The office of Tenebrae is an adaptation of a service that was used in the early church. It is a meditation on the shadows that gradually grew darker and finally enveloped Christ in darkness as he journeyed towards the Cross. The service is therefore in a restrained and solemn mood. Readings from scripture are interspersed with music and periods of silence. Next Sunday is the last Sunday of our university Term, so, a week and a half early we will celebrate the Tenebrae office. Each of the eight movements through the shadows of anguish, humiliation, separation and death will be played out through scripture readings, music, dramatic action and silence. We are marrying together the richness of our choral music with the alt*worship tradition - taking ancient ideas and re-engaging with them by putting them into contemporary clothes. New Testament readings, Isaac Newton and Gesualdo will sit side by side with Taize, Brian Eno, barbed wire and candles, fairy lights and red paint ...
One candle after
another will be put out as the sight of the darkness closing in on Jesus. The
last candles remain burning until Good Friday as a sign of Jesus’ death
In retracing the steps of Jesus towards the Cross we will meditate on his obedience to God. We also think of our own life of sacrifice for Christ and those for whom he died.
“If any person will come after me, let him deny himself and take up the cross and follow me. Whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.”
Tenebrae - A Service of Shadows
Sunday 13th March,
6.00 pm
Robinson College Chapel, Cambridge
What time?
Posted by: John | 07/03/2005 at 09:49
6.oo pm! sorry, left out the vital information... now added above
Posted by: maggi | 07/03/2005 at 15:12
Ta :-)
Posted by: John | 07/03/2005 at 16:02
Wish I was nearer! Any chance of you posting more details of how the service was structured, readings, music, etc?
Posted by: hopefulamphibian | 07/03/2005 at 17:07
I loved the Tenebrae service as a kid, and I'm sad to find myself ten or twelve hours away from my childhood pastor (none of the churches around here do it anymore, I don't think).
The best part was when all the candles were out and Pastor read the passage about the closing of the tomb and then SLAMMED the book shut. Then everyone left in silence. Those are some of the most sacred, Spirit-filled moments of my childhood memories.
Posted by: Chris Tessone | 07/03/2005 at 19:17
So often when I read your blog it leaves me with such a sadness that I did not grow up with such rich religious traditions. About the only tradition I remember from childhood was the Sunday foot washing....
and as an adult I wound up in the charismatic realm which is rich in nothing but bullshit.
Posted by: anon | 09/03/2005 at 01:35
Wow, anon - that's a sad comment indeed. Come and join in - it's never too late to start.
Posted by: maggi | 09/03/2005 at 10:44
Seriously off topic, but...(prompted by Anon's comment)
I read your blog regularly, and check out a lot of the links. I am often left thinking, I want to belong with this group of people and do church like they seem to. And then I look at the churches that I have belonged/been to and think 'No, I can't face all the committees/duties any more.'
So where and how do we go? I don't really mean 'which church'. I think I mean, how do we start again?
Impossible questions I know :-)
Posted by: ChrisP | 09/03/2005 at 19:45
Impossible questions, oh how I long for my students to ask impossible questions! They are where change starts to happen ChrisP.
But they happen as we ask, ask others and encourage others to ask (even sometimes in committees?!? :-) I have found a great joy in a cluster of Christian Blogs where I have found others asking similar questions to me. And I feel strongly that I'm doing church now as I write this comment.
ButI'm also aking similar questions in my old C of E parish church. Sometimes the replies are mystified, but mostly they are supportive if sometimes in disagreement. That discussion, that working through difference that muddling around with what we're used to and what we're attempting is a frustratingly thrilling part of my walk.
Posted by: Caroline | 09/03/2005 at 19:58
the interesting thing is that when we're involved we get bogged down in the humbrum and long to leave. But when I provide "church" for people who don't want to be involved apart from just coming along, they don't last the distance. I think that (although there's a time and a place for sitting on the back row) people need to be involved if they are to belong at all - for their own benefit. You can't "own" something you don't work for.
Having said that, death to all boring committees. I am ruthless about agenda setting and sticking to the timetable. My last committee meeting dealt effectively with nine items in 25 minutes.
Posted by: maggi | 10/03/2005 at 09:43
Maggi - thanks for the great service, hannah and I really enjoyed it. the track that was played near the beginning you said was by craig armstrong - can you remind me of the title. Thanks.
Posted by: andy goodliff | 13/03/2005 at 22:21
Hi back Andy - great to meet you and Hannah - thanks for making the trek on a freezing cold night!
Craig Armstrong - I can't remember which way round they came, but the 2 tracks we used were Glasgow from the Space between us album; the other was Ruthless Gravity from As If to Nothing. Both Albums are totally essential - buy 'em both!!!
Posted by: maggi | 14/03/2005 at 10:20
Hello Maggi,
I'm putting together a tenebrae and have been doing my homework surfing for resources. Your 2005 service looks interesting. Are there texts/ rituals that you are willing to share? The alt*worship approach looks to be an interesting change from the traditional plainchant service I did last year. Thanks.
Posted by: Tuck-Leong Lee | 06/03/2007 at 14:43
I don't know how I managed preparing for services and sermons without the internet but I do imagine that I had more time. I keep stumbling upon sites that are new and exciting and take me way off the path I am meant to be on. But what a great ride! Have just read about your alternative Tenebrae service and wondered if you have ever published it - if not is it possible to find out what readings and music you used.
I have just remembered how I came upon this site - I was looking for an image of 'The Tortured Christ' for this Sunday and came across your site - so it is all related.
Thanks. I'll be visiting again soon. Sheridan
Posted by: Sheridan Hannah | 07/08/2008 at 12:42
Hi Sheridan, Yes, one of the projects on my desk at the moment is a publication of the best of the liturgies I have produced over recent years. I'll post here when it comes off the desk!!
Posted by: maggi | 07/08/2008 at 20:33