Dear Church Family –
Today is Maundy Thursday, the day for one of our Holy Week services.The word “Maundy” comes from the latin “mandatum” or commandment, as tonight is the night Jesus tells his disciples “a new commandment I give you: that you love one another.” We remember the signs of his love: how he washed his disciples feet and shared the Last Supper with them.
I invite you to bring bread and cup to the service for communion. I also invite you to bring a basin of water and a towel. You can get fancy if you wish with epsom salts and scented oils or whatever you like; if you are worshiping in a small family group you are welcome to go all out and bring soap and pumice stones and give one another foot massages with the washing. But the core of the footwashing is simple, something you can do alone, and even if you can’t reach your own feet to scrub them, just letting them soak in a basin of water will be enough.
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View Maundy Thursday Service online
- I will welcome us with prayer
- The opening hymn is “An Upper Room Did Our Lord Prepare,” set to a familiar English folk tune, played by Marcia and sung by Steve McKiernan
- Leslie Louie will read scripture from John 13
- I will give a mini-sermon
- There will be about five minutes of silent meditation, during which you are invited to wash your feet (or the feet of those worshiping with you). During this we have the opportunity to listen to “If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments,” a 16th-century setting by Thomas Tallis, which uses words spoken by Jesus on this night (see John 14:15), recorded in multiple parts by Kim.
- We will sing “Let Us Break Bread Together” with Kim’s multi-vocals leading us
- We will celebrate the sacrament of communion
- Then we turn to Jesus in the garden, the story of his arrest and betrayal, read by Leslie Louie and Rob Elia
- We close in silence; there is no benediction in this service as the story will continue tomorrow on Good Friday
The Charge (say together) Go out into the world in peace. Have courage; hold on to what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, and help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.