A Traditional Maundy Thursday Service

The following service is a creative adaptation of the traditional pattern and texts for worship on Maundy Thursday. It will be of particular help to those who plan more formal Maundy Thursday worship. For others, the commentary included with this service will provide a guide to thoughtful planning.

GATHERING FOR WORSHIP Commentary: Since the Maundy Thursday service centers around the events held in the Upper Room the night before Christ's death, the service should reflect the nature of these events. One important aspect in the Upper Room was Jesus' fellowship with his disciples. This may be emphasized in a congregation's celebration by holding a fellowship meal prior to the service. The visual environment for the service can build on what is done for other services during Holy Week, including the use of purple and other dark colors, rough fabrics, somber lighting, and symbols of Christ's passion. Yet the unique emphases of this service—the institution of the Lord's Supper, the act of footwashing, and the preparation for Christ's death—may also be highlighted on banners, vestments, and the like. Since the visual environment should suggest a quiet and reflective intimacy, not a large-scale festival, this should also be reflected in the choice of music for the service. Gathering of the Congregation Call to Worship This is the day that Christ, the Lamb of God, gave himself into the hands of those who would slay him. This is that day that Christ gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room. This is the day that Christ took a towel and washed his disciples' feet, giving us an example that we should do to others as he has done to us. This is the day that Christ our God gave us this holy feast, that we who eat this bread and drink this cup may here proclaim his holy sacrifice and be partakers of his resurrection and at the last day may reign with him in heaven. Leader: Taste and see that the Lord is good. People: Happy are all who take refuge in him. Leader: Let us bring our praise to God. Commentary: Each line of this call to worship may be read by a different reader from within the congregation. The first several lines (up to "Taste and see …") need not be printed for the congregation. Entrance Prayer Leader: Let us pray. People: Lord Jesus, we worship you and offer you now the prayers of our hearts. Help us to enter the spirit of the Upper Room that we may be confronted by your presence and the depth of your love for us. Then prepare our hearts to be fed at your holy table that we may be bound to you in your suffering, that we may be raised with you into a new life. Amen. Greeting Pastor: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Hymn: "Go to Dark Gethsemane" ACT OF PENITENCE Call to Confession Leader: People of God, we gather to meet our Savior. We must come with humility and honesty to meet our Lord. Let us then confess our sins to God. Prayer of Confession Leader: Almighty God, we have promised our love and renewed commitment to you, especially in this season of penitence [or season of Lent]. Instead, we have proven to be disobedient and ungrateful. We have promised our love and servanthood to each other. Instead, we have sown seeds of hate, envy, bitterness. We have promised to live in the power of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Instead, we have listened to the powers of darkness. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, the suffering and humble servant, forgive us, we pray, and renew us in his power. Amen. Declaration of Pardon Leader: (reads Romans 5:8) Therefore, people of God, we are assured that our sins are forgiven, that we are brought to new life in Christ. People: Thanks be to God. The Passing of the Peace Leader: With the joy of knowing his love, let us greet each other in Jesus name. People: (to each other) The peace of Jesus Christ be with you. LITURGY OF THE WORD Prayer for Illumination People: We are gathered now as the people of God, redeemed by Jesus' blood. Inspire us, Lord, by your example, that we may be the body of Christ, for each other and for our world. Amen. Scripture Readings Old Testament: Exodus 12:1–14 Psalm: 89 Commentary: The Psalm may be sung by the choir or congregation. Musical resources for singing the Psalms are included in the commentary on the Pentecost service in this series. New Testament: John 13:1–15; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 Sermon RESPONSES TO THE WORD Act of Servanthood—The Footwashing Commentary: For centuries, Christians remembered the powerful symbol of Jesus' servanthood by re-enacting the ritual of footwashing in communal worship. This serves as a powerful witness of Jesus' humility as he approached his death. Congregations who do not traditionally re-enact this ritual may find this suggestion to interfere with the spirit of Maundy Thursday worship for many reasons. Worship planners in such congregations may wish instead to read the Gospel account of the footwashing, to ask for the members of the congregation to pledge their humility and servanthood toward each other, and to sing an appropriate hymn (see below.) In other congregations, the pastor may wish to share in this ritual with a few members. Either of these two means can introduce the congregation to the importance of this gesture given to us by Jesus, perhaps allowing for a more participatory use of the ritual in future years. Introduction Leader: Fellow servants of our Lord Jesus Christ: On the night before his death, Jesus set an example for his disciples by washing their feet, an act of humble service. He taught that strength and growth in the kingdom of God come not by power, authority, or even miracle, but by such lowly service. Pastor: (If the pastor is to wash) We all need to remember his example, but none stand more in need to this reminder than those who the Lord has called to the ordained ministry. Therefore, I invite you who share in the royal priesthood of Christ to come forward that I may recall whose servant I am by following the example of my Master. Pastor: (If the representatives of the congregation are to wash) We need to remember the example of our Lord and model ourselves after his humility and servanthood. We come forward now, and in the act of this ceremony, we recall that we are servants of our Lord and of each other. Come, remembering his admonition that what will be done for you is also to be done by you to others, for "a servant is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." Leader: The Lord Jesus, after he had eaten supper with his disciples and washed their feet, said to them, "Do you know what I, your Lord, and Master, have done to you?" I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done. People: Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you. Leader: I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. People: Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you. Leader: By this shall the world know that you are my disciples: that you have love for one another. The Ritual (people come forward) Commentary: The footwashing should be conducted in a place clearly visible to the congregation. Small children may be invited forward to witness and participate in the ceremony. If the congregation is too large to have all participate in this ceremony, representatives of the people may be chosen to participate. Some worshipers may be designated to serve as footwashers for others. Otherwise, each worshiper may wash the feet of the person next to them. Materials needed for footwashing include only a basin, towels, and several pitchers of warm water. Footwashers should kneel before the person whose feet they are washing, assist in the removal of footwear, pour water from the basin over the foot, which should be extended over the basin, and then towel dry the foot. Hymn: "Where Charity and Love Prevail" (Ubi Caritas) or "They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love" Commentary: The hymn "Where Charity and Love Prevail" has been traditionally associated for centuries with the Gospel account of Christ's footwashing. Several fine choral and vocal solo settings of this text are available. Act of Intercession Leader: Almighty and loving God, your Son, Jesus Christ, gave us a model of true humility and servanthood. Through your Spirit, work within us we pray: that we may be servants to each other in this church, that we may be servants to the community that surrounds this church, that we, as members of the worldwide church, may be servants to our world. Commentary: Each of these phrases may be followed by a period of silence or by spoken prayers offered by various members of the congregation which elaborate on these themes. Leader: As our Savior has taught us, we pray: People: Our Father, who art in heaven … Act of Offering Leader: (reads 2 Corinthians 8:9) People: Let us bring our gifts to our Lord. THE EUCHARIST Commentary: The following Communion liturgy is organized around the phrases used by the Gospel writers to describe Jesus' actions at the Last Supper. Though often unnoticed, almost all Communion liturgies follow this pattern of taking the elements, giving thanks, breaking the bread, and sharing the elements. Using these as headings in the Communion liturgy calls to the attention of the worshiper the intimate connection between the continuing celebration of the sacrament and Jesus' institution of it. While these divisions may be used anytime the Lord's Supper is celebrated, they are especially appropriate for use on Maundy Thursday. The structure of the Communion liturgy may be highlighted by having a voice other than the worship leader read each of the headings included in the following liturgy. JESUS TOOK BREAD AND WINE Presentation of the Communion Elements Commentary: Both the gifts collected during the offertory and the elements for Communion may be brought forward at this time. Invitation to the Table Leader: Every time you eat of the bread and drink of the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death, until he comes. People of God, let us join now in proclaiming the death of God's humble and suffering servant, our Lord Jesus Christ. JESUS GAVE THANKS Great Prayer of 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: It is truly right for us to offer our praise to you, Lord God Almighty. You have created this world and rule over it through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You have made us in your image and freed us from slavery to the power of sin. You claimed us as your people and made a covenant with us, first with Israel and then with all who called on the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we praise you and join the heavenly hosts in singing to the glory of your name: People: 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. Commentary: Most hymnals include a setting of this traditional canticle. For a list of service music found in a representative group of hymnals, consult the commentary on the Communion liturgy of the Advent service in this series. Leader: We offer our thanks and praise for Jesus Christ, our Lord, who came to live among us, to serve us in humility, and to deliver us from our slavery to sin. His passion and death gave payment for our sins that we may share in the glory of life everlasting. He sustains us in this life by humility, which he modeled in his life, by his gift to us of this feast, and by sending to us the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us. By these gifts, we are able to long for the life to come when we will again feast with him at his table. For all these gifts, praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Commentary: References to Christ's life and passion that were mentioned in the sermon may be incorporated into this section of the Prayer of Thanksgiving. Institution Leader: The Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Response People: We shall do as our Lord commands. As we share in this feast, we proclaim that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father into the world, that he was condemned to die that we might live, that he rose again in power, and that he will come again in glory. JESUS BROKE THE BREAD AND POURED THE CUP … Prayer of Consecration Pastor: Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us, we pray. May these gifts of bread and wine be for us a communion with the body and blood of Jesus Christ. May they unite us with each other as fellow servants of Jesus Christ and allow us to know more fully the joy of knowing him. Amen. Breaking of the Bread and Pouring of the Cup Commentary: The following sentences are spoken as the minister breaks the common loaf and pours the wine or juice into the common cup. Pastor: The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ. People: We who are many are one body, for we all share the same loaf. Pastor: The cup for which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ. People: The cup which we drink is our participation in the blood of Christ. Hymn Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us your peace. Commentary: This hymn at the breaking of the bread is set to numerous musical settings. It is often identified by its Latin name, Agnus Dei, and is appropriate for use in every service in the Christian year, either following the breaking of bread or during the sacrament. Invitation Pastor: Friends in Christ, the Lord has prepared his table for his church. All who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation are now invited to come to the table of the Lord. People: We come with gladness. Thanks be to God! Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God. … AND GAVE IT TO HIS DISCIPLES Sacrament Pastor: (as the people take the bread) Take eat, remember and believe that the body of the Lord Jesus Christ was given for the complete remission of all our sins. Pastor: (as the people take the cup) Take, drink, remember and believe that the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins. Commentary: Many congregations choose to alter their means of distribution of the Communion elements on Maundy Thursday, serving the elements to worshipers who are seated at tables. This method emphasizes the congregation's fellowship and mutual servanthood at the table and recalls the intimacy of the Last Supper itself. During the sacrament, appropriate instrumental, choral, or solo music may be played or sung, or the congregation may sing a series of Communion hymns. Preference should be given to texts that focus on the events in the Upper Room and the appropriate attitudes of humility and servanthood that are central to Christ's sacrifice and to the church. Response: "What Wondrous Love Is This" Commentary: If the stripping of the church follows Communion, then only the first verse of this hymn should be sung. Benediction Pastor: As Christ has loved you, love one another. And may God's peace attend you. Amen. Stripping of the Church Psalm 22 Commentary: Many congregations prepare for Good Friday by closing their Maundy Thursday service with the removal of all banners, paraments, and candles from the worship space. During this time, Psalm 22 may be read. It should be read slowly and quietly. Following this, worshipers should leave the worship space in silence. Dispersal of the Congregation (in silence)