Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service (Service of Darkness)

At Union's traditional Tenebrae Service, Holy Communion will be offered to all believers. One need not be a member of any church to participate. Following communion and before the start of Tenebrae, the candles, Bible, offering plates, altar cloth and even the cross are removed from the altar, carried away in silence as a reminder of the empitness of death. During the reading of the story of the betrayal and abandonment of Jesus, the lights in the sanctuary are slowly dimmed until only two candles and the Christ candle remain to illuminate the sanctuary. The last candles are extinguised as a gong is struck to signify the death of Jesus. The Christ candle is removed from the sanctuary, returned and relit. The congregation leaves the sanctuary in silence. The message of Easter does not end with the burial of Christ, but takes us to the empty tomb of Easter Sunday signifying to the world the resurrection of life.