Tenebrae services, or Services of Shadows, come in many variations. This present service is structured around the account of the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus given in St John’s Gospel, divided into seven sections. This text is the set Gospel reading for Good Friday which, on account of its length, is often not heard in its entirety in Good Friday services. Using this text for a Tenebrae service on Maundy Thursday or another evening in Holy Week makes possible a hearing of the whole of the narrative as preparation for whatever shorter part of the set Gospel might be used on Good Friday.

The service simply allows John’s passion narrative to unfold, punctuated by periods of silent reflection, a sung refrain and the extinguishing of a candle after each section. An opening and closing prayer are the principle points of interpretation of the narrative, which is otherwise heard without comment.

The service concludes with a final prayer and musical reflection before the people depart in silence, when ready.

This service is shared in the hope that it might be of use to others. Please feel free to download the service document (in MS Word .docx format) and adapt it as appropriate to your local context. We’d love to hear whether it has been useful to you!

For a number of years the Congregation of Mark the Evangelist has heard the passion narrative of the gospel for that lectionary year on Passion (Palm) Sunday as a preparation for Holy Week. A version of that order — for Matthew’s Gospel in Year A – is shared here in the hope that it might be useful to others .

The text of the passion narrative is punctuated with prayers, psalms and hymns, with a few suggestions for dramatic actions which might help to reduce the ‘wordiness’ of such a long reading in church. The order also includes the Eucharist. More explanation of the service and how to prepare it are given in the downloadable document. Used ‘as is’ – including Holy Communion – the service would run for 70-75 minutes, depending on your music choices.

Please feel free to download this resource (in MS Word .docx format) and adapt it as appropriate to your local context. We’d love to hear whether it has been useful to you!