Maundy Thursday at Home

Transcription

1 Maundy Thursday at Home Welcome! 2000 years ago, Jesus shared this evening with his closest friends around a dinner table in a private home. During that special time, they shared a meal together and talked about life. Then Jesus shared two commandments with them: To Love one another as He had loved them (John 13:34-35) To Remember His sacrifice for them through Holy Communion (Matt. 26:26-28) Tonight, we hope that you will honor this evening by sharing a similar experience with your family and/or friends. This packet contains a suggested outline of the evening. Feel free to make adjustments as you see fit for your particular context. Part 1 The Meal In the Bible, Jesus is often found eating and drinking with his disciples and with other guests. Eating together is not just something we do. It s a vital part of who we are as God s people. Take time to plan, prepare, and share a meal with your guests. This takes a little bit of forethought because it is best if everyone who will be eating together, also has a part in preparing the meal. Maybe you have a family favorite or perhaps you d like to try something new. Either way, include as many people as you can in the preparation. Once the table is set and dinner is ready, begin your meal with a table prayer. If you don t have one that you regularly use, feel free to use the following: Lord Jesus, thank you for the food before us, the friends beside us, the love between us, and your presence among us. Amen. (courtesy of Harry Wendt, Crossways) Part 2 Table Talk During your meal, engage in some discussion around the following questions: What was the best thing that happened to you this past year? What was the worst thing that happened to you this past year? Pay special attention to each individual s answers these questions. They may be a focus of prayer for them later on in the evening.

2 Once the meal is concluded, everyone helps with clearing the table. (Don t worry about doing dishes yet. That can wait until later) Part 3 Sharing a Song (Optional) Music is a beautiful gift from God! But not everyone enjoys this gift in the same way. However, we would encourage you to sing a simple song together as you return to the table for the next part of the evening. Your packet includes lyrics to some familiar songs and hymns of worship. Pick one or two and sing them with your group. Part 4 Scripture Reading Reading scripture aloud with a group is a powerful experience. John chapter 13 is one account of what happened with Jesus and his disciples on Maundy Thursday. It is a bit lengthy for one person to read so we suggest breaking it up into smaller parts and having multiple people read it. John 13:1-5 John 13: 6-11 John 13: John 13: John 13: John 13: When you re finished reading, use any or all of the following questions for discussion: Why do you think Jesus chose to wash his disciples feet? Have you ever felt uncomfortable serving someone? Why? Have you ever felt uncomfortable being served by someone? Why? Have you ever felt betrayed by someone? How would it feel to serve them? What do you think it means to love others the way Jesus loves us? Part 5 The Lord s Supper Sharing the Lord s Supper (Holy Communion) in your home may be a new or even uncomfortable experience for you. But that s OK! Christians have been sharing the Lord s Supper together in their homes for centuries so don t be afraid. It s Jesus supper and He is the host at the table wherever that table may be located. The scripture references for this part of the evening are located in Matthew 26:26-28 and Luke 22: (You are welcome to read these passages aloud if you would like to but it is not required.) In your packet, you will find a small bottle of grape juice and some communion wafers. You may use these supplies or you may provide your own bread and wine. Pour the grape juice or wine into individual glasses for everyone at the table and place the wafers or bread onto a single plate.

3 Designate one person to speak the following words: o In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. o Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me After these words are said, each person should serve the person to their left, passing the plate of bread and saying, The body of Christ, given for you. Next, each person should serve the cup to the person on their left saying, The blood of Christ, shed for you. Part 6 Prayers There is something very special about praying for one another in a group setting. It is one specific way to show the love that Jesus wants us to share with each other. Praying aloud for others might feel uncomfortable at first so we have provided some pre-written prayers that you can use if you d like. Or feel free to pray however the Holy Spirit leads you. Healing: o Dear Jesus, we pray that you would touch with your healing hand. By the power of the Holy Spirit let your life-giving power flow into every cell of his/her body and soul, restoring him/her to wholeness and strength. In Jesus name AMEN. Provision: o Most loving Father, you know our needs before we ask, yet you want us to ask. Jesus needs provision from your glorious riches, Lord. We ask you to do with what seems best in your eyes; give him/her a patient spirit to wait expectantly for you. In Jesus name, AMEN. Salvation: o Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray that you would set your Passion, your cross, and your death between your judgment and the soul of. We pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit you would reveal yourself to and that he/she would embrace you Jesus so that you can present him/her to the Father clothed in your righteousness. In Jesus name, AMEN.

4 Encouragement: o Gracious God, you know the plans you have for ; plans to prosper and not to harm him/her. Jesus, by the power of your Holy Spirit, remind that strength is found in You and you are his/her hope and future. In Christ s holy name, AMEN. Once you have prayed for each person individually, close the evening by praying the Lord s Prayer together. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen Final Instructions We would love to hear how your evening went! If you have any photos or stories to share, we would encourage you to share them on social media with the hashtag #KnowGreaterLove Or you can send your photos and written stories to the church via info@morningsidelutheran.com Finally, feel free to hand-deliver your stories and photos to the church office. God Bless You! Darrin Vick Senior Pastor

5 Song Lyrics Jesus Loves Me 1. Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. o Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. 2. Jesus loves me! This I know, As He loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee, Saying, Let them come to Me. 3. Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give, Light and love to all who live. 4. Jesus loves me! He who died, Heaven s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. 5. Jesus loves me! He will stay, Close beside me all the way; Thou hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth live for Thee. Amazing Grace Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found T'was blind but now I see T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear And Grace, my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come. T'was grace that brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home, Amazing grace, How Sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now am found T'was blind but now I see

6 Song Lyrics Jesus, Name Above All Names Jesus. Name above all names. Beautiful Savior. Glorious Lord Emmanuel. God is with us. Blessed Redeemer. Living Word. Jesus. Name above all names. Beautiful Savior. Glorious Lord Emmanuel. God is with us. Blessed Redeemer. Living Word. I Love You, Lord I love you, Lord, And I lift my voice To worship you, O my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my King In what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound, In your ear. I love you, Lord, And I lift my voice To worship you, O my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my King In what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound, In your ear.

7 John 13:1-35 (NIV) 13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? 7 Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. 8 No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. 9 Then, Lord, Simon Peter replied, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well! 10 Jesus answered, Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you. 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you? he asked them. 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

8 18 I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: He who shared my bread has turned [a] against me. [b] 19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me. 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me. 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, Ask him which one he means. 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish. Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, What you are about to do, do quickly. 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. 31 When he was gone, Jesus said, Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, [c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.