By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Seven area churches are joining forces for a special evening service on Good Friday. First Presbyterian Church in Niles will host the Tenebrae service at 7:30 p.m, which is being sponsored by the Niles Area Ministerial Association (NAMA).
Pastor Emmett Kadwell of Wesley United Methodist Church said the Tenebrae service is a traditional Good Friday service delivered in candlelight.
Seven candles representing the last seven short phrases of Christ are lit at the beginning of the service.
One-by-one, the candles are extinguished as a small piece of scripture relating to Christ's final words on the cross is read by each visiting pastor.
By the end, all lights are out and guests are asked to leave in silence through the dark, Kadwell said.
Included in the service is a special community choir consisting of members from all seven churches lead by the choir director from First Presbyterian Church, Brian Bartusch.
Hosting the service is Pastor Ron Wakeman of the First Presbyterian Church. Also joining Wakeman and Kadwell will be Pastor Collin Seitz of Community Evangelical Free Church, Pastor Bryant Bacon of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Pastor Greg Rensberry of Mapleview Free Methodist Church, Pastor Jeff Whitaker of Michiana Christian Embassy and Pastor Jim Wing of First Baptist Church.