Maundy Thursday March 29, 2018 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ~ John 13:1 Dinner Time of Transition to Worship 6:00-6:30 PM 6:30-6:45 PM Time of Worship and Remembrance As We Gather At Your Table (hymn no. 332, verse 1) ALL SING: As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word, help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred. Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own; teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love's victory known. L: Come be a guest, P: and witness a woman who anointed Jesus. L: Come to the upper room, P: and witness Jesus washing the feet of those he loved. L: Come to the table, P: and participate in a meal of remembrance and forgiveness. L: Come to the garden, P: and stay awake with our Savior. L: On this night, we remember that through Jesus, common things found holy worth, and simple acts of servanthood, taught us about love. P: Come, let us bow down and worship, for what was done in love, was done for us. -1- As We Gather At Yo u r Ta b l e ( hy m n n o. 3 3 2, v. 2 )
ALL SING: Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life; send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife. Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave; may we still behold your image in the world you died to save. INVITATION L: Tonight's service is one of remembering Jesus, his sacrifice, and the people who journeyed with him Come in your emptiness, come longing to be filled, come and encounter Christ. Let us prepare our hearts. God be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We lift them to God. L: Let us give thanks to God Most High. P: It is good to give God thanks and praise. CONFESSION CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION ALL: Loving God, on that night long ago, you knew that your hour had come. You knew full well what lay ahead of you. Your disciples loved you and followed you but they had also failed you. They would fail you yet again that night, and one would betray you. Yet you washed their feet, as a servant would, even the feet of your betrayer. We have also loved you and followed you. We have also failed you, and we cannot comprehend the love that you show us, the love that is our example, the love that tells us to do as you have done for us. May we be like you, Master, servant of all. May all see how we long to be your faithful disciples. May all see how we love each other, just as you have loved us. In your holy name we pray. Amen. -2- ASSURANCE OF PARDON
ALL SING ( Alone in Gethsemane, see attached, verse 1): Alone in Gethsemane, bent low neath the olive tree. Here love must weep while mortals sleep, alone in Gethsemane. The Anointing of Jesus ~ Mark 14:3-9 Jesus was at Bethany visiting the house of Simon, who had a skin disease. During dinner, a woman came in with a vase made of alabaster and containing very expensive perfume. She broke open the vase and poured the perfume on his head. Some grew angry. They said to each other, Why waste the perfume? This perfume could have been sold for almost a year s pay and the money given to the poor. And they scolded her. Jesus said, Leave her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. You always have the poor with you; and whenever you want, you can do something good for them. But you won t always have me. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body ahead of time for burial. I tell you the truth that, wherever in the good news is announced, what she s done will also be told in memory of her. ALL SING ( Alone in Gethsemane, see attached, v. 2): Alone in the judgment hall, no shield from the crowd s mad call. Condemned to die as friends deny, alone in the judgment hall. Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet ~ John 13:1-9 Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully. Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. -3-
Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, You don t understand what I m doing now, but you will understand later. No! Peter said. You will never wash my feet! Jesus replied, Unless I wash you, you won t have a place with me. Simon Peter said, Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head! ALL SING (Alone in Gethsemane, see attached, v. 3): Alone on the Calvary road, he stumbles beneath the load. Yet ever drawn love presses on, alone on the Calvary road. Jesus at the Table ~ Matthew 26:20-30 That evening he took his place at the table with the twelve disciples. As they were eating he said, I assure you that one of you will betray me. Deeply saddened, each one said to him, I m not the one, am I, Lord? He replied, The one who will betray me is the one who dips his hand with me into this bowl. The Human One goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One! It would have been better for him if he had never been born. Now Judas, who would betray him, replied, It s not me, is it, Rabbi? Jesus answered, You said it. ALL SING (Alone in Gethsemane, see attached, v. 4): Alone on Golgotha s hill, there hungering and thirsting still. Yet more for you he s yearning too, alone on Golgotha s hill. REMEMBERING THE STORY PRAYER OF CONSECRATION -4-
ALL SING (Alone in Gethsemane, see attached, v. 5): Alone on the cross he cries, surrenders his soul and dies. In silence now love seals its vow, alone on the cross he cries. BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND POURING OF THE CUP SHARING OF THE ELEMENTS The Bread As we sing, Pastor Danielle and Pastor Jeff will pass around the bread so that each table has bread to share with one another. Take a piece and pass the loaf to the person beside you. After all are served, we will join in eating the bread together. ALL SING: Let us break bread together on our knees; let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, My God, have mercy on me. Let us praise God together on our knees; let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, My God, have mercy on me. The Cup As we sing, Pastor Danielle and Pastor Jeff will pass around the juice so that each table has juice to share with one another. Using the pitcher, pour the juice into the cups provided, making sure each person has a cup of juice. After all are served, we will join in drinking the juice together. ALL SING: Let us drink wine together on our knees; let us drink wine together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, My God, have mercy on me. Let us praise God together on our knees; let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, My God, have mercy on me. -5-
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING ALL: Almighty God, we give you thanks for the gift of our Savior's presence in the simplicity and splendor of this holy meal. Strengthen our faith, increase our love, and send us forth in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit as we offer hope, healing, reconciliation, and love to this broken world. Amen. ANTHEM Gethsemane by Getty, Townend/Larson Jesus in Gethsemane ~ Mark 14:32-42 Jesus and his disciples came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, Sit here while I pray. He took Peter, James, and John along with him. He began to feel despair and was anxious. He said to them, I m very sad. It s as if I m dying. Stay here and keep alert. Then he went a short distance farther and fell to the ground and prayed. TIME OF SILENCE ALL SING (see attached): When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Christ of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, then, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to Christ s blood. From sacred head, from hands, and feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. -6-
THE LORD S PRAYER ALL: 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin 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. Amen. POSTLUDE -7-