Theme: Maundy Thursday (Believe In Jesus)
Series: IN – Easter 2020
Bible Readings:
Preacher: Rev Phil Swain
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Tonight we begin the Great Three Days of our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection, the journey from the supper table to the cross, from the cross to Easter dawn.
We are followers in his way, exploring his truth, encountering his life.
This is the night when Christ the Lamb of God gave himself into the hands of those who would betray him. This is the night when Christ gathered with his disciples in the upper room. This is the night when Christ our Lord gave us this holy feast, that as we break the bread and drink the cup we may here proclaim his holy sacrifice, and come at the last to his table in heaven. This is the night when Christ took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet, showing us how to honour and serve one another in love.
This is the night for watching and prayer.
We give ourselves freely to the demands of these great days,
confident that those who die in Christ will surely live with him.
Prayer of Confession
God shows great love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Let us then confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Merciful God,
our maker and our judge,
we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
and in what we have failed to do:
we have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves’
we repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Father, forgive us.
Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hear the good news
When we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just … and forgives us of all unrighteousness.
There is forgiveness with God.
With the Lord there is steadfast love
and is great power to redeem. (Psalm 130:4,7)
So then I declare to you, our sins are forgiven
Thanks be to God!
EMPTY HANDS COMMUNION
Tonight we are remembering the events of the last Supper, as recorded in scripture. As we come to share together in communion … I have found a short video to remind us of the way that Jesus instituted this sacrament.
Short Video.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
All thanks and praise, glory and honour
be yours at all times, and in every place
creator Lord, holy Father, true and living God.
We praise you that through you eternal word
you brought the universe into being
and made us in your own image
You have given us this earth to care for and delight in.
We thank you that you bound yourself to all people with the promises of a gracious covenant and called us to serve you in love and peace.
Above all, we give thanks for your son, our saviour Jesus Christ,
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born a man and lived our common life
to you he offered his life in perfect obedience and trust.
he has delivered us from our sins, brought us new life
and reconciled us to you, Father, and to one another.
Amen.
Empty Plate and Cup
In this empty plate/basket [lift and show],
we choose to see the world’s hunger.
We remember that millions of people, this day, lack bread for Communion, bread for breakfast, bread for life. We acknowledge that we ourselves hunger, this day, in ways that no earthly bread can satisfy.
Hospitable God, meet us in our unmet hungers – and help us to put our abundance at the service of the poor.
In this empty cup [lift and show], we choose to see the world’s thirst. We remember that millions of people, this day, lack wine for Communion, fruit for juicing, water for life. We acknowledge that we ourselves thirst, this day, in ways that no earthly cup can quench.
Hospitable God, meet us in our unmet thirsts – and help us to put our fullness at the service of the empty.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ (Matthew 5:6)
In the name of Christ, Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EMPTY HANDS
EPICLESIS (Invocation)
Pour out the Holy Spirit on this empty plate/basket, this empty cup, that they may be for us – even in their emptiness – the body and blood of Christ.
Make us one with him, one with each other, and one in ministry in the world, until at last we feast with him in the kingdom in its fullness.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from temptation and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
THE ‘BREAKING OF THE BREAD’
The minister mimes taking bread and breaking it,
It is Christ who is the bread of life,
Who satisfies the hungry heart.
The minister mimes pouring wine from jug to cup, or simply lifts the cup,
It is Christ who is the cup of hope,
Who revives the thirsty.
The minister holds out the empty plate/basket and cup to the people, saying something like:
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Distribution
Receive what you hunger for.
Receive what you thirst for.
PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION
Holy God, source of all love, on the night of betrayal
Jesus commanded his disciples
to love one another as he loved them.
Give us the will to serve others as he was servant of all.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Merciful God, on this, the night he was betrayed, your Son Jesus Christ washed his disciples’ feet. As we commit ourselves to following his example of love and service, teach us humility.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
On this night, Jesus prayed for his disciples to be one. As we grieve for the divisions in the church, unite us.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
On this night, Jesus prayed for those who would come to believe through the disciples’ message. As we take up the mission of the church, renew our zeal.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
On this night, Jesus commanded his friends to love, but he suffered rejection himself. As we open our hearts to the rejected and the unloved,
fill us with your love.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
On this night, Jesus reminded his people that, if the world hated them,
it had hated him first. As we face our own fears, we pray for those who are persecuted for their faith; give us your peace.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
On this night, Jesus loved his friends to the very end, As we open our hearts to all who face darkness tonight, we pray for the sick, those who mourn, those trapped by violence, addiction, or pain: give healing and hope.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
Faithful God, these are the prayers of your Church.
We offer them trusting and hoping in you.
Hear and help us, challenge and change us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Service of the Candles.
Leader: And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and the people love darkness rather than light.
The Seven Shadows…
After each reading a candle is extinguished.
1. The Shadow of Betrayal Matthew 26:20-25
2. The Shadow of Inner Agony Luke 22:40-44
3. The Shadow of Loneliness Matthew 26:40-45
4. The Shadow of Desertion Matthew 26:47-50, 55-56
5. The Shadow of Accusation Matthew 26:59-67
6. The Shadow of Mockery Mark 15:12-20
7. The Shadow of Death Luke 23:33-46
(The lighted candle is hidden)
Leader: Even so, for our sake, Christ became obedient unto death; even unto the death on the cross.
Dismissal:
Go in peace and hope – in the name of Christ. Amen.