During the Time of Coronavirus
PREPARE
Set aside 1 hour of uninterrupted time.
Choose a good location in your home, a living room or around the kitchen table.
Light a candle.
If you have very young children who will not be able to engage, consider choosing your time of worship during their nap time or after bedtime.
If you have young children who may be able to engage with part or all of the time, tell them ahead of time and think about some things they might do while you listen to the sermon and discuss it. (Craft projects like coloring a picture, writing a letter to a neighbor, building a bible scene with legos or blocks, etc.)
Resist the impulse to multi-task. When you are praying, listening, and singing - let it be the only thing you are doing.
CONCERNING MAUNDY THURSDAY
The Paschal mystery—the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—is at the heart of the Christian Gospel. The evening of Maundy Thursday begins the Triduum (the sacred three days). This service, together with Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and The Great Vigil of Easter, form a single liturgy; thus, the final blessing and dismissal is reserved for the conclusion of the Great Vigil.
Maundy Thursday receives its name from the mandatum (commandment) given by our Lord: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). At the Last Supper, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and commanded them to love and serve one another as he had done. This day commemorates the Lord’s example of servant ministry, the institution of the Eucharist, the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal leading to the crucifixion.
This liturgy is celebrated in the evening.
Leader:
Blessed be our God.
People:
Now and forever. Amen.
Leader:
This is the night that Christ the Son of Man gathered with his disciples in the upper room.
This is the night that Christ our Lord and Master took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet, calling us to love one another as he has loved us.
This is the night that Christ our God gave us this holy feast, that we who eat this bread and drink this cup may here proclaim his perfect sacrifice.
This is the night that Christ the Lamb of God gave himself into the hands of those who would slay him.
READ: John 13:1-15
LISTEN:
FOOT–WASHING:
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 life of the kingdom of God come not by worldly power and authority, but by such lowly service.
Therefore, I invite you who share in the royal priesthood of Christ to come forward, that we may recall whose servants we are by following the example of our Master. Come now remembering his admonition that what will be done for you is also to be done by you to others. Engrave on your hearts and mirror in your actions Jesus’ words: “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.”
[Using a bowl of water and a towel, each person washes another’s feet]
[If you are worshipping by yourself today, we encourage you to reflect on the following Scripture passages and spend time in prayer in lieu of foot washing.]
Titus 3:3-7
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you that you have saved me by the washing of regeneration. That through your purifying work I am brought into new and resurrected life. Jesus, richly pour out your Holy Spirit upon me today, that His work of renewal might wash me from all sin, and lead me into the inheritance you have given me as your child. To the glory of your name, amen.
Ephesians 5:25-27
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Prayer:
Jesus, I thank you that you have sanctified me by the cleansing water of your word. May your word wash over me daily and cleanse me from every spot and wrinkle of sin, that I may be presented to you as holy and without blemish. May this be pleasing in your eyes and glorify your name, for this is why you created me.
Ezekiel 36:25-29
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your purifying grace which washes me of all my uncleanness. Cleanse me from the idols of my life that I cling to again and again. Give me a new heart and a new spirit, take my heart of stone and make it a heart of flesh. Jesus, send upon me your life-giving Spirit that I may walk before you as holy, and live in your presence all of my days. To the glory of your name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
SING: Listen and sing along.
[Singing together:]
LET US BE KNOWN
Micah Massey, Ryan Flanigan, Nate Moore, Matt Armstrong
Let us be known by our love
In every word, in every deed honor the Son
Let our light shine in every eye
Let us be known by our love
For the glory of the Father
For the glory of the Son
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our love
Let us be known by our joy
In every home, in every heart sing to the Lord
Let our life show goodness and hope
Let us be known by our joy
For the glory of the Father
For the glory of the Son
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our joy
Let us be known by our peace
In every town, in every tribe Jesus is King
Let us go forth, heal and restore
Let us be known by our peace
For the glory of the Father
For the glory of the Son
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our peace
[Singing together:]
THE LOVE OF GOD
Frederick M. Lehman
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
And ev’ry man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Tho’ stretched from sky to sky.
[Listening together:]
AS I HAVE LOVED YOU
Paul Zach
In my kingdom the last will be the first
And the greatest is the one who serves
Give your life away to gain what can’t be lost
As I did on the cross
Love
Love
Love
As I have loved you
For my kingdom isn’t build with the sword
Blessed are the weak and the poor
My disciples will be known be love
in your giving I will fill you up
[After everyone’s feet have been washed]
Leader:
The Lord Jesus, rising from supper, laid aside his outer garments, took a towel, and washed his disciples’ feet. Then he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
People:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
[John 13:34]
