Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows for Good Friday

If you have five candles, prepare for this service by arranging them in front of you and lighting them. After each reading, extinguish one candle.

Opening Sentences:

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

Centering Music: Kyrie

Reading: John 18:1-18

Hymn: My Faith Looks Up to Thee

Reading: John 18:19-40

Hymn: Ah Holy Jesus

Reading: John 19:1-16

Hymn: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Reading: John 19:16b-30

Hymn: Were You There

Reading: John 19:31-42

Hymn: Jesus, Remember Me

Prayer:

Merciful God, you gave your Son to suffer the shame of the cross. Save us from hardness of heart, that, seeing him who died for us, we may repent, confess our sin, and receive your overflowing love, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.