Palm Sunday, April 1st, marks the beginning of the last week of Lent known as Holy Week. During Holy Week we remember the suffering and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship. This includes our “Tenebrae” service on Thursday evening, April 5th. “Tenebrae” is 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, representing Christ, remains. As it gets darker and darker we reflect on the great emotional and physical pain that Jesus suffered for our sake.
Similarly, we gather with the churches of Langley on Good Friday (April 6th) to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and remember that Jesus’ death was “good” in that meant the redemption of the whole world.
These Holy Week observances call us to move behind the joyful celebrations of Palm Sunday and Easter. As we walk through the shadows and darkness of Holy Week we realize the horror and magnitude of our sin and see its consequences in the dying Jesus on the cross. Only then can we truly understand the light and hope of Easter Sunday morning!