Good Friday: Service of Tenebrae, 7.30pm, Sandford Church

On the evening of Good Friday (7th April) we have a service of Tenebrae (the Latin word for ‘darkness’ or ‘shadows’.) One of the most conspicuous features of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles until only a single candle, considered a symbol of our Lord, remains. As it gets darker we reflect on the great emotional and physical pain that must have been very real for Jesus that day. Towards the end of the service the Christ candle is hidden, typifying the apparent victory of the forces of evil over good. At the very end, a loud noise symbolises the earthquake at the time of His death. At the moment of the earthquake, the temple veil was torn apart, making the Holy of Holies exposed to public view. This is understood to represent God’s change toward us with direct access to him, no longer requiring the ceremonial acts of the priests for our forgiveness of sin. The hidden candle is then restored to its place, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.