Bill and Linda Poplin
Contributors
Covenant First Presbyterian Church in Live Oak will worship with A Service of Darkness on Good Friday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. The service will include scripture readings and choral meditations. After each meditation, the sanctuary will be darkened a little as a candle is snuffed out. The only candle left will be the Christ candle, which will be removed from the sanctuary. The congregation will sit in darkness for a short while to represent the tomb.
The Tenebrae Service dates from the sixth century. It is a dramatic service to remember the death and passion of Jesus Christ. The literal translation of the Latin word “tenebrae” is “shadows”; thus, the service moves from light to darkness. In the early church, it was celebrated on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week.
The purpose of the Tenebrae Service is to help us focus on the total impact of the darkest day in the history of Christianity, the day that Jesus died on the cross. The service is in complete contrast to Easter. The mood is what the followers of Jesus felt on the Friday long ago: shock, despair, gloom, grief and sadness; however, at the close of the service, the Christ candle returns to give us hope for the resurrection. This Good Friday service will encourage the congregation to consider how their lives should reflect this historical and spiritual event.
This will be purely a service of reflection. There is no admission charge, and no offering will be taken. Bill Poplin will be directing the choir, and Linda Poplin will be accompanying. Covenant First Presbyterian Church is located at 421 White Ave., in Live Oak. For more information, call 386-365-4932 or 386-365-4941.