Invitation to Good Friday Tenebrae Service in Christ Church, Castlebar

 

Tenebrae, 3 April, 8pm in Christ Church, Castlebar

 

You are warmly invited to join us for Tenebrae on Good Friday, 3rd April, at 8pm in Christ Church, Castlebar. This year we are pleased to have as our guest soloist renowned baritone, David Durham (pictured), and as organist, Siobhan Kilkelly. 




What is Tenebrae? 

Tenebrae is a sombre and uniquely moving service. Since medieval times tenebrae (Latin, “darkness” or “shadows”) has been the name given to the monastic morning and night-time services (Matins and Lauds) of the last three days of Holy Week. It marks the days of the first Holy Week, through Scripture readings, prayers, music, and the extinguishing of candles, evocative of the last hours of Jesus' earthly life and Passion (or suffering). 

Each part of the service draws us more deeply into the darkness of a world without Christ and reminds us of his redemptive sacrifice for the world. A symbolic Stripping of the Altar sees the Holy Table laid bare and liturgical garments discarded. Candles and lights in the church are extinguished one-by-one, until only a single candle, the ‘Christ candle’, symbolising Jesus, Light of the World, remains. Eventually even this candle is hidden, symbolising the point of his death. The sanctuary, left in darkness, recalls for us the days of desolation between the Cross and Resurrection. 

But even as we remember Jesus’ death, we recall the warmth and light of his presence, always with us. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." Accordingly, the Christ candle is carried back into the sanctuary. Though the darkness may threaten to overcome us, it can never extinguish the Light. 

Finally, a loud and sudden noise symbolises the stone being rolled across the door of Christ’s tomb (or for some, symbolising the earthquake at the Resurrection; see Matthew 28:2). The single hidden candle is restored to its place, and by its light the whole congregation departs in silence to await Easter - Resurrection Sunday.


There is no charge for this event and all are warmly invited and welcome. 

Tá fáilte romhat!



Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20206867  





Pastoral care and enquiries 

Rector: Revd Suzanne Cousins 
Aughaval Group of Parishes
United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland 
Tel. +353 83 800 3233 
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org

Aughaval Parishes' website  aughaval.tlk.ie

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes


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