March 29, 2018 Maundy Thursday
Service of the Word March 29, 2018 Maundy Thursday Welcome! It is a pleasure to have you with us this evening. This evening we will use the New Century Hymnal (NCH). It is the black hymnal found in the pew racks. *Indicates when people are invited to stand. We Gather Prelude: Meditation on When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Lowell Mason, arr. John Barr Ringing of the Engelbrecht Memorial Bell Call to Worship: Leader: Create in me a clean heart, O God And put a new and right spirit within me. People: Cast me now away from your presence, And take not your Holy Spirit from me. Leader: Purge me from my sin and I shall be pure; People: Wash me and I shall be clean indeed. Opening Hymn: #498 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love Confession: Leader: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. People: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Leader: Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us confess our sins in silence and ask God for the forgiveness we need. Let us pray. 1
ALL: Gracious God, we have denied your intentions for us. We have preferred our way to Christ s way. We have served ourselves and things we have made. We have disobeyed your commandment to love others as we love ourselves. Forgive us, and awaken us to faith and to a life of service; through Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve, and who served you even to death, for our redemption. Amen. Assurance of Pardon Leader: While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. People: The love of God for us is shown in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Leader: So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith; People: With hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience, and with bodies washed with clean water. Telling the Story NARRATOR: It was now the day before the Passover festival. Jesus and his disciples were at supper. So Jesus rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. Then Jesus poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said to him: PETER (People): Are you going to wash my feet, Lord? NARRATOR: Jesus answered Peter: JESUS (People): You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later. NARRATOR: Peter declared: PETER (People): Never at any time will you wash my feet! NARRATOR: Jesus answered: JESUS (People): If I do not wash your feet, you will no longer be my disciple. 2
NARRATOR: Simon Peter answered: PETER (People): Lord, do not only wash my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too! NARRATOR: Jesus said: JESUS (People): Anyone who has taken a bath is completely clean and does not have to wash, other than the feet. NARRATOR: After washing their feet, Jesus put the outer garment back on, returned to his place at the table, and said: JESUS (People): Do you understand what I have just done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another s feet. I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. Silence NARRATOR: Jesus said: JESUS (PEOPLE): I am telling you the truth: No slave is greater than the master who is served, and no messenger is greater than the one who sends the message. Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice. Sermon: Servanthood Ain t Pretty! - Rev. Dr. Rob Apgar-Taylor Hymn: #396 Where Charity and Love Prevail Introduction Leader: Friends in Christ, we are reminded by the scriptures, in diverse words and symbols, of what God intends for us. The water of our baptism is a cleansing sign of our dying and rising with Christ. The bread and wine of Holy Communion are saving food, announcing to us again Christ s sacrifice and victory for our salvation. Now, at Christ s command, we share the 3
water of humility, and stoop, as once Christ stooped, to wash the feet of others. How happy we will be if we put into practice the truth of humility. People: With God s help, may we each practice humility. Footwashing Prayer of Thanksgiving (in unison): O God, we give you thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ, the only one begotten by you before all worlds. We thank you for the splendor of Christ s life of service. We thank you for symbols of love and humility. We ask that you will strengthen us for the service to which you call us, that we may find in lowering ourselves, in washing, and in all other acts of mercy, the fullness of life that we see in Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives in exaltation, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Prayers of the People Offertory: Where God Is - Plainchant, arr. Richard A. Williamson Prayer of Dedication Hymn: #344 The Time Was Early Evening *The Great Thanksgiving Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Leader: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Leader: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: 4
ALL: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Leader: And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith: ALL: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Leader: Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. ALL: Amen. *The Lord s Prayer (in unison) 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. *Breaking Bread and Pouring Wine Please be seated Sharing the Elements As you are dismissed from your pew, come forward using the center aisle. This evening we offer bread and your choice of wine (in the silver chalice) or grape juice (in the pottery chalice). Please return to your seats using the side aisles. Prayer after Communion 5
Closing Hymn: #539 Won t You Let Me Be Your Servant Benediction Postlude: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? - Traditional African-American Spiritual, arr. Anna Laura Page Welcome to our Guests! We are delighted that you joined us for worship this evening. Please be sure to sign the red Friendship Book in your pew. If you have any difficulty hearing the service, one of our ushers can provide you with a hearing assistance device. We also have large print bulletins and hymnals available. Welcome to Grace Church! The yellow rose on the altar is presented by the Altar Guild in memory of deceased war veterans and in honor of those who have served our country, as well as those currently on active duty. Thursday, March 29th 7:00 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Service of Foot Washing Friday, March 30th 7:00 p.m. - Good Friday Worship (at Veritas UCC, 530 N. Locust St., Hagerstown, MD) Sunday, April 1st 11:00 a.m. - Easter Worship with Holy Communion Do you get cold in this big drafty church? Please know that there are knitted shawls available for you to use as you need. They are spread throughout the sanctuary. Please ask an usher if you don't see one near you. Many thanks to Pam Marshall for this idea and for making the shawls! 6
TOMORROW! SOCIAL JUSTICE WALKING STATIONS OF THE CROSS in Downtown Frederick Friday, March 30th 12:00 noon Join in prayer as we walk the Stations of the Cross in downtown Frederick. This experience powerfully connects the suffering of Christ with the suffering of those in our own community. We will be stopping at a variety of social service centers to pray for those who continue to struggle against poverty, violence, and injustice here in our own backyard. We will gather and begin at the corner of Bentz and 2nd Streets in front of the William Talley Rec. Center. Adults and families are welcome! Sponsored by the Social Justice Ministry of Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish Summer Is Coming!! Well, not for a few months, but when it does, it will mean we are preparing for Pastor Rob's Sabbatical. We have pastors who are going to be with us on Sundays, and for emergencies, but we are also looking to put together a team of lay people who will be willing to visit people in the hospital and nursing homes as we have the need. Gary Johnson has agreed to coordinate this and be the contact person for this ministry while Pastor Rob is away. Before the summer, we will have a time to get together to learn about how to visit people in health care settings, i.e. praying with people, hospital visitation guidelines, etc. If this is something that would interest you, please let Pastor Rob or Gary Johnson know. Thanks! Upper Room Devotionals Devotional booklets are available in the Narthex for anyone who would like a resource for daily prayer. There are regular and large-print versions, and there is no cost for the booklets, although donations are gladly accepted. 7
AED Training Grace Church has an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in the Good Shepherd room. We have arranged for Mike Crawford, Retired Firefighter, to come in after church on April 8th to give us a free class on how to use the AED. The class lasts 1.5 hours. All are invited to attend to learn how to use this lifesaving machine, in case we ever have to use one. CPR-FirstAid-AED We have also had interest from the congregation for a FIRST AID/CPR/AED class. After significant research, we found the most convenient one is at Frederick Community College. It is their HEARTSAVER CPR/FIRST AID class, and is offered Volunteer multiple Offering Opportunities times Envelopes throughout and at Grace Electronic the year. Church Giving The class is 8 hours, and options exist Are Offering for you full ready envelopes day to Saturday, get are more available full involved day in in weekday, the your Narthex church? and a We two-day weeknight course. have for anyone plenty The course who of opportunities would description like to is: use for envelopes people of for all ages, abilities, regular giving. and interests: Simply pick up a box and write Course SAF156 THE your GOOD name SAMARITAN on the sign-up FUND sheet next to the This Heartsaver Acolytes, Altar Guild, Children's Sermon volunteers, Lay The number Good that CPR/First Samaritan you ve Aid/AED chosen. teaches students critical skills Fund is designated for needed to Caring respond Ministry, to and Lay manage Eucharistic an emergency Ministers, until Scripture emergency emergency financial relief to members and friends of medical services readers, If you prefer arrives. Ushers, to give Skills and electronically, covered Youth Ministry this we course - offer please 2 include speak first to aid; Grace Church. Only the pastor and person in need choking relief Pastor options: in Rob adults, children, and infants; and what to do for know who receives assistance from the fund. If you or sudden cardiac arrest in adults, children, and infants. someone Sanctuary (a) the you and UCC know Joyful e-giving from Noise our program Choirs church - allows please family speak you is in to need to Jonas These A classes friendly of Dawson assistance, are have reminder open a regular, to please from the recurring Pastor public, contact Rob: but Pastor donation we Rob are drafted directly. suggesting out Friday, May 18th Are as a you time Donations planning of for your members to an bank the event Good of account, our at Samaritan Church? congregation or charged If Fund so, PLEASE to can to attend, be your made in the hopes remember Hand Bell Choir - please speak to James Taylor that you will at any attend credit to time, call card. with Tara in any (To others in amount. the get church that started, If you office you simply know. would and pick make We like up will to an help, also monitor their website sure to please Fellowship for get authorization the place on next Hosts the a check weekend calendar form and in the in Greeters class, the ASAP. offering Narthex, and - This notify please plate or means in made contact speak the out newsletters to to Rob and church BEFORE bulletin you the when church make those plans, office.) are posted. invite people, Fees are advertise, $45 and $50 for out of state etc... residents. The Certification Church is and getting a textbook increasingly are included. busy If you want to see throughout (b) make the week donations and through we need our website to avoid using the course materials, a sample will be provided at church; please see Mark Edwards or Gwen McGee. Let s keep in touch! Each week, the Grace Church Be sure enews to is Like sent out us on to our Facebook! members and friends to keep everyone up-to-date www.facebook.com/graceuccfrederick on upcoming events. If you haven t been receiving these emails, please contact the church office to be added to the list. 8
Daily Bible Readings for this Week This month sees the Lenten Journey to its conclusion. The readings that stick out to me as particularly seasonal are the ones from Hebrews. Hebrews is an anonymous letter which focuses on the issue of salvation particularly with reference to the priesthood of Jesus. The priest in Jewish tradition is the one who enters the Holy of Holies in the temple and offers sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. The priest is the mediator between us and God. Christ, the letter argues, is the true high priest, the one who offered the only sacrifice that is necessary, the offering of the Cross. In that event, theologically speaking, Christ became both priest and victim. He offered his life and his life was the offering. Christ became the one great High Priest who mediates between us and God, the One who bridges the gap between God and us. The daily Bible readings are clustered into weeks with Sunday being the center of each week. The lessons come from the Revised Common Lectionary. The readings for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of each week orient our prayer and preparation for the Sunday lessons. The readings for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday reflect on Sunday s lessons. In the worship of Grace Church we normally read only two lessons. However, many Sundays the Psalm for the day is also incorporated into the service as a Call to Worship or prayer. Easter Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 31 Holy Thursday Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14 Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Good Friday Isaiah 52:13 53:12 Psalm 22 Heb. 10:16-25 John 18:1 19:42 Holy Saturday Job 14:1-14 or Lam. 3:1-9, 19-24 Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 1 Peter 4:1-8 Matthew 27:57-66 9 Apr 1 Apr 1 Easter Day Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43 John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8 Easter Evening Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 114 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 Luke 24:13-49 Apr 2 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Genesis 1:1-19 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Worship Assistants April 1 st : April 8 th : Greeter: Oi Kettavong Greeter: OPEN Scripture Reader: Carrie Minnick Scripture Reader: Jerry Princler Children s Message: Patti F-L. Children s Message: Earl Bartgis Children s Church: Carol Garrison Children s Church: Teddi Garrison Fellowship Host: Oi Kettavong and Traci Keyes If you would like to serve as a greeter, or host the fellowship time after worship, please sign up in the Good Shepherd Room. Caring and Sharing The following are members and friends of our church family who are currently ill, hospitalized, or home-bound. Please keep them in your prayers and perhaps send a note or a card. Addresses can be obtained from the church office, or you can pick up a church directory from one of the ushers. If you know of anyone who should be added to this list, please call the church office. Millie Davis, Joe Free, Jean Gaver, Paul and Miriam Himes, Karlene Kaufmann, Pam Kehne, and Betty Linton. Please note that hospitals are no longer permitted to contact churches on behalf of their patients. If you know of a church member who is hospitalized, please inform the church office. If you or a family member is hospitalized in an emergency situation, please call Pastor Rob at 240-217-2767. GRACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST An Open and Affirming Congregation 25 East 2 nd Street Frederick, Maryland, 21701 301-662-3312 admin@grucc.com www.grucc.com Rev. Dr. Rob Apgar-Taylor, Pastor Jonas Dawson, Director of Music 10 pastorrob@grucc.com music@grucc.com
UPCOMING EVENTS AT GRACE CHURCH Thursday, March 29 - Maundy Thursday 7:00 p.m. - Maundy Thursday worship (Sanctuary) Friday, March 30 Good Friday 6:30 p.m. - Redemption City Church Good Friday Service (Sanctuary) 7:00 p.m. - Good Friday Worship (Veritas UCC, Hagerstown) 8:30 p.m. - N. A. meeting (Good Shepherd Room) Sunday, April 1 - Easter 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education for adults; NO YOUTH CLASS 11:00 a.m. - Worship with Holy Communion (Sanctuary) 5:00 p.m. - Redemption City Church worship (Sanctuary) Monday, April 2 6:30 p.m. - The Frederick Center young adult group (2 nd floor) Tuesday, April 3 6:30 p.m. - ManKind Project (Basement) Wednesday, April 4 6:30 p.m. - The Frederick Center youth group (Basement) Thursday, April 5 6:00 p.m. - FREE drop-in Zumba class (Good Shepherd Room) 6:30 p.m. - GAMMA meeting (2 nd floor) Friday, April 6 8:30 p.m. - N. A. meeting (Good Shepherd Room) Sunday, April 8 - Second Sunday of Easter 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education classes for adults and youth 11:00 a.m. - Worship (Sanctuary) 5:00 p.m. - Redemption City Church worship (Sanctuary) Monday, April 9 7:00 p.m. - Finance & Property Commission meeting (Room 3) 11