7 PM Meditation 7:30 PM WORSHIP
April 2, 2026 MAUNDY THURSDAY
April 17, 2025 • 7 PM Silent meditation | 7:30 pm worship
Maundy Thursday
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April 2, 2026 7 - 7:30 pm • Silent Meditation 7:30 pm • Worship Service
We enter in a spirit of holy reflection as this service is preceded by an extended period of silence. During this time, we reflect on the journey of Lent, our own mortality, and the need we all have for God's grace.
PRELUDE: "Aria", Opus 51 — Flor Peeters *CALL TO WORSHIP Tonight we remember a quiet act. Before the prayers, before the bread was broken, before the long walk into the night, Jesus knelt. He did the work of a servant. The kind of work most people try to avoid. The kind of work that rarely receives attention. This is how Jesus chose to reveal the heart of God: Through love that bends low to touch the dust of human life. Tonight we gather at that same table. We remember the basin and the towel. We share the bread and the cup. And we listen again for the commandment Christ leaves us: Love one another as I have loved you. Tonight we remember and we learn the way of Christ. *OPENING HYMN: #623 “Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face” PRAYER OF CONFESSION Christ our Teacher, you laid aside power and took up a towel. You knelt before your friends and washed the dust of the road from their feet. Wash the dust from our hearts tonight. Strip away pride and fear. Free us from the need to be above one another. Teach us again the courage of humble love. Amen. SILENT CONFESSION WORDS OF ASSURANCE Hear the good news: Christ, who kneels to wash our feet, lifts us by his grace. In him, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God. Amen. SILENCE Take a moment to feel the silence and sacredness of this space. I. THE BASIN SCRIPTURE: John 13:1–3 (Common English Bible) Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to God. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper Jesus knew that God had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God… REFLECTION II. THE TOWEL SCRIPTURE: John 13:4–5 (Common English Bible) He got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. REFLECTION III. THE TABLE READING: "Blessing for the Brokenhearted", Jan Richardson (from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons, Wanting More Press, 2015) REFLECTION INVITATION TO THE TABLE and GREAT THANKSGIVING Words about the works of Jesus. Words about the work of the Holy Spirit. COMMUNION Please follow the ushers' direction and leave your pew via the center aisles. Step forward to receive the bread. Once you have received the bread, move aside to receive the juice: — by intinction (dipping the bread in the cup), or — by taking a small cup from the tray, drinking the juice, and placing the empty cup in the basket. Return to your pew via the side aisle. Communion elements are grape juice and gluten-free bread. COMMUNION ANTHEM: Sanctuary Choir “Lord of Lords, Adored by Angels” — Paul Bouman; words by Jaroslav J. Vajda Lord of Lords, adored by angels, is that you with towel and basin, washing your disciples' feet? Like the twelve, we stand in wonder: Jesus, Word of God eternal, do you stoop to wash ours, too? As You shed your earthly garments, so you laid aside Your glory, so you shed your life as well. Let the towel and the basin be the symbols of our service; let your mind be in us all. Moved by your devotion toward us, honored to be called your servants, we have joined you in your way; Hesitant, we gird the towel, fill the bowl with cleansing water, and begin to know your joy. Serving Savior, model Servant, for the joy you set before us, make your way our history, Till we hear your commendation: "Well done, good and faithful servant; come and share my joy with me!" PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING: Lord Jesus Christ, you have put your life into our hands; now we put our lives into yours. Take us, renew and remake us. What we have been is past; what we shall be, through you, still awaits us. Lead us on. Take us with you. Amen. HYMN: "We Sang Our Glad Hosannas" IV. THE COMMANDMENT SCRIPTURE: John 13:34–35 (Common English Bible) I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. REFLECTION V. THE SERVANT CHURCH READING: Dorothy Day, from The Long Loneliness: The Autobiography of Dorothy Day (HarperOne, 1952) REFLECTION HYMN: "Stay with Me", sung six times ©1991 Les Presses de Taize, GIA Publications, Inc. VI. THE SHADOW SCRIPTURE: John 13:21-22 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, Very truly I tell you, one of you will betray me. The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. REFLECTION VII. THE NIGHT READING: "Maundy Thursday", Malcolm Guite (from Sounding the Seasons: Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year, Canterbury Press, 2012) REFLECTION VIII. STRIPPING THE TABLE PRAYER and SCRIPTURE: Psalm 22:1-2 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night but find no rest. REFLECTION THE WORD OF CHRIST: John 15:9-12 As God has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept God's commandments and abide in God’s love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. DEPARTURE IN SILENCE: The congregation is invited to follow the Christ Figure and the cross, carrying the love of this night into the world.
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As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God. (* Please rise in body or in spirit.)
We apologize that this list may be incomplete due to our printing schedule.
Participants In the Service
Worship Leaders, Readers: Rev. Michelle Bogue-Trost, John Messenger, Karen Hibbard, Kellie Barbato, Ruth Phinney Christ Figure: Sean Cundy Acolytes: Andrew Hunt, Kathie Collier Bryant, Martha Neubert, Stuart Mitchell Organist: Duane Prill Sanctuary Choir Section Leaders: Juli Elliot, Brenda Nitsch, Dan McInerney, Jordan Bachmann Director of Music Ministry: Dr. Carl Johengen Communion Stewards: Anne Marie Strivings, Judy Messenger Head Ushers: Dennis Roote, Tommy Johnson, Jr.
Permissions:
“Lord of Lords, Adored by Angels” words © 1988 Jaroslav J. Vajda, music © 1988 Birnamwood Publications/MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc.; Hymns © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; OneLicense.net #A-721053. Illustration Credits: Designed by David Stith
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