Thursday, January 9, 2014

April 17, 2014 Maundy Thursday

THEME: The Last Supper. This service will be held in Fellowship Hall in the form of a large meal where everyone has a place at the table.

Music Notes: A professional grade keyboard has been set up and is ready for rehearsal. The Choir will sing from in front of the stage. The Chimes will be set behind the Choir area on the stage. The Keyboard is Stage Left. Choir and Chimers will move into place when they sing/play.

Sound Notes: Stuart has set up a "para sound system" with a single mic for opening and closing readings and prayers. Other readings done from around the table will not be micced. Readers will be operating on the "loud and proud" method :-)

Service Order:

Gathering
Prelude

Making Preparation 
  • Bringing in the Bread and the Cup
  • We return to the Passover Dinner where Jesus and his Disciples sat down together. We return to the taste of the food, the sight of friends and family, the sounds of laughter and bickering, the smell of the fruit of the vine, the feel of the table beneath our hands. We enter this memory and live it again, with the words of blessing that started it all...
  • Blessing of Bread and Cup                                                             (blessings chanted-Nancy)
Opening Hymn "Break Thou, the Bread of Life"                                    (insert)

Opening Prayer (Responsive):
Leader: Lord, though we do not understand all that this night means to you,
People: We need to make preparations for you in our hearts.
Leader: Though we come from very different experiences of life and love,
People: We need to be together at one table.
Leader: Though the pathway ahead is mysterious and dark to us who gather here,
People: We need to be at this table with you, in the warmth and light of fellowship.
Leader: Because we know that life is uncertain,
People: We need to be here.

As a key part of our re-living this story, as well as remembering it, you are encouraged to taste the raisins and crackers in the bowls around the room or sip water from the pitchers throughout the service. The matzah in the baskets and the cups of juice will serve us for communion. The whole fruits on the table will be donated as a fresh offering to ECHO the Hosea House after the service. 
The candles around the table will be put out, one by one, marking the dwindling away of the last hours that Jesus has with his friends and followers. The final candle, the Christ candle, will be carried out, as Jesus goes to Gesthemane to pray and await the unfolding of the events of tomorrow, Good Friday.

Experiencing the Word
Luke 22:1-46 
Anthem:   “Who Will Betray the Son of God”                                                                      Choir
Reader 1:
Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.
Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.
A candle is snuffed out.

Reader 2:

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
A candle is snuffed out.
Reader 3:
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
We share the Bread and Cup. 
 Readers break bread and pass cups around their area of the table.

A candle is snuffed out.
Reader 4:
But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
Thirty Pieces of Silver Offering is brought in and dropped on the table.

A candle is snuffed out.
 
Our hands are on this table, too. We pray for forgiveness. 
O Holy God, in this moment we see ourselves too clearly. Hear our acknowledgements of sin. In your great mercy, we put our trust. We place our sin in your hands and our hearts in your amazing grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, by whose love we are saved, we pray, Amen.                    

Our guilt becomes an offering of hope.
 
Offertory Music “Amazing Grace/Jesus Saves”                                                      Chalice Chimers
In this time of music, we continue to pray.
Reader 5:
A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
“You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

A candle is snuffed out.

Reader 6:
“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”

A candle is snuffed out.

Reader 7:
He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”

A candle is snuffed out.

Reader 8:
He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed,  “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
 Anthem: "Dark Gesthemane"                                                                      Choir

The Christ Candle is carried out.
Special Music  "Were You There?" (adapted)                                              Kelly Burns
Benediction

Postlude 

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