That's So Metal: Tenebrae Shaped By Youth

Somewhere in the many writings of Fredrick Buechner is an essay titled something like 'Adolescence: The Stewardship of Pain'.  The essay was lovely, but it has been the title that has stuck with me over time.  Perhaps all life, perhaps all periods of stress and change could be understood more completely as a stewardship of pain.  Life can be wretched and denying it doesn't help.  Life can be wretched and throughout our lives, we hit the new miry pit moments and have to find a way to care for self and others through it.

They had a struggle to get out of the thicket.  The thorns and briars were as tough as wire and as clinging as claws.  Their cloaks were rent and tattered before they broke free at last.  ‘Now down we go, Sam,” Frodo whispered. ‘Down into the valley quick, and then turn northward, as soon as ever we can.’ Day was coming again in the world outside, and far beyond the glooms of Mordor the sun was climbing over the eastern rim of Middle-earth; but here all was still dark as night.  The mountain smoldered and its fires went out.  The glare faded from the cliffs.  The easterly wind that had been blowing ever since they left Ithilien now seemed dead.  Slowly and painfully they clambered down, groping, stumbling, scrambling among the rock and briar and dead wood in the blind shadows, down and down until they could go no further.
J.R.R. Tolkien

For many many years I have sought ways to more deeply involve young people in the practices of Holy Week.  I used to practice a young people's stations of the cross with things to touch and taste at each biblical station (which I should maybe write up sometime).  Here at St. Paul's for four years the youth group has offered the Tenebrae service.  Known as a service of shadows, Tenebrae dives into the brokenness and darkness of life that leads to the cross.  When I first began engaging the youth group in this service we had a handful of senior high boys who loved death metal music.  They described the service as the 'metal' service.  I had to ask a few questions (and read a few things online) before I realized how right they are.

This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men.

Remember the Titans

The general structure is much like other Tenebrae traditions, and some of the prayers and readings come from 'authorized' sources.  We start with lots of candles lit, and shadow by shadow, more are extinguished.  Part of our youth ministry work during Lent is looking at each shadow and talking about the 'other' readings that go with them.  The 'other' readings are excerpts from films we have watched or books they are reading in school, or in personal reading.  We keep some readings from year to year, and others are changed.  In four years we have had excerpts from Buffy and Firefly episodes, moments from The Giver, To Kill a Mockingbird, Hunger Games, the Blind Side and even the lyrics to a death metal song.

“But they were not living, thought Harry: They were gone. The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents' moldering remains lay beneath snow and stone, indifferent, unknowing. And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them off or pretending? He let them fall, his lips pressed hard together, looking down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the last of Lily and James lay, bones now, surely, or dust, not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating, alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing, at this moment, that he was sleeping under the snow with them.”

 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

My hopes for this service are two-fold.  First to involve our very busy young people in the real practices of Holy Week.  Secondly, to help create a practice of critical thinking about faith. Placing their experience and their leadership in the heart of Holy Week is one way to connect authentically.  We don't have the most preachy youth group, we are mostly focused on fellowship and geekiness; but always concluded in shared prayer.  We practice the rhythm of life together and I believe it is this approach that makes Tenebrae work.  Each season it doesn't take very long to come up with many many options each year, many moments of brokenness and challenge in the media.  We probably could fill hours with them.   Yet we choose just seven, seven quotes that are reflections of our lives, a way to name the pain without confessing too much of our own.  It is a service of shadows, and a service of hope.  The metal service, Tenebrae.

If you would like a copy of this years service, please contact me.