Order of Service and Sermon for 30 March 2018, Good Friday Service

A SERVICE OF TENEBRAE

A Service of Tenebrae, or "Shadows," is based on a twelfth–century late night/early morning service and is an extended meditation on the passion of Christ. The readings are taken from the Gospel of John 18:1–19:42.


GREETING & Explanations
P: God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.
C: Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
P: And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world,
C: and we loved darkness rather than light.

Hymn: LW #241

PRAYER for Good Friday:

P: SURELY He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. All we like sheep have gone astray and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
C. Hear my prayer, O LORD:
P: ALMIGHTY God, we beseech you graciously to behold this your family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death on the Cross; through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Fourteen candles, along with a central Christ candle, are lighted at this point or before the service begins; then one is extinguished at the conclusion of each section.
The First Reading

The first candle is extinguished.

The Second Reading
The second candle is extinguished.
The Third Reading
The third candle is extinguished.

The Fourth Reading
The fourth candle is extinguished.

The Fifth Reading
The fifth candle is extinguished.

The Sixth Reading
The sixth candle is extinguished.

Hymn: LW: #113
The Seventh Reading
The seventh candle is extinguished.

The Sermonette

The Eighth Reading
The eighth candle is extinguished.

The Ninth Reading
The ninth candle is extinguished.

The Tenth Reading
The tenth candle is extinguished.

The Eleventh Reading
The eleventh candle is extinguished.

The Twelfth Reading
The twelfth candle is extinguished.

The Offering - Hymn: LW # 110

The Thirteenth Reading
The thirteenth candle is extinguished.

The Fourteenth Reading
The fourteenth candle is extinguished.

The Fifteenth Reading
The Christ candle is taken away. The last section is read in darkness.

The Sixteenth Reading

CHOIR

Silence.  The room remains darkened with only illumination necessary for safety. The room now remains barren until Easter.


After the Choir leaves, all depart in silence.

Sermon was based on John 18:28 &29.