Event details

Join us for a fully virtual Good Friday Tenebrae service at 8pm. The recorded service goes live at 8pm and will be archived afterwards for viewing at any time along with our many concerts, programs, and worship services. Please join us Friday, April 2 at 8pm though this link to the ORL youtube page where the service is posted.

Bulletin for Good Friday, April 2, 2021 – The Order of Tenebrae

This service is a version of the ancient night office of Tenebrae sung in Holy Week. Tenebrae means shadows or darkness. In this service, worshipers are given the opportunity to meditate on the last days of Jesus, through scripture, prayer, silence, hymns, and the gradual extinguishing of candles. At the conclusion of the service, the central “Christ” candle will be hidden, symbolizing the apparent victory of the forces of evil at the time of the death of Jesus. Then a loud noise is made symbolizing the earthquake at the time of the crucifixion.

Invitatory: Chorale Prelude on "O Sacred Head Now Wounded", Opus posth. by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Opening Sentences and Prayer: Dean Boden

Betrayal: Matthew 26:20-25 (Read by Hanna Szabo’21)

Silence

Hymn: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (Passion Chorale)

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, your only crown, how pale you are with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn! How does your visage languish which once was bright as morn!

What language shall I borrow to thank you, dearest friend, for this your dying sorrow, your pity without end? May I be yours forever; and though my days be few, O Savior, let me never outlive my love for you!

Desertion: Matthew 26:30-35 (Read by Alexandra Miller-Knaack PTS ’21)

Silence

Anthem: Lord, I Approach Thy Mercy Seat from Melodious Accord (Buford) arranged by Alice Parker (b. 1925)

Temptation: Luke 22:39-44 (Read by Jonathan A. Ort ’21)

Silence

Hymn: My Song is Love Unknown (Rhosymedre)

My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me, love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake my God should take frail flesh and die? My God should take frail flesh and die?

I sing my plain belief, one song my heart outpours; never was pain nor grief, never was love like yours, this is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend; I all my days could gladly spend.

Accusation: Mark 14:43-65 (Read by Thomas Hontz ’22)

Silence

Hymn: Ah, Holy Jesus (Herzliebster Jesu)

Ah, holy Jesus, how have you offended, that mortal judgment has on you descended? By foes derided, by your own rejected, O most afflicted!

For me, kind Jesus, was your incarnation, your mortal sorrow, and your life's oblation, your death of anguish and your bitter passion, for my salvation.

Crucifixion: Mark 15:16-32 (Read by Tessa Flanagan ’21)

Silence

Anthem: Come Ye Disconsolate from Melodious Accord (Consolation) arranged by Alice Parker (b.1925) with Joel Zinn '13, soloist

Death: Mark 15:33-41 (Read by Hanna Szabo’21)

Silence

Solo: The Crucifixion from Hermit Songs by Samuel Barber (1910-1981) with Jennifer Borghi ’02, soloist

Burial: John 19:38-42 (Read by Natashia A. Neckles ’21)

Silence

Hymn: What Wondrous Love Is This? (Wondrous Love)

What wondrous love is this, O my soul! O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this! That caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, to God and to the Lamb I will sing, to God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am, while millions join the theme I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme I will sing.

Closing: Dean Thames

Merciful God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom Jesus of Nazareth was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon a cross, and to be buried. Amen.

Hymn: Were You There? with Kenneth I. Grayson, Jr., soloist

The Rev. Dr. Alison Boden, Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel and The Rev. Dr. Theresa Thames, Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel are leading the service. The Princeton University Chapel Choir is under the direction of Penna Rose, Director of Chapel Music. Eric Plutz, University Organist

Calendar: The event listed below is fully virtual and available online at chapel.princeton.edu

Sunday, April 4, 2021, 8am - Easter Sunday Service The preacher will be Dean Boden

For additional information, please visit chapel.princeton.edu or call 609-258-3047.