Maundy Thursday

The name 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning a commandment. Jesus Christ, at the Last Supper, commanded:

'And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.' John 13:34

On this day, Christians remember the Last Supper. The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal, the meal which Jewish people share together to celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the people from slavery in Egypt.

On this night Jesus welcomed his disciples, washed their feet as if he was their servant and then shared a meal with them. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with his disciples asking that they always do this to remember Him. Christians continue to share bread and wine as part of their worship in church.

Following the meal Jesus went out into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and it was here that he was betrayed by Judas.

The night of Maundy Thursday is an important time in the Christian calendar as it sets the scene for the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Our Pastor Julie has prepared our Maundy Thursday evening service which should have taken place at 7.30pm and we share it with you here.

Opening:

We light this candle to remember that Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20)

Lord Jesus, You are welcome here

Hymn : 1086 – Light of the world https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhq0kDw0E8c

Washing Disciples Feet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRTjb4tYKZ4

OR read John 13: 1-17

Hymn 162 From Heaven you came https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rh4xEvMVQQ

The Passover https://youtu.be/f6Vf0Kwv3AY https://youtu.be/DI7zdMmIVws

Bible Reading: Luke 22:7-20

Communion

For the Passover meal, the Jewish people would have eaten bread made without yeast and lamb, amongst other things, drinking it all down with glasses of red wine, like we are doing now, except that we are drinking red juice.

During the Passover meal, Jesus gave His friends, and us, a way to remember Him.

He took some bread (Pick up the bread)

He said thank you to Father God for it. (Hold up bread and say, “thank you”)

He broke it. (Break bread in half)

He then gave it to His disciples saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Everyone to take a piece of bread and eat it)

Then Jesus:

Took a cup (Pick up the glass of juice)

He said thank you to Father God for it. (Hold up juice and say, “thank you”)

He then gave it to them saying, “Every one of you drink this. This is my blood which is the new agreement that God makes with his people. This blood is poured out for many to forgive their sins.” (Everyone take a drink from their glass)

Prayers

On our calendar we call this day Maundy or Mandate Thursday. It is a day of Holy Week and a moment in the history of redemption filled with glory and grace—overflowing with meaning and mercy. Passover was about to become the Lord’s Supper—your supper. The promises of the Old Covenant were about to be fulfilled by the blood of the New Covenant—your blood.

Having shared eternal glory with the Father, you now show stunning grace to your disciples. Having loved this ragtag bunch of broken men—who squabbled with each other hours earlier for positions of honour, and who within a few hours would all scatter and deny you… having loved them so well, you now show them even greater manifestations of your love. There is no Saviour like you, Lord Jesus, none.

Your disrobing to wash their feet was with a full view to your being stripped naked to wash their hearts and our hearts, my heart. What wondrous love is this indeed! How wide, long, high, and deep? Don’t let us ever forget that the measure of your love is not just the basin and towel of the upper room, but your cross and death at Calvary. There simply is no greater love—none.

”Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. This is the new and never-ending mandate that identifies us as your disciples. No matter how much we know, how hard we work, how much we give… if we don’t love as you love us, it’s all for naught. How humbling.

Jesus, please, please help our slow and dull hearts to come more fully alive to how you loved us by your death and how you love us now in your resurrection glory. By faith and grace, we will seek to make fewer excuses for loving poorly and offer quicker repentance's when we do so. Continue to show us the full extent of your love for us in the gospel, that we might love more fully to your glory. In the kindness and wonder of your beautiful name we pray Amen.

Prayers of silence for those known to us at this time.

The Garden

Bible Reading - Matthew 26:36-46

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation