Countryside Community Church invites you to a deeply moving and contemplative worship experience: a combined Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Tenebrae service featuring A Service of Shadows by Heather Sorenson.
- Friday, April 18, 2025, 7 PM
- Countryside Community Church
- 13130 Faith Plaza, Omaha, NE
This special service, enriched by the hauntingly beautiful music of Omaha Symphony Cellist Tim Strang and the C4 Choir, will guide us through the sacred story of Jesus’ final hours with scripture, music, silence, and reflection. Designed to help us prepare our hearts for Easter, this evening of worship offers a powerful reminder of Christ’s love, sacrifice, and the shadowed path to the cross
The word Tenebrae comes from the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows,” and this powerful service invites worshippers to walk with Jesus through his final hours.
The Tenebrae service is a deeply contemplative experience. It typically begins with a series of prayers, hymns, and scripture readings, each recounting a different part of Christ’s passion and crucifixion.
The centerpiece of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles—symbolizing the increasing darkness as Christ approaches death. Each candle represents a significant moment in Christ’s journey, and as the candles are gradually extinguished, the light diminishes, heightening the sense of mourning and anticipation for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. The final candle, often a central Christ candle, is extinguished at the moment of His death, leaving the worship space in complete darkness. This darkness is followed by a time of silent reflection, a powerful reminder of the grief and sorrow felt by Jesus’ followers.
At the end of the service, a loud noise (often a slamming of a book or a symbolic act of separation) may occur to represent the moment of Christ’s death. The service closes in quietness, leaving worshippers to reflect on the depth of Christ’s sacrifice.
A Service of Shadows weaves this ancient tradition with contemporary musical expression, helping us connect deeply with the emotional and spiritual journey of Holy Week. It’s a time to sit with the sorrow of Good Friday, to honor the weight of the story before we move toward the joy of Easter morning.
We invite you to join us for this meaningful evening of scripture, music, and meditation. Come and be part of this sacred tradition as we move from light into shadow—together.