Curious Christian

11 responses to “Tenebrae intro”

1. 

   Ben

   2008-03-19

   Well, coincidently.
   This Easter I am planning and running a Tenebrae service this Thursday night.
   Like you I am doing it in a church where this is a bit different to the norm and we had to give some thought to orientating people a bit.
   The short introduction we are giving out reads:
   Welcome to tonight’s Tenebrae experience. “Tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows,”
   so this is a service of shadows.
   Tonight we are remembering the death of Jesus. This is not a happy topic, but without His death, there would be no resurrection. So as we journey this Easter, we seek to better understand Good Friday.
   At each stage tonight, some scripture will be read followed by a time of silent prayer and refection.
   At each stage, a candle will be extinguished, until we reach a moment of darkness.
   This is a somber service, a time for reflection on the sufferings of Christ. We will be having communion near the end of the night.
   It is traditional after a Tenebrae service to leave the church in silence to maintain our focus on the suffering of Christ. However, If you wish to remain for a moment to reflect feel free to do so.
   To promote Tenebrae we also put this together:
   http://muswellbrooktenebrae08.googlepages.com/tenebrae
   Which we emailed around the church.

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2. 

   Matt Stone

   2008-03-19

   Hey, I liked the link Ben, makes the point nicely.

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3. 

   Cathy

   2008-03-19

   Why Thursday? I’m looking forward to a communion and foot washing on that night.

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4. 

   Matt Stone

   2008-03-19

   As I understand it Tenebrae services have been traditionally celebrated on the eves of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. But I’ve only ever experienced them on a Maundy Thursday myself.
   Since you mention foot washing, I’ve seen it done at a Mind Body Spirit Festival but never in a service. Have you done many? How do you go about it? I’d been interested in hearing.

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5. 

   Cathy

   2008-03-19

   I’ve never been to one until (if I get over the flu) this year with the local Church of the Brethren. I’ll fill you in later.

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6. 

   Peggy

   2008-03-19

   Footwashing — it was the best of times; it was the worst of times….
   The Church of God (Anderson, IN) practices footwashing — and always does this on Maundy-Thursday as part of remembering the events of the Last Supper. It is practiced at other times in smaller groups, at retreats, at ordinations, etc. as seems appropriate.
   For Maundy-Thursday, they have the men and women is separate rooms (ones with water sources in them) and use towels and basins filled with warm water (since Easter is usually still cold here in the States :^) ) to wash the feet of the other — sometimes in silence, sometimes offering a prayer for the one being served — sometimes the one being served prays for the one serving. We usually had the room lit by candles with meditative music playing. One would read the passage about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples and then give brief instructions. It can be a very powerful experience.
   It is basically a time of showing humble gratitude for the service of others. Fathers and mothers washing the feet of their sons and daughters is especially moving. Sometimes it was a path for approaching reconciliation between those who had a misunderstanding that was quenching the Spirit. It is very flexible, really.
   I will say that I frequently, especially while on the pastoral staff, felt this was sometimes just another way to fawn on the leaders. I hope that doesn’t sound like sour grapes…sad, but true.
   What I would love to see is more of a move toward the leaders serving the followers, because I see that more in line with what Jesus did. Although, he did tell the disciples to wash each other’s feet. Perhaps if the leaders would wash each other’s feet, and then wash the feet of those who serve with them in ministry it would be more in line with what Jesus was talking about.
   Anyway, it is always a pain to my heart to see those who come to participate, yet no one comes to wash their feet. Those were usually the ones I sought out. And sometimes, those who had been in classes with me would come to me to do it for the first time, because they felt comfortable with me and didn’t feel so self-conscious.
   Hope that makes sense…I’m in desperate need of a nap. ;^)
   Blessed Holy Week!

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7. 

   Matt Stone

   2008-03-19

   Thanks Peggy, where I saw it done at the Mind Body Spirit Festival was somewhat different.
   Basically there was a bunch of girls from the Salvation Army (a Christian denomination in Australia so well known for charity work that many Australians don’t realise its a denomination) who set up a stall with aromatherapy foot baths, with the nice smelling salts, towels, and all that, and who washed and massaged the feet of anyone passing by who wanted it. They were all dressed in white and had a wonderful backdrop of Jesus’ face at the back of the stall. After the foot wash and massage they would ask if there was anything they could pray about for the person. Most said yes and many cried. They ended up winning an award as the best stall one year. A Christian stall voted as the best one in a New Age festival – pretty amazing hey!
   I’ve been thinking it would be pretty cool to do within the church service some time but was unsure how that would work out with dynamics and logistics, you’ve given me much to think about.

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8. 

   Jane Kelly

   2008-03-19

   As I’m writing this message, I realise that I haven’t fully developed my thoughts on this and my writing may not capture exactly what I mean, so sorry in advance.
   Is Easter Sunday the powerful, inspirational ending, or the A-ah moment for us mortals? I look at Good Friday as where God took everything we understood about failure, shame, destruction and turned it on its head. At the cross we see the mighty debt of our sins paid for. At the cross God won us back to Himself. At the cross Satan lost (even though he still doesn’t realise). Easter Sunday is the “A-ah” moment when we realise that Jesus has won and successfully paid a price we couldn’t. Death could not win because Jesus was (and is) God. We lose some of our understanding of the character of God if we only focus on the power and glory and success of Easter Sunday.
   What I’m trying to say is that I love focussing on Lent, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday because these show the purposefulness of Jesus’ actions and how we mere mortals so oftern just don’t get that God works through the things we so often devalue.
   So “Go!” the Tenebrae Services this Easter season. I also think the inspirational end is yet to come!

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9. 

   Peggy

   2008-03-21

   Matt, I’m glad to have provided some food for thought! Love the story from the M-B-S Festival. (Do I remember it from John’s book?)
   I have a passion and gift for foot message and foot washing and aromatherapy stuff … I have frequently done this as a gift to someone who just desperately needs to relax and receive the gift of loving and healing and prayerful touch. I have thought to have a booth at a convention for this … a place full of people who have been walking for hours … now you’ve got ME thinking! :^)
   Blessings this Easter!

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10. 

    Cathy

    2008-03-22

    I posted my footwashing experience from last night on my blog. There’s also a neat video from youtube about a guy who started a footwashing (with socks) ministry for the homeless.

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11. 

    Matt Stone

    2008-03-25

    Jane, having thought about it I’d say I see Sunday as more than an “A-ah” moment but I certainly do not see it as anything less than that. I see the resurrection as the climax of the Jesus story, of Israel’s story and of his story (yes a deliberate pun) but what is a climax without a context? Easter is certainly lessened without due attention to the crisis Jesus went through leading up to this moment. Thanks for your perspectives.
    Peggy, I believe a description of this foot washing stall was included in the book “Jesus and the Gods of the New Age” but I am speaking more out of my personal recollections here.
    Now that I think of it, I have previously posted some photos here
    http://mattstone.blogs.com/photos/mind_body_spirit_festival/mind_body_spirit_9.html and here http://mattstone.blogs.com/photos/mind_body_spirit_festival/mind_body_spirit_10.html which I took at the time.
    Cathy, thanks for your story too.

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