Thursday, April 9, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
On Maundy Thursday evening at 7:00, our congregation will be sharing the sacrament of Holy Communion in their homes. This is very appropriate because the Passover Festival of the Jewish community is celebrated at home. Each location will be responsible for their own bread and juice. You may substitute for these elements as your grocery supplies allow. Carol and I will be leading this time of worship at our home. We will consecrate our elements and yours as we worship together. Anyone in your household is welcome to partake as communion in the United Methodist Church is open to all. If you have neighbors and friends who would be interested, please tell them about our website, www.ripleymethodist.org.
God Bless Us All, Dave
CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE
April 9, 2020
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We gather in remembrance of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples–
People: To acknowledge our kinship with the disciples who forsook him,
Leader: And to acknowledge our need of the God who did not.
All: Let us sing praises to heaven and earth, for the God who sustained Jesus in his hour of trial is the One who sustains us in ours.
* OPENING HYMN “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” No. 626
Hymn is available by clicking here
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
O Merciful God, tonight we take our place at table with our Lord. When he predicts our betrayal, let us examine not our neighbors but ourselves. When he predicts our falling away, let us remember that the crow of the cock is more predictable than any of us. As we contemplate his imminent arrest, let us feel not only the pain of our great loss but the shame of our tragic guilt. Then, as we anticipate his impending death, empower us so to live that he shall not have died in vain.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Exodus 12: 1-4, 5-14
This lesson links our service to the Jewish Festival of Passover
Scripture is available by clicking here
EPISTLE LESSON 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
This lesson provides the words of institution which are traditionally read at Holy Communion
Scripture is available by clicking here
* GOSPEL LESSON John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
Gospel lesson is available by clicking here
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God’s love for the world has been revealed in Jesus Christ, who certainly loved us to the uttermost; Jesus, Savior and Lord, at his last meal with his disciples gave them and us a new commandment : “… 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.”
(John 13:34,35 NRSV)
Merciful God, we confess that so often our discipleship has been weak when we have failed to serve as Jesus served; forgive us.
(silent confession)
When we have failed to love one another as Jesus loves us; forgive us.
(silent confession)
When we have been happy to proclaim our devotion to Jesus with our lips and then denied him by our actions; forgive us.
(silent confession)
Merciful God, empower us by your Spirit to be steady and true to you in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Jesus said: “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world “(John 12:47b) and “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” ( John 13: 1b)
The good news therefore is this: In Jesus Christ, we are loved and we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
INVITATION
Jesus says: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty…and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.”
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Living and loving God, we lift our hearts to you in gratitude and joy for all your gifts to us.
You made us in your own image and set us in this world of contrasting beauty.
In your great love you delivered your people of old from slavery and you have delivered us from the power of evil and death through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
We praise and honor you, holy God. Heaven and earth are surely full of your glory.
Blessed is He whose supper we share this night, and blessed are we, renewed by his life.
Blessed is He whose supper we share this night, and blessed are we, renewed by his life.
Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come… and … having loved his own who were in the world he loved them to the end; at supper with them, he washed the disciples’ feet and gave them the new commandment: “… love one another as I have loved you.” He took a loaf of bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper, he took the cup, and again giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying, “Drink from this all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Be present, Lord Jesus, by your Holy Spirit as you were in that upper room with your disciples when you shared this last supper with them; make yourself known to us as we share among us this bread and this wine – your life in us. Amen
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
We eat and drink with thanksgiving, remembering all that Jesus has done for us.
PARTAKING OF THE SACRAMENT
This is the body of Christ given in love for us all. Amen.
This is the blood of Christ poured out in love for us all. Amen.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for refreshing and renewing us with this meal and for nourishing our lives with the gracious gift of your life. Amen.
THE PEACE
After Jesus had shared the meal with his disciples and washed their feet, he said to them, “I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you…Love one another, as I have loved you”…He also said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
* HYMN “What Wondrous Love Is This” No. 292
Hymn is available by clicking here
* DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING
Go forth in peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen!