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Maundy Thursday

Reading 1

Reader 1: (Mary)

Tonight, we gather to witness to Maundy Thursday, the night that Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and serves them what we have come to call

“The Last Supper”. Mandatum, the origin of “Maundy” is Latin for “commandment”. As crucifixion nears, Jesus gives his remaining disciples a commandment related to the time they’ve spent together. They’re to love one another as Jesus has loved them. Not dissimilar from the Shema Yisrael – or “Hear O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one,” from which the greatest commandment comes, it points to Jesus’ divinity and engages his disciples’ memory. The greatest commandment of course is to love God with all our hearts, mind and strength. This is a part of our memory and all the ways Jesus shows us love.

How did Jesus love his disciples? They’ll have to draw from their encounters. The acts of love and healing, the teaching, the signs and wonders – all of it needs to be recalled. The Gospel of John emphasizes memory…and we see Jesus constantly preparing them for this time. They could keep each other close by emulating the one who kept them close. So, on this night, Jesus asks them again to remember.

On the first Maundy Thursday, the night that we who follow have remembered ever since, Jesus holds his friends together and holds them close, first by washing their feet and then by asking them to remember him as he serves them bread and wine.

Lewis:

Tonight, just as then, we are held together, even in our deepest grief and greatest dangers. Tonight, we come to remember: how God has shown us acts of love and healing; how God has taught us about mercy and forgiveness; how God has demonstrated to us signs and wonders that make us believe in a mystery of love that knits us together and gathers us in so great a cloud of witnesses; how this mystery connects us to all the life in the universe.

(Reader lights a candle and invites participants to turn on their candles) Come to us this night, O God, Come to us with Light.

(Reader places a Bible or lifts one up) Speak to us this night, O God, Speak to us your truth.

(Reader places a cross or lifts one up) Dwell with us this night, O God, Dwell with us in Love.

Reading 2

Reader 2: Patrick

Hear now the words of Jesus spoken to each one of us: Jesus says:

My peace I give to you.

Do not be afraid.

I call you my friend.

Abide in my love,

Even the hairs of your head are numbered.

Follow me.

I am the way for you.

I am the life for you.

I am the truth for you.

Blessed are your eyes for they see.

You are my witness.

You are my brother.

I am hungry, give me food.

I am in prison, come to me.

I am thirsty, give me drink.

I am a stranger, welcome me.

I am naked, clothe me.

I am sick, visit me.

Abide in me and I in you.

I will drink wine with you in the Kingdom of God.

You will shine like the sun.

You are in me and I in you.

Ask and it will be given you, Seek and you will find.

Knock and the door will be opened to you.

I am the vine; you are the branch.

I will give you rest.

You are the light of the world.

You are the salt of the earth.

You are my sister.

Give and it will be given to you.

Love others as I have loved you.

The truth will make you free.

Feed my sheep.

Watch and pray.

I am with you always.

Thanks be to you O Christ,

For the many gifts you have bestowed on us, Each day and night, each sea and land, Each weather fair, Each Calm, Each wild.

(Invite participants to write a prayer using the paper and pens at their table) Each night may we remember your mercy Given so gently and generously.

Each thing we have received,

From you it came; Each thing for which we hope, From your love it will come;

Each thing we enjoy

It is of your bounty,

O God, from whom each thing that is, freely flows, May we remember tonight.

May we remember all that you are, and in our hearts May we feel your presence.

Reading 3

Reader 3: (Lewis)

On this night so long ago, Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples, and washed their feel, thus inaugurating the new covenant between God and all people, which he would seal with his death and resurrection.

(Reader lifts a bowl of water or has it visible on a table, and dips her hand into the bowl, letting the water wash over her hand. The reader lifts a towel to dry her hand and sets it down) In inviting us to be washed by his hand Jesus asks us to remember: A blessing on you who are poor; Yours is the Kindom of God.

A blessing on you who mourn;

You shall be comforted.

A blessing on you who hunger for justice, You shall be satisfied.

A blessing on you who make peace, You shall be called children of God.

A blessing on you who are persecuted for the cause of right, Yours is the kindom of heaven.

I invite you now, to dip your hands in the water set for you at the table.

Let us pray:

Loving God,

On this night you waited, in Jesus, For so much.

You waited for loyalty –

And found betrayal.

You waited for support –

And got, instead, desertion.

You waited for love –

And received instead

Hatred, misunderstanding, rejection And a cruel death.

Loving God,

Still, you wait for us.

We are no different from your first disciples.

Here on this night,

This night of the basin and towel, Of the bread broken and the wine outpoured, Help us to wait now on you.

Let your mercy and grace unite us in your forgiveness.

And make us one with all your suffering children Who wait for your reign of justice and peace to come And change their lives. Let us be washed clean to be those who live this promise.

We pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Reading 4

Reader 4 (Mary)

John 13: 1-17 (Mary reads)

Blessed is our brother Jesus, Who walks with us the road of our world’s suffering, And who is known to us in the breaking of the bread.

We have gathered from many places to be here tonight.

Some of us have come bearing loss; some of us have come bearing joy; some of us have come with questions; some of us have come with doubt.

We come in the same way that the first disciples did, traveling by faith and not always clear sight. We gather tonight to remember how important it was to Jesus to bring us into Beloved Community in order that we would know, through every trial and every cross, He is with us and is walking with us through everything.

And Jesus wanted us to draw near to him. I think he took courage and comfort that night so long ago,from the presence of his friends, the strength of those who love him. And so we gather.

On the night of his arrest, Jesus took bread And having blessed it

He broke the bread

And gave it to his disciples, saying, This is my body, given to you.

In the same way he took the wine And having given thanks for it He poured it out

And gave the cup to his disciples, saying, This cup is the new relationship with God, Sealed with my blood.

Take this and share it.

I shall drink wine with you next In the coming Kindom of God.

Let us pray:

Loving God through your goodness We have this bread and wine to offer Which earth has given

And human hands have made.

May we know your Presence

In the sharing of the bread

So that we may know your touch In all bread, in all matter.

We offer you praise, dear God, And hearts lifted high

For in the communion of your love Christ comes close to us

And we come close to Christ.

Therefore, with the whole realm of nature around us, With earth, sea and sky,

We sing to you. We remember your hand in ours.

Remember us this night. Remember us in our need.

And in the days ahead, protect us from our betrayals of you.

Remind us of your hope. Carry us through to the day of Resurrection.

Amen.

And now may the everlasting God shield you, East and west and wherever you go.

And the blessing of God be upon you.

The Blessing of the God of life.