Good Friday Tennebrae

Good Friday Tennebrae

Lights are dim.

Candles: Altar Candles & Seven Candles (tapers or votives)

You will need two narrators, plus reader(s) for the Passion reading. While this calls for music under the non-scripture text, these can be read without the music. The music we used was by Michael Aguilar, but any appropriate instrumental music would work. (This music was originally written for an Advent program - which just goes to show that you can always re-work things - so don't be confused by the titles for the "days". There are seven readings, but the titles don't reflect that. In your bulletin you can always title these as "Word One", "Word Two", Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven. The "Day" titles refer to/identify only the music/narration used.)

Psalm 22 is set up for two voices/readers, however, you may do this as a single voice. The Reader should be someone who can express the desperation, despair and hope of the text. Done well, this should be almost frightening. Also, if you do not have way to do this over the sound system, you will need to work out some other way to have this done using no lights (or at least obvious lights) in the sanctuary. Having the voice(s) come from "out of nowhere" is the goal. No bell? Try a gong or some other deep pitched (if possible) reverberating sound - this should be done outside the sanctuary so it has a feeling of distance.

Order of Worship

Prelude

Welcome

Stand

Call to Worship: Sing, My Tongue (tune: Picardy)

Text: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus, 530-609; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.

Music: French folk tune, 17th cent

Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;

sing the ending of the fray.

Now above the cross, the trophy,

sound the loud triumphant lay;

tell how Christ, the world's redeemer,

as a victim won the day.

Tell how, when at length the fullness

of the appointed time was come,

he, the Word, was born of woman,

left for us his Father's home,

blazed the path of true obedience,

shone as light amidst the gloom.

Thus, with thirty years accomplished,

he went forth from Nazareth,

destined, dedicated, willing,

did his work, and met his death;

like a lamb he humbly yielded

on the cross his dying breath.

Unto God be praise and glory;

to the Father and the Son,

to the eternal Spirit honor

now and evermore be done;

praise and glory in the highest,

while the timeless ages run.

Greeting:

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

Invocation Song: Holy

Text: Susan Briehl

Music: Argentine traditional, arr. Marty Haugen - from "Santo"

Text and music copywrite 2001 GIA Publications, Inc.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of pow’r and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Bless-ed is the One who comes

in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest,

hosanna in the highest.

P: (spoken over music) "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds," he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Invocation Song:

P (spoken over music) Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Invocation Song:

P: (spoken over music) Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:16-25

Invocation Song:

P: Let us pray,

C: O Lord Jesus Christ, you are Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End of all things, the Word of God spoken at creation. Come to us now as we remember your Passion, the Passion that was ordained before time. We give you thanks, O God. Knowing what our salvation would entail in terms of your personal suffering, you still spoke the Word and brought into being all of creation. Grant that we may live our lives in the assurance that you love each of us so much that you undertook our creation despite the fact that it would cost you your life. Amen.

Sit

Song: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Tune Name: HERZLICH TUT MICH VERLANGEN (rhythmic)

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676; based on Arnulf of Louvain, c. 1250; tr. composite

Music: German melody, c. 1500, adapt. Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612

O sacred head, now wounded,

with grief and shame weighed down,

now scornfully surrounded

with thorns, thine only crown;

O sacred head, what glory,

what bliss till now was thine!

Yet, though despised and gory,

I joy to call thee mine.

How art thou pale with anguish,

with sore abuse and scorn;

how does that visage languish

which once was bright as morn!

Thy grief and bitter passion

were all for sinners' gain;

mine, mine was the transgression,

but thine the deadly pain.

What language shall I borrow

to thank thee, dearest friend,

for this thy dying sorrow,

thy pity without end?

Oh, make me thine forever,

and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

outlive my love to thee.

Lord, be my consolation;

shield me when I must die;

remind me of thy passion

when my last hour draws nigh.

These eyes, new faith receiving,

from thee shall never move;

for he who dies believing

dies safely in thy love.

Litany:

P: See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. 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 –

C: 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.

P: Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

C: 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.

P: 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.

C: Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

P: 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. 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.

C: 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.

P: 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.

C: 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.

P: Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain.

C: 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.

P: Out 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.

C: 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. Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Choir Anthem:

P: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of humankind. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5

The Passion of our Lord

Matthew 26:1–27:62

"Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,

1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

Music by W Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries,

PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

(Music: Seven Words of Christ)

Music: "Day One"

Music starts

Narrator 1: “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they do.”

Narrator 1: Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . .

Narrator 2: futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

Narrator 1: In the beginning the...

Narrator 2: void . . the abyss . . .the darkness.

Narrator 1: When God began creating the earth God’s breath hovered over the waters and God said,

Narrator: 2“Let there be light!”

Narrator 1: And there was light. Such light! A light that penetrates the darkest of nights! The blackest of souls!

After the music stops the following is read.

Reader 1:

Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?" And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. . . .

Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. As they were eating, He said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me." Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?"

He answered, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself."

(Put out first candle.)

.Music: "Day Two"

Music starts

Narrator1: “I thirst!”

Narrator 1: Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . .

Narrator 2: futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

Narrator 1: In the beginning...

Narrator 2: the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness.

Narrator 1: When God began creating the earth God’s breath hovered over the waters and God said,

Narrator 2: “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters! Let it divide water from water!”

Narrator 1:And so it was! The vault of Heaven above, the waters beneath, creating the essence of life, the design of things to come!

After the music stops the following is read.

Reader 2:

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." When He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.' But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too.

(Put out second candle.)

.Music: "Day Three"

Music starts

Narrator 1:: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!”

Narrator1: Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . .

Narrator2: futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

Narrator1: In the beginning...

Narrator 2: the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness.

Narrator 1: When God began creating the earth God’s breath hovered over the waters and God said,

Narrator 2: “Let the waters be gathered into one place! And let the dry land appear!”

Narrator 1: And so it was! The dry land of the earth, the gathering of the seas establishing the frame of the world to come!”

After the music stops the following is read.

Reader 3:

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.

He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done."

Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. "Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. . . .

At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

(Put out third candle.)

Music: "Day Three Continued"

Music starts

Narrator 1: “Woman, behold your son.” — “Behold your mother.”

Narrator 1: Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . .

Narrator 2: futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

Narrator1: In the beginning ...

Narrator 2: the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness.

Narrator 1: When God began creating the earth God’s breath hovered over the waters and God said,

Narrator 2: “Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, fruit trees of every kind, fruit tress that bear fruit with seen in it!”

Narrator 1: And so it was! Bounty upon bounty! The continuance of life assured!

After the music stops the following is read.

Reader 4:

Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'"

The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" But Jesus kept silent And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, ")You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?" They answered, "He deserves death!" Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

(Put out fourth candle.)

Music: "Day Four"

Music starts

Narrator 1: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

Narrator 1: Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . .

Narrator2: futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

Narrator1: In the beginning ...

Narrator 2: the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness.

Narrator 1: When God began creating the earth God’s breath hovered over the waters and God said,

Narrator 2: “Let there be lights in the vault of the heaven, and let the lights divide the day from the night and they shall be signs for the fixed times, and signs for the day and the years!”

Narrator 1: And so it was! The sun, the great light, for the day, The moon, the small light and the stars for the night! The wonders of heaven revealed!

After the music stops the following is read.

Reader 5

Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor. . . .

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.

Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" . . .

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!" And he said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Crucify Him!"

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves." And all the people said, "His blood shall be on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

(Put out fifth candle.)

Music: "Day Five"

Music starts

Narrator 1: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Narrator 1: Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . .

Narrator2: futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

Narrator 1: In the beginning ...

Narrator 2: the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness.

Narrator1: When God began creating the earth God’s breath hovered over the waters and God said,

Narrator 2: “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures! And le the birds fly across the dome of the sky!”

Narrator 1: And so it was! Monster and whimsies, the weird, the wonderful, God’s creation grows!

After the music stops the following is read.

Reader 6:

As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. Sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there.

Above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, He saved others; He cannot save Himself He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. "HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him."

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

(Put out sixth candle.)

Music: "Day Six"

Music starts

Narrator 1: : “It is finished.”

Narrator1: Vastness. . . potential . . .promise. . .

Narrator 2: stirrings. . . motion. . . vitality . . the word!

Narrator 1: In the beginning . . .

Narrator 2: the void the abyss the darkness!

Narrator 1: When God began creating the earth God’s breath hovered over the waters and God said,

Narrator 2: “Let us make humankind in our image according to our likeness” thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude!

Narrator 1: And so it was! In God’s image we are created! And so were the heavens and the earth completed and all their array! The word of God . . . alive!

After the music stops the following is read.

Reader 7:

Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

(Carry out seventh candle.)

Lights are on dims. They go down slowing during the singing of the song.

Stand

Song: Were You There

Text: African American spiritual, alt.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

All the lights are out by the end of the last verse.

Bell tolls 33 times while Psalm 22 is read in another room over the sound system.

Readers:

Reader 1: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.

Reader 2: Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

Reader 1: But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people. All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; "Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver-- let him rescue the one in whom he delights!"

Reader 2: Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother's breast. On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls encircle me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.

Reader 1: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled; I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me; they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Silence

Book is Slammed Shut.

All exit in silence.

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