Eastertide

Good Friday

At the Tomb Tenebrae Service

‘Tenebrae’ means darkness or shadows. 

As we come to the end of Lent, we begin a journey into darkness, to a place of deep shadows.

Tonight, in this service of prayer, readings and music, we accompany Jesus in his last hours, we witness the cruelties and the suffering he endures, and we listen to the words of condemnation and ridicule.

In all this he is innocent. 

He is the faithful servant of God, doing his Father’s work; bringing the gospel of love, peace and hope.

And so, we are invited to solemnly and attentively wait at the tomb.

Better to know. Better to understand. 

Better to be his friend, his disciple, his witness.

Be still and know that God is here.

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HYMN: MP 48

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am God. 

I am the Lord that healeth thee. 

I am the Lord that healeth thee. 

I am the Lord that healeth thee.

In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust. 

In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust. 

In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust.

The seven candles are lit.

Prayer:

Eternal God, in the cross of Jesus we see the cost of our sin and the depth of your love: may we place before you, all that we have and all that we are. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

All        Amen.

The First Reading - Mark 14: 17-26

Jesus eats the last supper with his disciples

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When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For 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.”

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While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, “This is my blood of the[g] covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

The first candle is extinguished in silence.

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HYMN: A&M 434

An upper room did our Lord prepare 

for those he loved until the end :

and his disciples still gather there, 

to celebrate their risen friend.

A lasting gift Jesus gave his own — 

to share his bread, his loving cup.

Whatever burdens may bow us down, 

he by his cross shall lift us up.

And after supper he washed their feet, 

for service, too, is sacrament.

In him our joy shall be made complete — 

sent out to serve, as he was sent. 

No end there is: we depart in peace.   

He loves beyond our uttermost:

in every room in our Father's house 

he will be there, as Lord and host.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, on the night before he died,

your son shared the Passover meal with his friends,

giving them bread to nourish their spirits

and wine, poured out as his blood, for the forgiveness of their sins. We pray that we may turn to him for our strength, and for forgiveness.

Through Christ, our Lord.

All        Amen.

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The Second Reading - Mark 14: 32-36, 43-50

Jesus is betrayed and arrested

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They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”  And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”

Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”  So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?  Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”  All of them deserted him and fled.

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

The second candle is extinguished.

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Caiaphas and the Temple Guard by Graham Kendrick Sung by Mike Pennington

https://youtu.be/7xaQNO_yl7Q

Prayer:

Father in heaven,

your son, Jesus, prayed in the garden of Gethsemane,

seeking to understand what you were asking him to do.

Help us to pray, 

to persevere in discovering the thing you call us to do with our lives.

Give us the strength and courage to follow your calling

whatever the cost, 

when we feel alone or betrayed,

afraid or helpless.

Through Christ, our Lord.

All        Amen.

The Third Reading - Mark 15:1-15

Jesus appears before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor 

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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.  Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’  He answered him, ‘It is you who say so.’  Then the chief priests accused him of many things.  Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer?  See how many charges they bring against you.’  But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.  

Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked.  Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.  So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom.  Then he answered them, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’  For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.  

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.  Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’  They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’  Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’  But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’  So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them and, after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

The third candle is extinguished.

HYMN: MP754 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

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?

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 laid Him in the tomb? 

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?

Prayer:

Father in heaven,

when we feel the whole world against us,

accounting us of little worth,

give us your Spirit 

that we may speak the truth

and stay firm in our calling to be like Jesus,

whatever the cost.

Through Christ our Lord.

All        Amen.

The Fourth Reading - Mark 15:16-32

Jesus is crucified

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Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace and they called together the whole cohort.  And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him.  And they began saluting him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.  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.  

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.  Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).  And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.  And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.  It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.  The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’  And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!"  

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.  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.

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

The fourth candle is extinguished.

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HYMN: A&M 517

To mock your reign, O dearest Lord, 

they made a crown of thorns; 

set you with taunts along that road 

from which no man returns.

They could not know, as we do now, 

how glorious is that crown: 

that thorns would flower upon your brow, 

your sorrows heal our own.

In mock acclaim, O gracious Lord,  

they snatched a purple cloak,  

your passion turned, for all they cared,  

into a soldier's joke. 

They could not know, as we do now, 

that, though we merit blame, 

you will your robe of mercy throw 

around our naked shame.

A sceptred reed, O patient Lord,   

they thrust into your hand,  

and acted out their grim charade 

to its appointed end. 

They could not know, as we do now, 

though empires rise and fall,  

your kingdom shall not cease to grow

till love embraces all.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, we so often stand by, 

as others are mocked or belittled,

as cruelty and injustice are allowed free reign,

afraid to speak, afraid to act, silent and guilty.

Give us strength to speak out,

and to witness always to the right,

and to the truth.

Through Christ, our Lord.

All        Amen.

The Fifth Reading - Mark 15: 34-39

Jesus dies on the cross

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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?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 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.” 

Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he[j] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

The fifth candle is extinguished.

Music: Jesus sung by Mike Pennington 

https://youtu.be/LjB5fnGV8so

Prayer:

Father in heaven, when we cannot find you, and are not sure that you are there, give us faith.

Let us understand that you are always faithful,

always present, holding us and sustaining us,

even in the darkest moments when all seems hopeless and lost, and death surrounds us.

Through Christ our Lord.

All        Amen.

The Sixth Reading - Isaiah 52:13 – 53:5

He was despised and we took no account of him

See, my servant will prosper.  He shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights.  As the crowds were appalled on seeing him, so disfigured did he look that he seemed no longer human, so will the crowds be astonished at him, and kings stand speechless before him.  

For they shall see something never told, and witness something never heard before.  Who could believe what we have heard and to whom has the power of the Lord been revealed?  

Like a sapling he grew up in front of us, like a root in arid ground.  Without beauty, without majesty we saw him, no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, a man to make people screen their faces.  

He was despised and we took no account of him.  And yet ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he carried.  But we, we thought of him as someone punished, struck by God and brought low.  Yet he was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins.  On him lies punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed.

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

The sixth candle is extinguished.

Piano 

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Prayer:

Father in heaven, today we look on Jesus your son,

stripped and humiliated, betrayed and led out to be nailed to a tree.

Yet this man takes upon himself our sins,

our faults, our failings, and gives us new life

in his resurrection. He is charity and love, and where charity and love are, God is there.

Through Christ, our Lord.

All        Amen.

The Seventh Reading - Mark 15: 42-47

Jesus is laid in the tomb

When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. 

When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.  Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

The seventh candle, representing Jesus Christ, Light of the world, is hidden as Jesus’ body was hidden in the shadows of the tomb.

We depart in silence.

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