Maundy Thursday

april 1, 1999

HOLY THURSDAY

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Revised Common:       John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Note:  As Peter discovered, following convention, or what we feel

is right, is not nearly as important as submitting to Jesus' authority and direction

___ Great Thanksgiving Prayer1

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

There are not enough days in our lives

   to fully express the thankfulness we feel,

   or the praise you so richly deserve, Holy God.

You loved us so much that you sent your Son.

Jesus left the glory of your presence,

   to live and die among us, and for us,

   and then returned to the full glory of your kingdom.

And so,

   with your people on earth

   and all the company of heaven

   we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

   heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

And what a blessing your Son has been to us, Lord.

Jesus lived among us as one who has all authority from you.

   He knew all that was to be done,

   and carried out your will faithfully.

At the height of his glory,

   Jesus could have commanded us to bow down to him,

   and could have forced his will upon all the world.

But Jesus tied a towel around his waist,

   knelt at the feet of his disciples,

   and began washing their feet.

Peter, like so many of us, only wanted to give,

   but Jesus taught us the necessity of receiving.

We can only be clean if you wash us in baptism.

We can only grow strong if you feed us with the holy meal.

We can only be your people if we learn to depend upon your love.

Therefore, with hearts overflowing with thanksgiving and love,

   we bow before you, O God,

   to receive the gift of Jesus' poured-out life.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us,

   he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,

   gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Take, eat; this is my body which is given to you.

Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over, he took the cup,

   gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you;

   this is my blood of the new covenant,

   poured out for you and for many

    for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it,

   in remembrance of me."

And so,

   in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

   as a holy and living sacrifice,

   in union with Christ's offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Let your Holy Spirit, O Lord,

   take our gifts of bread and wine,

   and make them be for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ,

   that we may be refreshed in his love

   and commissioned in his example.

And let your Holy Spirit

   take our surrendered lives and transform them

   into the living body of Jesus Christ,

   for the sake of the whole world.

We take up Jesus' example of humble service,

   as our glorious calling

   until Jesus returns in glory to reign forever.

Through your Son, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit in your holy church,

all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,

   now and forever.

Amen.

___ Commissioning and Blessing

You have received the perfect love of our Savior,

   now depend upon this love everyday,

Follow his example of humble service to others,

   by putting their needs above your own.

And may the sustaining and fulfilling love of God,

   Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

   keep you and protect you, now and forever.  Amen.

Hymns and Service Music

(The asterisk [*] indicates hymns that are addressed to God and

can be used as prayers.)

___ *"For Perfect Love So Freely Spent"

___ "Go Forth for God"

___ *"Jesu, Jesu"

___ *"Jesus, Lord, We Look to Thee"

___ *"Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation"

___ *"Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service"

___ "Love Consecrates the Humblest Act"

___ *"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"

___ "Of the Glorious Body Telling"

___ "Sent Forth by God's Blessing"

___ *"Strengthen for Service, Lord"

___ "The Church of Christ, in Every Age"

___ "There's a Spirit in the Air"

___ *"When the Church of Jesus"

___ "Where Charity and Love Prevail"