hymn:                                       On a Barren Hilltop                                               #217 

The Service of Tenebrae                                                                              

You are invited to join in the sung response after each reading:

Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom,

The Garden of Gethsemane                                            Mark 14:32-42 

Sung response

The Arrest in the Garden                                                Mark 14: 43-50

Sung response

Jesus before the Council                                               Mark 14:53-65    

Sung response    

Peter’s Denial                                                                 Mark 14:66-72               

Sung response

Jesus is handed over to be crucified                            Mark 15:6-15   

Sung response

Jesus is mocked                                                            Mark 15:16-20

                    Sung response

Jesus is Crucified                                                         Mark 15:21-32     

                    Sung response         

The Shadow of Death                                                   Mark 15:33-39, 42-46

                    Sung Response

The Suffering Servant                                                   Isaiah 53:4-6         

Sung Response

Choral Anthem:                      Ah, Holy Jesus                                           #218 

Combined Rumple and First Presbyterian Choirs

 

The Christ candle is removed to represent Christ’s death and days in the tomb.

Silence

The Christ candle is returned to remind us of resurrection hope.

We end in silence as we await the promise of Easter.

 

Worship Notes

Worship Leaders: Kathy Beach, Pastor Rumple Memorial Presbyterian, Jeff Smith, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Dave McCollum, Minister of Music, RMPC, Lisa Combs, Director of Music, FPC, Brandon Winbush, Pianist, FPC, Choirs of First Presbyterian and Rumple Memorial Presbyterian.