Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday At the entry of the ministers a HYNM is sung The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Our Lord Jesus Christ says if you love me keep my commandments, unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Let us confess to Almighty God our sins against his love, and ask him to cleanse us. Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of the light. Amen. The celebrant pronounces absolution. KYRIE and GLORIA IN EXCELSIS are sung, during which the bells are rung. Let us pray. God our Father, you have invited us to share in the super which your Son gave to his Church to proclaim his death until he comes. May he nourish us by his presence, and unite us in his love; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. Reader: A reading from the book of Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, This month is to be the first of all the others for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock, one for each family: one animal for each household. If the household is too small to eat the animal, a man must join with his neighbour, the nearest to his house, as the number of persons requires. You must take into account what each can eat in deciding the number for the animal. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may take it from either sheep or goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel shall slaughter it between the two evenings. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh is to be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. You shall eat it like this: with a girdle round your waist, sandals on your feet, a staff in your hand. You shall eat it hastily: it is a passover in honour of the Lord. That night, I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all
the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt, I am the Lord. The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt. This day is to be a day of remembrance for you, and you must celebrate it as a feast in the Lord s honour. For all generations you are to declare it a day of festival, for ever. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to god Responsorial Psalm 115 The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ. 1 How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord s name. (Refrain) 2 O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds. (Refrain) 3 A thanksgiving sacrifice I make: I will call on the Lord s name. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people. (Refrain) Reader: A reading from the book of Corinthians 11:23-26 For this is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me. In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me. Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to god
Cantor: Cantor: Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory. Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory. I give you a new commandment: Love one another just as I have loved you, says the Lord. Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory. Deacon: A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 13:1-15 It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus answered, At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand. Never! said Peter You shall never wash my feet. Jesus replied, If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me. Then, Lord, said Simon Peter not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well! Jesus said, No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are. He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, though not all of you are. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. Do you understand, he said, what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ. SERMON. Washing of Feet Representative members of the congregation come to the chairs provided. While the feet are being washed all join in the Ubi Caritas. God is love, and where true love is, God himself is there. 1 HERE in Christ, we gather, love of Christ our calling; Christ, our love, is with us, gladness be his greeting; Let us all revere and love him, God eternal: Loving him, let each love Christ in all his brothers. God is love, and where true love is, God himself is there.
2 When we Christians gather, members of one Body, Let there be in us no discord, but one spirit; Banished now be anger, strife and every quarrel: Christ our God be present always here among us. God is love, and where true love is, God himself is there. 3 Grant us love s fulfilment, joy with all the blessed When we see your face, O Saviour, in its glory; Shine on us, O purest Light of all creation, Be our bliss while endless ages sing your praises. God is love, and where true love is, God himself is there. The Prayer of the faithful Father, on this, the night he was betrayed, your Son, Jesus Christ washed his disciples feet. We commit ourselves to follow his example of love and service. and humble us On this night he prayed for his disciples to be one. We pray for the unity of the Church, and unite us. On this night he prayed for those who were to believe through their message. We pray for the mission of your Church. and renew our zeal On this night he commanded them to love, but suffered rejection himself We pray for the rejected and unloved. and fill us with your love. On this night he reminded them; that if the world hated them, it hated him first. We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith. and give us your peace. The celebrant invites everyone to share the peace, Lord Jesus Christ you said to your Apostles. I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your Kingdom, where you live and reign for ever and ever. The peace of the Lord be a/ways with you and also with you. The OFFERTORY HYMN is now sung, and the Mass continues in the usual way.
During the communion the hymn The Bread That We Break is sung. The bread that we break Is a sharing in Christ s body; The cup that we bless, A communion in his blood. 1 Christ the Lord, on this night he was betrayed, took the bread and blessed the cup, saying Do this, my friends in remembrance of me. 2 For as often as you shall break this bread and shall drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death, till he comes again. 3 For as there is one bread, we though many are one in him, like the wheat once scattered that makes the one bread. 4 So we thank you that we are counted worthy to stand before you and to serve at this table from which we are fed. 5 And may we who have shared in the body and drunk his blood, be united in the spirit who gives us life. All KNEEL for the prayer after communion, A procession is then formed and the Blessed Sacrament is carried to the Altar of Repose. The congregation joins the procession, following the altar party. Meanwhile the hymn on the back page is sung.
1 Of the glorious body telling. O my tongue, its mysteries sing. And the blood, all price excelling. Which the world s eternal King. In a spotless womb once dwelling. Shed for this worlds ransoming. 2 Given for us, for us descending Of a virgin to proceed. Man with man in converse blending. Scattered he the gospel seed, Till his sojourn drew to ending. Which he closed in wondrous deed 3 At the last great supper lying Circled by his chosen band. Duly with the law complying. First he finished its command. Then, immortal food supplying. Gave himself by his own hand. 4 Word made flesh, by word he maketh Bread his very flesh to be; Man in wine Christ s blood partaketh And if senses fail to see. Faith alone the true heart waketh To behold the mystery When the Blessed Sacrament has been placed on the altar, all kneel and sing 5 Therefore we, before him bending. This great Sacrament revere Types and shadows have their ending. For the newer rite is here, Faith, our outward sense befriending, Makes the inward vision clear 6 Glory let us give and blessing, To the Father and the Son. Honour, might and praise addressing, While eternal ages run Ever too his love confessing. Who, from both, with both is one, After a brief silence, the ministers depart, the Watch begins and the church is stripped during which Psalm 22 is sung. All leave in silence.