Good Friday at Centenary
By Alan Keely
Holy Week traditions at Centenary have been many and varied. However, one service has held its place for more than half a century the Service of Tenebrae – presented on Good Friday evening. This service is one of the most moving services of the church year.
Our Service of Tenebrae is adapted from an ancient ritual of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The word “Tenebrae” is from the Latin for “darkness.” It represents the period Jesus hung on the cross. The service is designed to create an atmosphere of somber contemplation and pensive reflection. It should be a very personal experience as the word from the Holy Book is read and sung. There is no interpretation from the pulpit; the interpretation comes from within each of our hearts.
The narration consists of passages from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. The passages were carefully chosen by the late Reverend Dr. T. Ray Branton, the Minister of Music at Centenary from 1961 until his retirement in 1992, and across the years with few exceptions, the narration has remained unchanged.
The music in the service has traditionally been the “Seven Last Words of Christ” by Théodore Dubois. Overtly dramatic in character, the music brings to life the story of Jesus’ Passion and death. Many will vividly remember “He is death-guilty! Take him!”; and “Vah! Thou wouldst fain destroy the temple!”; and the power of the “earthquake and storm” that follows Jesus’ death
First performed at Centenary in 1932, the Dubois “Seven Last Words” was regularly performed from 1968 to 2014 as part of this service. This year on Good Friday evening, the
Chancel Choir will again offer us an opportunity to experience this dramatic and very moving service. What can the listener expect?
Upon entering the Sanctuary for the Service of Tenebrae, one is strangely aware that something is different. During the Service of Holy Communion the previous evening, the chancel was stripped of the visible symbols of our faith giving us a stark reminder of what is to come and a symbol of the desolation, abandonment and darkness of Jesus’ Passion
One sees a central candle burning in front of a wooden cross. It represents the One who comes as light into our world of darkness. From this light of Christ, the candles symbolizing the seven words from the cross will be lit. After the narration which leads to the crucifixion, each word will be read, sung, and a candle will be extinguished. At the conclusion, the light of Christ will be taken from the sanctuary, and we will be in the Tenebrae the time of darkness. After a few moments, the lighted candle will be returned as a symbol of our hope for the Easter resurrection. The cross will be draped in black and the crown of thorns placed upon it. The service ends leaving us with a sense of hope as the Choir sings “Christ, we do all adore Thee.”
I cordially invite everyone to this most special of services as Centenary looks forward to the Easter resurrection!