JAMES - the elder son of Zebedee, who left his father and mother to follow Jesus...

Transcription

1 MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION: SCRIPTURE READING INSTRUCTIONS Luke 22: 7-16 (When you come to the 14th verse, pause, and slowly read off the names of the 12 disciples... and as you do I shall move to the altar and light the candles, one by one, as you read their names. The center candle for Jesus will be lighted before the service.) JOHN - the disciple whom Jesus loved... THOMAS- who through doubt came into a triumphant faith... PETER -.who dropped his nets and became a fisher of people... JAMES - the elder son of Zebedee, who left his father and mother to follow Jesus... JUDAS ISCARIOT - who was Treasurer for the but also betrayed Him. PHILIP- who was to bear light to the Ethiopian... ANDREW - who won his brother and came running to Him... MATTHEW- the publican, who left the collection of taxes to follow Jesus... JAMES - the younger son of Alphaeus... NATHANIEL - the Israelite, in whom there was no guile... BARTHOLOMEW - the man who was rich in years and young in Christ... SIMON - called the Zealot for His Lord... (After reading the names, you then pick up the reading from Luke's Gospel, verses 15 and 16. Permit me to return to my chancel chair before you read these last two verses.) 15 - He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 - for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." John 13: 2-38 (Phil) (When I read verse 30 '7 " so, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night..." GO to the altar and SNUFF OUT the candle for Judas. It is the 3rd to the right ofthe Jesus candle.)

2 MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION: SCRIPTURE READING INSTRUCTIONS Luke 22: 7-16 (When you come to the 14th verse, pause, and slowly read offthe names ofthe 12 disciples... and as you do I shall move to the altar and light the candles, one by one, as you read their names. The center candle for Jesus will be lighted before the service.) JOHN - the disciple whom Jesus loved... THOMAS -who through doubt came into a triumphant faith.. PETER - who dropped his nets and became a fisher of people... JAMES - the elder son of Zebedee, who left his father and mother to follow Jesus.. JUDAS ISCARIOT - who was Treasurer for the 12.. but also betrayed Him. PHILIP - who was to bear light to the Ethiopian... ANDREW - who won his brother and came running to Him... MATTHEW - the publican, who left the collection of taxes to follow Jesus.. JAMES - the younger son of Alphaeus... NATHANIEL - the Israelite, in whom there was no guile... BARTHOLOMEW - the man who was rich 'in years and young in Christ... SIMON - called the Zealot for His Lord... (After reading the names, you then pick up the reading from Luke's Gospel, verses 15 and 16. Permit me to return to my chancel chair before you read these last two verses.) 15 - He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16- for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." John 13: 2-38 (Phil) (When I read verse 30 ~"... so, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night..." GO to the altar and SNUFF OUT the candle for Judas. It is the 3rd to the right of the Jesus candle.)

3 A MAUNDY THURSDAY PRAYER Help us, gracious Father, with open minds and contrite hearts to feel our way into the meaning and mystery of this night: Quicken our imagination to the end that what went on in that Upper Room may come alive for us. For we would sit at table with the Twelve and open ourselves to the close-up presence of the Living Christ. "The Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread". We marvel at the mastery of One who on the evening of His own demise could avoid all thoughts of self and bend to the task of breaking bread for others. So strong in us is the urge to "get even" that we can scarcely fathom sharing food and drink with one whom we know intends to do us harm. So brittle is our faith in the providence of God that we can only stand and stare when One whose ways are perfect shuns all complaining in His final hours and meekly asks Thy blessing on the meal. God, we do not sit in judgement on the Twelve for having hassled with each other over who was greatest, for pride has often marred our work for Thee. We are not surprised that one by one that night they asked, when betrayal was announced, "Lord, is it I?" For, like us, they knew full well that under ample provocation any one of them could cash their Master in! Let this night for us be a night of resolution. Bless us with a renewed and enlarged awareness of our need for grace. A more honest reading of our frailty and sin. A hope-building confidence in the durability of bread and cup. A stretching of soul as we contemplate a "foolishness" with Thee that is wiser than men, and a "weakness" with Thee that is stronger than men. These prayers we offer now in trust and thankfulness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

4 A MAUNDY THURSDAY PRAYER Help us, gracious Father, with open minds and contrite hearts to feel our way into the meaning and mystery of this night: Quicken our imagination to the end that what went on in that Upper Room may come alive for us. For we would sit at table with the Twelve and open ourselves to the close-up presence of the Living Christ. "The Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread". We marvel at the mastery of One who on the evening of His own demise could avoid all thoughts of self and bend to the task of breaking bread for others. So strong in us is the urge to "get even" that we can scarcely fathom sharing food and drink with one whom we know intends to do us harm. So brittle is our faith in the providence of God that we can only stand and stare when One whose ways are perfect shuns all complaining in His final hours and meekly asks Thy blessing on the meal. God, we do not sit in judgement on the Twelve for having hassled with each other over who was greatest, for pride has often marred our work for Thee. We are not surprised that one by one that night they asked, when betrayal was announced, "Lord, is it I?" For, like us, they knew full well that under ample provocation any one of them could cash their Master in! Let this night for us be a night of resolution. Bless us with a renewed and enlarged awareness of our need for grace. A more honest reading of our frailty and sin. A hope-building confidence in the durability of bread and cup. A stretching of soul as we contemplate a "foolishness" with Thee that is wiser than men, and a "weakness" with Thee that is stronger than men. These prayers we offer now in trust and thankfulness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

5 \ PARK AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 106 East 86tb Street New York, N.Y MINISTER Rev. Philip A. C. Clarke ASSISTANT MINISTER Mr. William Bonwitt ORGANIST-CHOIR DIRECTOR Dr. Lyndon Woodside CHURCH SECRETARY Mrs. Judy Ferland CUSTODIAN Mr. Roberto Meriles Photo: Vision Impact No Copyright 1996 by Abingdon Press. Litho in U.S.A.

6 ORGAN CALL TO WORSHIP HYMN NO. 297 Luke 22: 7-16 John 13: 2-38 SOLO MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION ORDER OF WORSHIP 6:00 P. M. "0 Sacred Head" "Beneath The Cross of Jesus" "Into the Woods My Master Went" (Gail Corvette, Soloist) John 14: 1-7; 15-17, 27 John 15: 1-5; 9-14, 17 SOLO "'Tis Midnight and on Olive's Brow" (Gail Corvette, Soloist) Bach Lutkin Bradbury OUR LORD'S LAST SUPPER In the service this evening, we have attempted to capture something of the spirit and simplicity of our Lord's Last Supper with His disciples on the night before He was crucified. The words of Scripture "In the night that He was betrayed, Jesus took bread " give one food for powerful thought and meditation. The common meal was a bond of close fellowship - a bond which the present day disciples of Jesus can also experience. But during that very act of fellowship, one of their number was plotting the betrayal of their Master. "Is it I?" they asked. Tonight we kneel at the foot of the cross. We are reminded of the brutality of that which He went through on Good Friday. It was on Calvary's Hill that He gave His life for all mankind - not just for some, but for all! Jesus wants more than just a few kind thoughts about Himself tonight. He wants us to do for others what He did Himself - not for some others, but for all others. ' Matthew 26 : THE PARTAKING OF THE ELEMENTS (The ushers will instruct the worshippers when to come forward to receive communion) READINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURE John 16: 32 and 33 Matthew 26: 30 HYMN NO. 299 "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" ORGAN "Our Father in Heaven" Bach He gave us a new life of which the bread and the wine are the symbols. He gave us a new commandment, too, "that you love one another even as I have loved you". As we share together in this service tonight, we are JO~ning with millions of people who have not forgotten that night and that supper. His table is open to all. As you receive the Sacrament this night, we pray that it may be for you an occasion of spiritual rededication and reaffirmation of your life to Jesus Christ and to the way of life He has given us.

7 , r PARK AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 106 Eaat 66tb Street New York, N.Y MINISTER Rev. Philip A. C. Clarke ORGANIST-CHOIR DIRECTOR Dr. lyndon Woodside CHURCH SECRETARY Mrs. Judy Ferland CUSTODIAN Mr. Roberto Meriles Photo credit: Augsburg Fortress Printed in U.S.A. Copyright@ 1993 Augsburg Fortress

8 ORGAN CALL TO WORSHIP HYMN NO. 297 Luke 22: 7-16 John 13: 2-38 SOLO MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION ORDER OF WORSHIP 6:00 P. M. "0 Sac red Head" "Beneath The Cross of Jesus" "Into the Woods My Master Went" (Michael Craig, soloist) John 14: 1-7; 15-17, 27 John 15: 1-5; 9-14, 17 Bach Lutkin SOLO "Were You There?" Arr. by Burleigh (Michael Craig, soloist) Matthew 26: THE PARTAKING OF THE ELEMENTS (The ushers will instruct the worshippers when to come forward to receive communion) READINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURE John 16: 32 and 33 Matthew 26: 30 HYMN NO. 299 "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" ORGAN "Our Father in Heaven" Bach OUR LORD'S LAST SUPPER In the service this evening, we have attempted to capture something of the spirit and simplicity of our Lord's Last Supper with His disciples on the night before He was crucified. The words of Scripture "In the night that He was betrayed, Jesus took bread... " give one food for powerful thought and meditation. The common meal was a bond of close fellowship - a bond which the present day disciples of Jesus can also experience. But during that very act of fellowship, one of their number was plotting the betrayal of their Master. "Is it I?" they asked. Tonight we kneel at the foot of the cross. We are reminded of the brutality of that which He went through on Good Friday. It was on Calvary's Hill that He gave His life for all mankind - not just for some, but for all! Jesus wants more than just a few kind thoughts about Himself tonight. He wants us to do for others what He did Himself - not for some others, but for all others. He gave us a new life of which the bread and the wine are the symbols. He gave us a new commandment, too, "that you love one another even as I have loved you". As we share together in this service tonight, we are JOlning with millions of people who have not forgotten that night and that supper. His table is open to all. As you receive the Sacrament this night, we pray that it may be for you an occasion of spiritual rededication and reaffirmation of your life to Jesus Christ and to the way of life He has given us.