Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Hi Marc,

I didn't, but my husband did (church organist of a UCC in NH).  He 
enjoyed the service, but did feel there was something missing for him 
as compared to an Episcopal Maundy Thursday service.  He asked that I 
attend with him the Good Friday service at the Episcopal church in 
Nashua tonight to see if this helps him get in touch with whatever was 
missing for him.  Perhaps it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that 
was lacking for him.

Ro

In Western Catholic tradition, which Rome and Canterbury share, the three
days preceeding Easter are called the Triduum.

There is, in essence, one single three-day liturgy which begins on Maundy
Thursday, continues through Good Friday, and ends Holy Saturday night with
the Great Vigil of Easter.

The information which follows is condensed from St. Joseph's Roman Catholic
Missal and The Anglican Service Book.

Maundy Thursday receives its name from the "mandatum" or the "new commandment"
given by Our Lord.  At the Last Supper, Jesus washed his disciples' feet and
commanded them to love and serve one another has he had done.  The service
begins with a festal character: white vestments are worn; the "Gloria in
excelsis" is sung; additional candles may be lit.  This service has been
called "a burst of sunshine in the gathering gloom."  We at once remember
the joy of the institution of the Eucharist, the love and service which Jesus
lived and taught, the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal
leading to the crucifixion.

During the singing of the "Gloria" the church bells are rung and then remain
silent until the "Gloria" of the First Mass of Easter during the Great Vigil.

After the homily, representatives of the congregation come to the front of
the church where the priest, with the help of the ministers, pours water
over each one's feet and dries them.  "Where charity and love abide: there
is God.  The love of Christ joined us in one: let us rejoice and be glad
in him.  Let us fear and love the living God: and love one another in
sincerity of heart."

The bread and wine of the Last Supper are given new meaning by the Body broken
and Blood poured out on the cross.  At the end of the liturgy, the Sacrament
is processed to an altar of repose in a chapel apart from the main church
suitably decorated for the occasion to represent the Garden of Gethsemane.
The faithful should be encouraged to continue adoration before the Blessed
Sacrament for a suitable period of time during the night.  "My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."

After the procession, the ministers return to the main altar and strip it
bare, removing or covering any crosses which remain in the church.

The lights are extinguished, and the people leave in absolute silence.

This most solemn of all days should be marked by fasting, abstinence, and
penance, leading us to focus on Jesus upon the cross.  The bare, stark
appearance of the church serves as a reminder of the solemnity and the
sorrow of the day.

The Lord of Life was rejected, mocked, scourged, and then put to death
on the cross.  The faithful need to be mindful of the part which their
own sins played in this suffering and agony, as Christ took all sin upon
himself, in willing obedience to his Father's will.  By the cross we are
redeemed, set free from bondage to sin and death.  The cross is a sign
of God's never-ending love for us.  It is a sign of life, in the midst
of death.

The entrance to the church is completely silent.  The ministers prostrate
themselves before the altar.  All pray silently for a while.  The Passion
according to John is read or sung.

Intercessions are offered for the Church, for the Clergy and Laity, for
those preparing for Baptism, for the Unity of Christians, for the Jewish
People and others who do not believe in Christ, for those who do not
believe in God, for those who have persecuted others in the name of Christ,
for all in public office, and for those in special need.

A cross is brought to the front of the church in a ceremony which originated
in the city of Jerusalem and was first recorded by the Spanish pilgrim Etheria,
who wrote in her diary about what she saw in the Holy Land in the fourth
century.  "This is the wood of the Cross.  --  Come let us worship."  Those
who desire to do so come forward and kiss the feet of Christ on the crucifix.

"Ah holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, that man to judge thee, hath in hate
pretended. ... 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee: I crucified thee!"

The priest or deacon brings the previously consecrated Sacrament from the
altar of repose to the main altar and distributes communion to the people
in what is traditionally called "The Mass of the Pre-sanctified", since no
consecration may take place from the Last Supper until the First Mass of
Easter.

All depart in silence.

On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, meditating on his
suffering and death.  The altar is left bare, and the sacrifice of the
Mass is not celebrated.  Only after the solemn vigil during the night,
held in anticipation of his resurrection, does the Easter celebration
begin, with a spirit of joy that overflows into the following period
of fifty days.

For a description of the final part of the liturgy of the Triduum, the
Great Vigil of Easter, see topic 642.

    RE: Last couple
    
    The service I attended and was a part of, included parts of the last
    replies. The most dramatic part, was the ending. At that time, we
    stripped the altar bare. With reduced light, I placed a crown of
    thorns on the bare altar. After a couple minutes of silence meditation,
    the people left the church without a sound.
    
    For me, it was "intense".
    
    Marc H.

    .5  Sounds like a ceremony of Tenebrae (darkness), Marc.
    
    Richard
    

    Yes...that was the expression used. Although I'm old in the sense
    of time...43....I'm still young in terms of learning!
    
    Although there might have been something in the RC faith, this is the
    first time that I attended or knew that there was such a service.
    
    I'll be there next year too.
    
    Marc H.

In its Roman Catholic and Anglican form, Tenebrae is somewhat different from
what Marc described.

It is sometimes observed on Wednesday and sometimes after the stripping
of the altar on Thursday.

It involves readings from the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet as well
as the reading of a number of psalms from the Daily Office.

At the end of each section of readings, an additional candle is extinguished
(and usually other lights in other parts of the church will be put out) until
only one candle is left at the end of the last reading.

That candle is then taken out of the church (or hidden behind the altar).
In complete darkness, a loud noise representing the earthquake at the
crucifixion is made.

The single candle is brought back in, representing our faith in the
resurrection.  The people depart from the darkened church in silence.

/john

    I quess that I wasn't clear.
    
    Let me describe the service in more detail that we did at the
    Congregational church.
    
    First, we started the service with special music....organ music that
    can just be descibed as "solemn". Then, after some hymns, we set the
    communion table with the usual elements. The members of the church
    gathered around the table. Next, the story of the last supper was read
    from the bible, with commentary by the minister. We all then shared
    in the communion. Note: It was clear, that the bread and juice was
    made body and blood of Christ.
    
    Next, the deacons went up to the pulpit area...and we all took turns
    reading the story of the Christs last supper to the crucifiction.
    After each one of us read, candles and lights were turned down,
    until at the last reading....One central candle was left. This candle
    was brought out of the room for about 2 minutes (seemed like an
    eternity) and then brought back in.
    
    The minister then read a number of psalms, during each one we stripped
    something from the communion table, until nothing was left. Under
    very low light, I then brought down the crown of thorns. After more
    silent meditation, people left without making a sound.
    
    I'll never forget it.....
    
    Marc H.

    
    My previous church used to hold a Maunday Thursday service.  
    On Palm Sunday they would give everyone a carpentar nail representing
    our sin.  Then on Thursday, part of worship would be hammering our
    nail "our sin" into the cross.  It was a very moving service.
    
    At my new church we have a Catacomb service on Good Friday.  It's
    pitch black.  There is no program.  People just sing, quote scripture, 
    or prayer as the Spirit leads and then we ended with going forward
    to the altar for communion in small groups or couples when our hearts
    were prepared.  It too was very moving.  It's named the Catacomb
    service and darkened to remember the early Christians in Rome who
    would seek refuge from persecution in the Catacombs.
    
    Jill
    

    Activity in a church that involves more than reading from the Bible and
    a sermon?
    
    A re-enanctment of the Last Supper?  Solemnity?  A belief in the
    transformation of the substance of bread and wine into the substance of
    the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ?
    
    Marc, you had better take care that you don't become Catholic if this
    keeps up.

    Ha Ha Ha......well, the Congregational Church is different from what I
    at first thought it was. Nice to see that there is more in "common"
    with other branches of christianity than we first think....eh?
    
    By the way, your use of the word catholic is correct. Catholic does
    mean universal....and the service we had was truely a universal service
    for ALL Christians.
    
    I was surprised and very pleased that we have a belief in the
    transformation of the substance of bread and wine to Body and Blood
    of Christ.
    
    Marc H.

    To answer your basenote question, Marc, yes, I did go to Maundy
    Thursday worship this year.
    
    Richard