Easter 2021: Maundy Thursday

Call to Worship (John 13)

From busy weekday lives we pause this hour, gathered as friends, to remember Jesus’ last earthly night with his disciples. May we listen for God’s invitations to personal discipleship and service; to communion with one another and with the Holy One. Let us prepare our hearts and minds to worship God.

Opening Prayer (Exodus 12, John 13)

Holy God, remind us on this special day of the many ways we know you: as strong deliverer, as humble servant, as the One who bids us love one another, that the world might know you. Lead us not only to the beauty of solitary reflection but also to community, as we remember together your words and your example. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

Mark 14:12–26 NIV

12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” 20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

April Fools… Maundy Thursday… Jesus flipping the script

Skit… IS IT I? Repeated

It isn’t me is it? Doubt… not “NOT ME!” that would be peter later

The supper… lying around the “table”

litterally elbow to elbow with the Lord.

Dinner with friends… no profound message… no healings… just dinner with closest friends.

But this isn’t good enough for God.

He wants to be in us… that’s what we experience

and as we take in the supernatural presence of God this is real fellowship.

Here I am, at the altar

Every time I am amazed at the sweetness of the juice and the softness of the bread… Both stand in stark difference from what our Lord would experience in just a few hours...

But right now, all I can focus on is his presence with me here and now.

Prayer of Confession (Exodus 12, 1 Corinthians 11, John 13)

God of service and abundance, on this night of holy meals, we are reminded that we ought to love and share with one another. We confess that your ways are not always our ways. When we drift toward isolation and indifference, may we remember this night of communion and your ever new commandment of love. May our love and sharing be signs of hope for the world. Amen.

Words of Assurance (Psalm 116)

The Lord has heard our voices and our supplications. God has loosed our bonds. Know that when we fall short, God hears our prayers and frees us for lives of gratitude and service. In Christ we are forgiven. Let the whole church say amen. Amen.

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Invitation to Communion (John 13)

We are gathered as disciples, and tonight Jesus reveals himself to us. He is the master teacher who unexpectedly washes our feet, as would a servant. He has led us triumphantly into Jerusalem, and yet he speaks of going where we cannot go, of being broken and poured out for us. We remember him now as he asked us to do, in a communal meal. Whether bewildered that he must depart, sobered before the cross that awaits, or quietly anticipating Sunday’s joy, let us center ourselves now—in this moment, connected with those around us—to seek God’s presence in the breaking of the bread.

Father Almighty (almighty God ), creator of heaven and earth.

From the earth you bring forth bread and create the fruit of the vine.

You formed us in your image, delivered us from captivity,      and made covenant to be our sovereign God.

You fed us manna in the wilderness,      and gave grapes as evidence of the promised land.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven      we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

When we had turned aside from your way and abused your gifts,      you gave us in him your crowning gift.

Emptying himself, that our joy might be full,      he fed the hungry, healed the sick,      ate with the scorned and forgotten, washed his disciples' feet,      and gave a holy meal as a pledge of his abiding presence.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection      you gave birth to your Church,      delivered us from slavery to sin and death,      and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,      gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over he took the cup,      gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,      poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

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.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,      and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,      that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,      one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,      until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,      all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and for ever.

Amen.

SENDING FORTH

Benediction (John 13)

Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Go in peace, then, loving one another and loving the world that God so loved. Amen.