Liturgy for 9th April

Week 2 – Maundy Thursday

Leader:

In order for there to be good beginnings there have to be good endings. On his last full day on earth Jesus gives love. In his tiredness he washes the feet of his tired faithful friends. In his generosity he gives bread to the one who will betray him. In an act of amazing prophetic vision, through shared bread and wine, he gives us a sacrament which keeps him alive for us though so many centuries have passed since he gave it. In his prayers he places the Church in the heart of his heavenly Father. In his anguish in the garden he struggles with his doubts. He is led away captive to be mocked and tried. He will not sleep tonight. He calls us to watch and pray.
LORD, WE WILL WATCH WITH YOU AND PRAY.

Read John 13 verses 1 - 17

It was on the Thursday

It was on the Thursday that he became valuable.
He hadn’t anything to sell … not since leaving his hammer and saw three years earlier. Needless to say, he could knock together a trestle table or hang a couple of shelves at the drop of a hat. But he wasn’t into making things, not now.
He was into … well, I suppose … talking. And listening and healing, and forgiving and encouraging … and all the things for which there is no pay and no job advertisements.
So, his job wasn’t worth much and neither was he. He wasn’t well-dressed or well-heeled or well-connected. He wasn’t valuable.
But, on the Thursday he became valuable.

Read: Psalm 116 verses 1 – 2 and 12 - 19

Prayer
Here we are, O God, gathered together by your love although distanced from one another by necessity. We want to gather round your table as you gathered with your disciples in an upper room so long ago. But while we are unable to gather round your table we are able to bring our praise and thanks.
We give thanks for the world in which we live. We give thanks for lengthening days and for the warmth of the sun. We remember those involved in lambing at a time when they are unable to get outside help.
We give thanks for family and friends and for the means of modern technology which enable us to keep in touch when we are unable to visit them. We remember all who are distanced from those whom they love.
We give thanks for the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ and look forward to the time when we can all meet together to worship him in the ways which are most familiar to us and which we love.
For now, help us to worship in word and in silence, in image and in song.
And now hear us as we pray further in the words Jesus taught his disciples saying:
OUR FATHER

Reflection

Hymn 376​ - Twas on that night when doomed to ​​know

Communion service

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Lord God, you have invited us to share a meal just as Jesus and his disciples shared a meal. May he nourish us by his presence and unite us in his love.
AMEN.

Blessed are you, Lord of all creation; you bring forth wheat from the earth.
Blessed are you, Lord of all creation; you bring forth vines from the earth.
Blessed are you, Lord of all creation, for the bread and wine we share together.

The Lord is here.
HE IS PRESENT AMONG US
He calls us to his table
WE COME IN HIS NAME
Holy God, Father of us all, you gave us your Son and sent him to live among us.
He came in humility, born of Mary. He taught of your kingdom and healed the sick.
He lived with integrity and in obedience died on the cross, revealing your forgiving love.
WE PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME
AMEN.

On the night before he died Jesus had supper with his friends.
He took a towel and, like a servant, he washed their feet.
During the meal he took the bread, he gave thanks and broke it.
He gave it to his disciples saying:
Take, eat, this is my boy which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.
WE REMEMBER HIM: HE IS THE TRUE BREAD, THE BREAD OF LIFE.

At the end of the meal he took the cup of wine. He gave thanks and shared it with his disciples, saying: Drink this all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
WE REMEMBER HIM: HE IS THE TRUE VINE, THE WINE OF SALVATION.

We remember his death and we celebrate his rising. In the power of the Holy Spirit may this bread and this wine be for us his body and his blood.
Fill us with your grace, empower us by the Spirit and draw us into the glory of your kingdom.
PRAISE TO OUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE, FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE BY THE SON IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

Taking of Bread and Wine together.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Prayer
This is a time for prayers for the world, for the communities in which we live; for the Church and those who minister here in any capacity; for those who are sick at this time, whether with coronavirus or other illnesses; for all health workers and carers; for those whose income is uncertain; for those known to us to be in particular need of our prayers; for ourselves.

Though distanced we have shared fellowship and we have proclaimed our Lord in bread and wine until he comes again.
Grant us courage and faith so that we may follow you in the way, taking up our cross and looking for the coming of the kingdom.
AMEN.

BLESSING