Light of the World meditation

by: Chloe Axford

This Christmas meditation using candles, music and readings is based on the traditional tenebrae service, usually held during Holy Week at Easter.

It is designed to be used during a church service or in a small group setting.

Tenebrae is Latin for "shadows" or "darkness". This service involves a gradual extinguishing of candles to signify the darkness in our world. The candles are then gradually re-lit to symbolise Christ's birth as the light of the world.

The congregation/group is invited to listen to a series of readings and music tracks, following prompts for silent reflection as the service progresses. At the end they are invited to come and light candles as a sign of their commitment to be light in the world.

The emphasis is on creating space for meditation and once the order of service has been explained talking should be kept to a minimum (you may choose to indicate each stage of the service via power point or give out a printed order of service as people arrive).

Ideally any lights in the venue should be turned off so once the final candle is extinguished it is in total darkness.

The music tracks are suggestions and you may want to replace them with worship songs/carols or other tracks you think would work well.

Comments

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Great - thanks so much Chloe! I used this for our evening worship last Sunday, with a few adaptations, and the 25 people who came, including 2 children, seemed to really engage with it.

In case anyone's interested, I used the Auschwitz-Birkenau music as the third track, and In the Dark by Tracy Chapman as the second. Then instead of The Angel Gabriel, for the return of the main candle, I used Only Light by Note for a Child. I topped it with Keiran's We Look Forward opening liturgy, and finished with an opportunity for people to share their reflections and insights with each other. I used the Advent fractal images as people entered and left.

Thanks! Angela

Angela - 6:59am - 01 Dec 2010

I used this with our home group yesterday and it seemed to go very well. I did substitute a different first track, but I'm not sure the substitute was much better.

Thanks for making this available!

Maybe add a torch to the "You will need" list as it's hard to read the words in the dark. ;-)

- 5:50am - 16 Dec 2010

I forgot to log in before adding the previous comment, so trying again so you know who I am.

Glyn - 5:52am - 16 Dec 2010

Thanks Glyn!

Sam - 5:59am - 16 Dec 2010

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Tags

Themes: Light

Day/Season: Advent, Christmas

Function: Meditation

Bible Refs: John 1:1-5, Matt 5:14-16, Gen 1:1-3, Gen 1:31, Rom 1:20-21, Rom 1:29-31, Psalm 51:3-4, Mrk 15:33-34, Isa 9:2-7

Lectionary Week(s):
Christmas - Proper 1 (Year *)
Christmas - Proper 3 (Year *)
Second Sunday after Christmas Day (Year *)
Third Sunday after the Epiphany (Year A)
Proper 13, Ordinary/Lectionary 18 (Year B)
Proper 19, Ordinary/Lectionary 24 (Year C)

You Will Need

4 large candles
Enough tea lights for everyone present
Matches
Something to play music on

Resources

Light of the World readings

Light of the Word order of service

Thinking of using our resources online?

We're happy for you to do that - read this article for more information.

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About the Author

Chloe Axford

Chloe Axford lives in Devon with her husband Nick and two kids. She is the Communications and Engagement Director for the Diocese of Exeter and a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in a multi-parish mission community on Dartmoor. She previously worked for ITN and the BBC as a broadcast journalist, as well as spending two years working in creative arts ministry at a church in London. Her passion is for creative, engaging and culturally-relevant worship. She has never written a book, but lives in hope of one day having time to write one, so she can be invited to speak at conferences for free!

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