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Holy W Eek: Good Friday Tenebrae

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Holy W Eek: Good Friday Tenebrae shepherd of the hills LUTHERAN CHURCH 7691 S. University Blvd. Centennial CO 80122 | 303-798-0711 ShepherdHillsChurch.org THE ORDER OF TENEBRAE The Service of Tenebrae is an ancient Holy Week devotion. The name Tenebrae means shadows or darkness, and the service has taken its name from the ceremony of extinguishing the candles and lights in the worship space, thus gradually casting the church into complete darkness. This marks the end of the Good Friday celebration. To impress on the minds and hearts of believers the awful consequences of their sin and the magnitude of the Savior’s sacrifice, the ancient church held a Tenebrae service most nights in Holy Week and/or early in the morning at the Offices of Matins and Lauds on all three days of The Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, 7:00 PM 7:00 Easter Vigil). The service, conducted in solemn dignity, went from light to darkness, representing the darkness on the earth while Jesus hung on the cross and reminding us of the darkness of sin and eternal death. When the Christ Candle is removed, we are reminded of Christ’s death and His three days in the tomb. Its | return to the chancel points us to Jesus’ glorious resurrection on Easter and to Christ as the Light of the World. As the service begins, the Bible is open to Isaiah 53, the most magnificent Old Testament prophecy of our Lord’s Work of Redemption. The loud closing of the Bible during the service symbolizes the completion of the Old Testament era of anticipation of Jesus’ great Work of Salvation: His death in full payment for our sins. The Bible is then reopened to John 3:16, symbolizing the New Testament era when not only is our redemption complete, but in the new life of His resurrection we are also to tell the whole world of God’s Gift of Forgiveness and Eternal Life in Jesus. May the Lord be with you this solemn night. IN THE NAME OF JESUS RINGING OF THE BELL The bell is tolled to honor the life and death of Christ Jesus, our Lord. PRELUDE April 2, 2021 April INVOCATION Matthew 28:19b Pastor (P): In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. | Congregation (C): Amen! CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, WITH 1 JOHN 2:1-6 John 20:19-23; portions of Psalm 31 P: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. C: Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in Him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. P: By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked. (silence for reflection on God’s Word and for contemplation on our sin and our need for our Savior, Jesus Christ) P: In You, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in Your righteousness deliver me! C: Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me; a strong fortress to save me! P: For You are my rock and my fortress; and for Your name’s sake You lead me and guide me. ALL: Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. Be gracious to me, O LORD. Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your steadfast love! P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen! P: Love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD preserves the faithful. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! ALL: I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand. OFFERING Please see Shepherd’s website for giving options: ShepherdHillsChurch.org HYMN # 611:1 & 4/5 “Chief of Sinners Though I Be” Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me, Died that I might live on high, Lives that I might never die. As the branch is to the vine, I am His, and He is mine. Chief of sinners though I be, Christ is all in all to me. When my wayward heart would stray, Keep me in the narrow way; Grace in time of need supply While I live and when I die. ACCLAMATION P: The Holy Gospel, according to St. John, the 15th chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord! THE HOLY GOSPEL John 15:1-17 Jesus said: “I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I AM the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the Friday Tenebrae Good Week: Holy In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.... branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” RESPONSE P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! HYMN # 425 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See, from His head, His hands, His feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all! HOMILY “Greatest Love” gym: Pastor Brad Stoltenow | sanctuary: Pastor Greg Zillinger + + + THE SERVICE OF TENEBRAE As each segment is read, a set of candles/lights is extinguished. THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 15:20c-24 And the soldiers led Jesus out to crucify Him. And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry His cross. And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. And they crucified Him and divided His garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. RESPONSE P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! HYMN # 436:1-3 “Go to Dark Gethsemane” Go to dark Gethsemane, All who feel the tempter’s pow’r; Your Redeemer’s conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour; Turn not from His griefs away; Learn from Jesus Christ to pray.
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