| 3550 Southwest Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76133 Phone: 817-926-8277 -- Fax: 817-926-8278 Preschool: 817-923-2040 email: st.christophers@att.net |
St. Christopher Episcopal Church
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To Know Christ and Make Him Known
| A Look at Our Church Seasons and Holy Days - Tenebrae |
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.
Tenebrae, which means “shadows” in Latin, is a service patterned after matins, the evening
prayer service in many monasteries and convents. Its most evident feature is the lamp stand
at the front of the church. It holds fifteen candles, which are extinguished one at a time during
the service, signifying the departure of Jesus, the light of the world. The service is done in as
much darkness as possible, so that the candles in the stand are the prominent feature of the
church, while all else is in shadow. The readings used at St. Christopher are from two
modern Christian writers whose explanations of Christ’s saving work are recognized by a
vast range of Christians as the best. The first four readings are from C.S. Lewis’ Mere
Christianity. The last reading is from John Stott’s Basis Christianity. The psalms that are sung
are those that express the suffering of God’s chosen, and the tone of the service is deeply
sad. The center candle, rather than being extinguished, is hidden after the last psalm or
reading. A loud noise is made, representative of the stone being rolled away from the tomb
in which Jesus was laid and his rising. At that, the candle is brought out from where it is
hidden and placed again on the stand, representing the resurrection. See? This service is so
sad that we have to have a little reminder that it’s going to turn out. Still, the people depart in
silence, pondering these things in their hearts. We are entering into the story more deeply
now. We are walking the way of the cross.
What should I feel at the end of this service? Thoughtful perhaps, A little sad. One of the
telltale tattoos deeply imprinted into the skin of our culture is that “Church should always
make me feel good”. Ultimately, if it’s doing its job, church will help you find joy, but in
doing so, it will also bring you to a place where you will touch sadness. A place where you
taste for a moment the tectonic sadness of a Christ cornered and betrayed. A place where
you behold the profound.…”.
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.
Tenebrae, which means “shadows” in Latin, is a service patterned after matins, the evening
prayer service in many monasteries and convents. Its most evident feature is the lamp stand
at the front of the church. It holds fifteen candles, which are extinguished one at a time during
the service, signifying the departure of Jesus, the light of the world. The service is done in as
much darkness as possible, so that the candles in the stand are the prominent feature of the
church, while all else is in shadow. The readings used at St. Christopher are from two
modern Christian writers whose explanations of Christ’s saving work are recognized by a
vast range of Christians as the best. The first four readings are from C.S. Lewis’ Mere
Christianity. The last reading is from John Stott’s Basis Christianity. The psalms that are sung
are those that express the suffering of God’s chosen, and the tone of the service is deeply
sad. The center candle, rather than being extinguished, is hidden after the last psalm or
reading. A loud noise is made, representative of the stone being rolled away from the tomb
in which Jesus was laid and his rising. At that, the candle is brought out from where it is
hidden and placed again on the stand, representing the resurrection. See? This service is so
sad that we have to have a little reminder that it’s going to turn out. Still, the people depart in
silence, pondering these things in their hearts. We are entering into the story more deeply
now. We are walking the way of the cross.
What should I feel at the end of this service? Thoughtful perhaps, A little sad. One of the
telltale tattoos deeply imprinted into the skin of our culture is that “Church should always
make me feel good”. Ultimately, if it’s doing its job, church will help you find joy, but in
doing so, it will also bring you to a place where you will touch sadness. A place where you
taste for a moment the tectonic sadness of a Christ cornered and betrayed. A place where
you behold the profound.…”.