Duke Chapel Tenebrae Service

I’ve wanted to post this for a while now, and even though Easter was a few months ago, I’m going to go ahead and put this out there. 
This past Easter I went alone to the Duke Chapel Tenebrae service.  This is from the program:

Tenebrae (Latin for “shadows” or “darkness”) is a solemn observance of Jesus’ passion and death. The service marks Jesus’ journey to Golgotha and allows for extended meditation through proclamation of the Word in scripture and sermon, as well as through music, increasing darkness, and silent reflection.

I had never attended a Tenebrae service, but have wanted to for two years -- since I first heard a friend talk about going to Duke Chapel’s service.

Reverend Luke Powery gave a sermon entitled Wounded for Me.  These are some of my favorite parts from his talk:

“We may want to hide our pain and past wounds as if they cannot be a part of our faith. The truth is that the scars from our wounds will always be present as they were on the body of Jesus. …His wounds don’t mean we will never have wounds.  …You know this if you are in touch with your wounds. If you are not in touch with your wounds, your spiritual life will be weak and your ministry even weaker. Your wounds can make you strong. A thorn in the flesh couldn’t stop the apostle Paul who discovered that whenever he was weak then he was strong (2 Cor 12: 9-10). And a cross, we know, did not stop Jesus. Wounds can help you be a faithful witness to the cruciform gospel and just because you’re wounded doesn’t mean you’re worthless. Through the broken body of Jesus on the cross God redeems our woundedness.
And wounds can heal. “By his bruises we are healed.” But the scars often remain. You’re in good company because the wounds of the crucifixion were not erased by the resurrection. The scars are the embodied memory of the wounds of the world that Jesus carried. …
When I look at his body, I’m reminded that wounds, no matter how deep, don’t have to win. Jesus doesn’t allow his wounds to defeat him nor do yours have to kill you.”

His words reminded me of my favorite scriptures:

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

After his sermon, there would be a scripture reading followed by the reader extinguishing one of seven candles, followed by some of the lights in the nave being shut off. 

Matthew 26:36-46 Jesus’s disciples fall asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:47-56 Judas Betrays Jesus with a kiss.
Matthew 26:57-68  Jesus Before the Sanhedrin.
Matthew 26:69-75 Peter’s denial.
Matthew 27:15-26 Jesus before Pilate.
Matthew 27:27-44 The soldiers mock Jesus. 
Matthew 27:45-50 The death of Jesus. 
                   The last candle extinguished, DARKNESS & SILENCE. The bell tolls 33 times to signify each year of Jesus’ life.
Matthew 27:51-54 Surely he was the Son of God.

Right before the sixth candle was extinguished the choir, who were now sitting amongst us in the congregation, sang O Sacred Head, Now Wounded.  It was perfect stereo.  I can’t describe how perfect it sounded and felt.  You simply must click on that link and listen, but it won’t do the live experience justice.  The Reverend had said earlier in his sermon:  “What really can be said when the creator of the cosmos finds himself on a cross?  Not much can be said but a lot can be sung.”  It is true.  This song captures my heart for it.
After sitting in the darkness, the lights come up just enough for worshippers to see their way out.  Everyone remained silent as some prayed, others meditated, and we all departed in silence.  I stayed until the chapel was nearly empty.  When I stepped out into the night it was softly raining.  I was so glad I had been there that night.

On Sunday it was a gorgeous morning.  I sang in our Easter choir and loved singing the song Oh Light of Life!  (you can see it sung here).  I love the words:

O Light of Life! O pure Light Divine!
Thou art in us; Our ember is Thine.
Kindle our faith, Give hope when we fear,
Deepen our love– Thy Fire appear!
Light of our souls– Thou spark at our birth– 
Glow bright in us, Shine in all the earth!
O Light of Life! O true Light of Peace!
Storms will arise, Let Thy light increase.
Pierce through dark clouds, Give pause to the proud;
Let Thy shafts fall, Lift humble heads bowed.
Answer our pleas, Melt hearts in thy flame.
Make us as one, As one in Thy name.
O Light of Life! O sweet Light of Grace!
Thou bids us come, We follow a pace.
See the bright tree! Behold the white fruit!
Feasting we weep, We witness the root!
O Light of life! O dear Light of Love!
Washed clean we rise, Descends the white Dove.
Fill us with fire, Enlighten our eyes;
Help us to love–  'Tis price of the prize.
Then let us come, Enrobe us in light.
We cleave to Thee, Light unto Thy Light.
O light of Life! Light unto Light.

I love that the song is about light.  That is what my faith is to me, and how I feel about my Savior.  One of my favorite hymns is “Sweet is the peace the gospel brings to seeking minds and true.  With light refulgent on its wings, it clears the human view.”  I think this phrase often during my week.  It comes to me when I recognize how much my faith helps me and sees me through my personal storms. 
For me, this Easter I contemplated a lot about the symbolism of darkness and light.  The darkness of the Tenebrae service and contemplating that I do experience darkness in my life.  But even as I sat there in the dark in that silent chapel, there was light in my soul!  Oh how I felt like I was on fire.  And then to sing on Easter morning about light and pleading for it to come into my life. 
To me this Easter’s message was that our darkness, our storms our weakness, can become beautiful light filled moments if we turn to the Light of the World.