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TENEBRAE

A Service of Shadows

The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. We join Christians of many generations throughout the world in using the liturgy of Tenebrae. During the Tenebrae service, candles are extinguished and the sanctuary is progressively darkened as we ponder the depth of Christ’s suffering and death. In the shadows of Christ’s passion, we anticipate the joy of Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death that will overcome this world’s darkness.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

OPENING PRAYER

Almighty God, let all the darkness and fear we experience, hold us

for a time. Fill us with holy love, and open to us the treasures of

Your wisdom. Bring us peace through our Lord Jesus Christ who

was willing to be betrayed, and to be given over to the hands of

sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and

reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

FIRST READING … Isaiah 52:13-53:12

13 See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up,

and shall be very high.

14 Just as there were many who were astonished at him—so marred

was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond

that of mortals—

15 so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because

of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see,

and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

53:1Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm

of the LORD been revealed?

2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of

dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and

acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their

faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.

4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases;

yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

5 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.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own

way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his

mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that

before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

8 By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have

imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people.

9 They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich,

although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. When you

make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall

prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper.

11Out of his anguish he shall see light, he shall find satisfaction

through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make

many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will

allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with

the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered

with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made

intercession for the transgressors.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

 

GREETING

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ. Amen

Blessed be the name of the Lord our God,

who redeems us from sin and death.

For us and for our salvation, Christ became obedient unto death,

even death on a cross.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Look to Jesus, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him

endured the cross, disregarding its shame,

and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

Reading Matthew 26:20-25

20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21 and

while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray

me.’ 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to

him one after another, ‘Surely not I,

Lord?’ 23 He answered, ‘The one

who has dipped his hand into the

bowl with me will betray me. 24 The

Son of Man goes as it is written of

him, but woe to that one by whom

the Son of Man is betrayed! It

would have been better for that

one not to have been born.’

25 Judas, who betrayed him, said,

‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ He replied,

‘You have said so.’

 

Response “Ah, Holy Jesus” Hymn #349

Vs. 1, 2, & 4

THE SHADOW OF AGONY OF SPIRIT AND ARREST

Reading Luke 22:31-34, 39-54a

31 ‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like

wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and

you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’

33 And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to

death!’ 34 Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day,

until you have denied three times that you know me.’

39 He came out and went, as was his custom,

to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed

him. 40 When he reached the place, he

said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come

into the time of trial.’ 41 Then he withdrew

from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down,

and prayed, 42 ‘Father, if you are willing, remove

this cup from me; yet, not my will but

yours be done.’43 Then an angel from heaven

appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In

his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like

great drops of blood falling down on the ground.45 When he got up

from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because

of grief, 46 and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up

and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ 47 While he was

still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one

of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him;

48 but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying

the Son of Man?’ 49 When those who were around him saw what was

coming, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword?’ 50 Then

one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed

him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple

police, and the elders who had come for him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I

were a bandit? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple,

you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of

darkness!’ 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him

into the high priest’s house.

Response “Stay With Me” (3 times) Hymn # 348

THE SHADOW OF DENIAL

Reading Luke 22:54b-62

But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a

fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat

among them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared

at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ 57 But he denied it,

saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ 58 A little later someone else, on

seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I

am not!’ 59 Then about an hour

later yet another kept insisting,

‘Surely this man also was with

him; for he is a Galilean.’ 60 But

Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know

what you are talking about!’ At that

moment, while he was still speaking,

the cock crowed. 61 The Lord

turned and looked at Peter. Then

Peter remembered the word of the

Lord, how he had said to him,

‘Before the cock crows today, you

will deny me three times.’ 62 And

he went out and wept bitterly.

Response “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” Hymn #338

 

THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION

Reading Mark 15:1-15

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with

the elders and scribes and the whole

council. They bound Jesus, led him

away, and handed him over to Pilate.

2 Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King

of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You

say so.’ 3 Then the chief priests

accused him of many things. 4 Pilate

asked him again, ‘Have you no answer?

See how many charges they

bring against you.’ 5 But Jesus made

no further reply, so that Pilate was

amazed.6 Now at the festival he used

to release a prisoner for them, anyone

for whom they asked. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison

with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.

8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according

to his custom. 9 Then he answered them, ‘Do you want me to release

for you the King of the Jews?’ 10 For he realized that it was out

of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the

chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for

them instead. 12 Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish

me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ 13 They

shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ 14 Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has

he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ 15 So Pilate,

wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after

flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Response “Go to Dark Gethsemane” Hymn #347

Vs. 1 & 2

 

THE SHADOW OF CRUCIFIXION AND HUMILIATION

Reading Mark 15:16-32

16 Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard

of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters);

and they called together the whole

cohort. 17 And they clothed him in a purple

cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a

crown, they put it on him. 18 And they began

saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ 19 They

struck his head with a reed, spat upon him,

and knelt down in homage to him. 20 After

mocking him, they stripped him of the purple

cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify

him. 21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the

country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander

and Rufus. 22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha

(which means the place of a skull). 23 And they offered him wine

mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him, and

divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each

should take. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.

26 The inscription of the charge

against him read, ‘The King of the

Jews.’ 27 And with him they crucified

two bandits, one on his right and

one on his left. 29 Those who

passed by derided him, shaking

their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You

who would destroy the temple and

build it in three days, 30 save yourself,

and come down from the

cross!’ 31 In the same way the chief

priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved

others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel,

come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’

Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

Response “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” Hymn #351

Vs. 1-3

THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Reading Mark 15:33-39

33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three

in the afternoon. 34 At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,

‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which

means, ‘My God, my God, why have you

forsaken me?’ 35 When some of the bystanders

heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is

calling for Elijah.’ 36 And someone ran,

filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a

stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,

‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come

to take him down.’ 37 Then Jesus gave a

loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the

curtain of the temple was torn in two,

from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion,

who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his

last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’

Devotional Reflection Pastor Chris Steubing

 

Response “At the Cross”

Words and Music by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Matt Armstrong, Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman. © Countless Wonder Publishing | Universal

Music - Brentwood Benson Songs | Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Tunes | Atlas Mountain Songs | Rising Springs Music | S. D. G.

Publishing | Said And Done Music | Thankyou Music Ltd | Twelve Lions Music | Worship Together Music | worshiptogether.com songs.

 

THE SHADOW OF BURIAL

Reading John 19:31-42

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the

bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that

Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have

the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.

32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the

other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to

Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his

legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and

at once blood and water came out. 35 (He who saw this has testified

so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows

that he tells the truth.) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture

might be fulfilled, ‘None of his bones shall be broken.’ 37 And again

another passage of scripture says,

‘They will look on the one whom

they have pierced.’ 38 After these

things, Joseph of Arimathea, who

was a disciple of Jesus, though a

secret one because of his fear of the

Jews, asked Pilate to let him take

away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave

him permission; so he came and removed

his body. 39 Nicodemus, who

had at first come to Jesus by night,

also came, bringing a mixture of

myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the

body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according

to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in

the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new

tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was

the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

 

Strepitus—A loud noise made by the slamming of a book representing

the closing of the tomb and the earthquake that occurred at

Jesus’ death, as relayed in the gospel of Matthew.

Response “Were You There” Hymn #353

Silence for meditation

Let us pray for those things which our Lord would have us ask.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 

ADORATION AT THE CROSS

Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.

Oh, come, let us worship him.

Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.

Oh, come, let us worship him.

Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.

Oh, come, let us worship him.

Brief silence.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

As we depart in silence, the congregation is invited to solemn reflection

on the love of God shown in Jesus Christ, who as God in the

flesh, humbled himself to death for our sake.

Worshipers may go to the altar rail to pray and reverence the cross

in the center aisle by hanging a black strip of cloth as they leave.

 

Announcements/Reminders

Holy Week commemorates the final week of Jesus’ life, starting with

Palm Sunday’s entry into Jerusalem and concluding with the Easter

resurrection. Each service throughout the week draws us into

greater appreciation and holy wonder of Jesus’ loving sacrifice and

God’s promises for all who believe in him. We invite you to join us in

worship as we remember what God has done for us and for the

world through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

-Easter Services @ 8AM and 10:30 AM– in this service we celebrate

Christ’s resurrection from the dead with joyful proclamation

that Jesus is alive! He has conquered death and sin, and we know

that we too have been given the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord!

-Please bring fresh flowers on Easter morning to place on the cross

on the porch at the entrance to the sanctuary.

The youth of St. Andrew will be hosting a breakfast on Easter morning

between services from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. After the 10:30

service there will be an Easter Egg hunt for children.

 

Church Staff and today’s worship leaders:

Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing

Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller

Our Liturgist—Don Gillett & Ken Klein

Our Reader—John Drann

Organist/Pianist—Jimmy Cheung

Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann