Good Friday: the Tenebrae

[FirstLight]

Have you ever heard of it? It is the "service of the darkening"...or of shadows, and it is the dark part of the easter story, it follows the last seven statements of Christ on the cross and as each part is contemplated...a candle is extinguished.
Then you leave the church in darkness and silence, in mourning... which makes the miracle of Easter that much more powerful and joyful

What I get out of it is different every time. It's really a profound thought, what must the disciples felt as Jesus died? They had no idea what was coming, for all they knew, it was OVER, their hope was done. They had been schooled for a couple years by this great teacher, and now he was gone...they thought he was there to deliver them from the romans, they had no idea his teachings were more about Christ-in-All-of -Us ...and in my opinion, anchoring that energy into the grids. To them, they had to plan a funeral now, and take care of his body, they had to look on his face and note the absence of his spirit there... how desolate they must have felt...

The passage of the last words spoken on the cross are also profound: forgiving a criminal next to him, forgiving the ones who nailed him up there, telling his mother that he was no longer her son, crying in abandonment, saying to god and them all that it was finished (he completed his soul purpose) and then releasing himself to the light... all of these are stages of faith we ALL go through no matter what our doctrine. and it never ceases to make me cry, truth has a way of doing that i guess.

I love that fact that my Pastor digs up these obscure old-world concepts...

http://www.kencollins.com/instructions/how-05.htm

So ya, while I am quite a 'new ager' I still enjoy my Lutheran Churchy-ness...especially when I feel this stuff on so many levels.
I just wanted to share...

[murielm99]

1. I have attended such services.

It has been a long time, though. Thanks for reminding me.

[FirstLight]

2. ...

towards the Light...eh?

[Howler]

3. Thank you For Sharing Firstlight!!!

I wasn't raised around Christianity so I don't know all the nuances of the religious celebrations and rituals.
I think those are some beautiful thoughts and focus there!!!!

[WolverineDG]

4. That sounds like a really interesting ceremony

thanks for sharing it. I'd never heard of that one.

[woodsprite]

5. Thank you for reminding me. Our other pastor used to do a Tenebrae Service

But we haven't had one in a few years. Our congregation numbers are dwindling as well. Our newish pastor is older. I think between the Ecumenical dinners and other Lenten activities, Maundy Thursday Service, Easter Egg Hunt and fair, and readying for two Easter Services, that asking for another service would just sink her.

Despite all of those services, I always felt that I was able to take more meaning away from the Tennebrae Service. Maybe it's because I didn't have anything to do during that one and could just listen and meditate. I'm actively involved in all the others so I'm concentrating more on procedure, what's next, etc.

[noel711]

6. Thanks!

For those of us who lead worship,
it's good to hear that our work is appreciated.

The ancient rituals and wisdom speaks to a need,
a real need in this 'rational' and technological world.

Too many people are scared by silence and darkness,
but when ritualized, and observed in community,
powerfull things can occur.

Sadly, too many people think they are christian or
'spiritual' when they go with the flow of the public
conversation, or if they put a picture of Jesus on
their FB page, or in their spare bedroom.
But that does not feed the soul.

All the worship services, and rituals of Holy WEek
are a banquet to those seeking some semblance
of how the divine works thru human hands.
Too many miss the opportunity to slow down,
and allow the divine voice to speak to them.

As for me, I am spent: 8 worship services this week,
including the exaulting (and exhausting )easter vigil.

Walked in the woods 90 minutes today to realign
my spirit...but resurrection, rebirth, fresh creations
are all around us.

Glad you appreciated it all!
give you pastor a hug from another one...

a crazy, feminist, spiritual being!