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Home , Easter Vigil, Holy Week, Tenebrae

Holy 2021

Easter April 3 - 7:30 pm

Easter Sunday April 4 - 8:00 am & 11:00 am , the word for “shadows’ or “darkness”, is the popular Easter Eggs to go afterwards! name for the ancient monastic offices of and appointed for each of the last three days of . With the liturgical renewal of the last century came the restoration of the ( , and the ), and Tenebrae for and Good Friday fell into disuse. Recognizing the great beauty and value of the Tenebrae texts, the Standing Liturgical Commission of the Episcopal Church provides a service of Tenebrae in the Book of Occasional Services, upon which tonight’s liturgy is based. It combines into one service the strongest elements of all three Tenebrae offices and offers an extended meditation on, and a prelude to, the events in our Lord’s life between the and the . The mood is somber and reflective. As the readings progress, the candles on the are gradually extinguished until only one lone candle remains. Then even that single light is hidden away, and we remain in darkness, meditating on the mystery of Christ’s death and the apparent victory of darkness and evil in our lives. The candle then reappears, and by its light of resurrection, we pray and leave quietly, anticipating the events to unfold during Holy Week. Reading 1 “The Shadow of Betrayal” Matthew 26:20-25

Celebrant: Truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me. Reading 7 “The Shadow of Death” : 33-46

Community: The Son of Man will go as it is written. Celebrant: Darkness covered the whole land when had been crucified;

Reading 2 “The Shadow of Inner Agony” :40-44 Community: and about the ninth hour he cried with a loud voice: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And he bowed his head and handed over his Celebrant: Father, take this cup from me. spirit.

Community: Yet, not my will, but yours be done. Closing Prayer Reading 3 “The Shadow of Loneliness” Matthew 26: 40-45

Celebrant: Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation

Community: The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Reading 4 “The Desertion” Matthew 26: 47-50, 55-56

Celebrant: Have you come out as against a robber,

Community: with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day, I sat in the teaching, and you did not seize me; but now, behold, you scourge me, and lead me away to be crucified.

Reading 5 “The Shadow of Accusation” Matthew 26:59-67

Celebrant: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.

Community: You have said so.

Reading 6 “The Shadow of Mockery” Mark 15: 12-20

Celebrant: The soldiers put a purple robe on him and placed a on his head.

Community: And they began to cry out, “Hail, King of the Jews”.