April 2, 2015 Maundy Thursday ORDER

Set-Up: Table is unset. Christ candles are lit. 12 other candles are lit on trestle table in chancel. Chancel risers are draped and 7 small box risers are placed in choir loft.


Greetings 

Prelude 
4 candles are extinguished.


Call to Worship
The darkness deepens, and the Lord grows troubled.
Can we watch with Him?
Can we be the friends at His table who share His bread and wine? Can we be the companions who journey with Him to the end?
Come, let us worship, let us watch,
and let us give thanks for such great love.
Amen. 

4 candles are extinguished.

A Single Voice: "These I Lay Down"  (CH 391)
4 candles are extinguished. 

Praise & Confession
Leader: Lord Jesus,
We are stunned at Your passion and Your commitment toward us.
People: You did not run from the darkness,
Leader: You did not hide from Your accusers,
People: You did not fade into safe obscurity.
Leader: You stepped with determination into the darkness, Willingly giving Yourself to whip and fist, to wood and nails.
People: We praise You, Gracious Lord,
for what You were prepared to endure to reconcile us with God.
Leader: We praise You, Gracious Lord,
for Your words of forgiveness, and the invitation to paradise.
People: Forgive us when we take this story for granted. 
Leader: Help us not to take Your suffering too lightly, 
People: nor receive Your grace too cheaply.
Leader: As we watch with You, while the darkness encroaches, 
People: Let us remember what this journey means, 
 and count again the cost of love. Amen. 

Scripture and Dramatic Meditation: Mark 14:3-42

Reading 1: While Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.  But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

A perfume bottle is opened at the back of the sanctuary and brought forward, stoppered and placed upon a small box riser in choir loft. 

Reading 2:  Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

 A handful of pocket change is brought forward and spilled onto a small box riser in the choir loft.

Reading 3: On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him,  and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

A water jug is brought forward and placed on one of the small box risers in the choir loft.
  
Reading 4: When it was evening, he came with the twelve.  And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”   They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?”  He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me.  For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 

A bowl of oil and a saucer are placed on a small box riser. A piece of bread is dipped in the oil and placed on the saucer.

 

Reading 5: While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
A loaf of bread an a pitcher of juice are brought forward and placed on a box riser in the choir loft.

Reading 6: When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.”  Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”   But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same. 

 

A chime is rung three times and then placed on a small box riser in the choir loft.

 

Reading 7: They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.  And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”  And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”  He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?  Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.  And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.  He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

 

The praying hands are brought forward and placed on a small box riser in the choir loft.
The Lord's Prayer

Hymn of Communion: CH 384 "Here at Thy Table, Lord" ALL


Words of Institution
When the time arrived for Jesus to be lifted up; When all had been prepared,
and He shared His last meal with His friends, The Lord, took the loaf, blessed it, broke it,
and gave it to the disciples.
When you eat the bread, remember Me. This is my body broken for you. 

When the meal was finished,
The Lord took the cup, blessed it,
and gave it to the disciples.
When you drink the wine, remember Me. This is my blood shed for you. 

Now, as we gather at this table, we eat bread;
we drink wine;
and we remember the One Who died
to bring us life.
And we will keep sharing this meal until He returns. Amen. 

Prayer for Bread and Cup

Communion is shared by intinction.

Thanksgiving
We thank You, Lord
For giving us this sacred meal,
for giving us Your Presence and Your life,
And for reminding us of Your everlasting grace,
Which will be celebrated for all eternity.
Amen. 

Discipleship Challenge 

A Single Voice "Lo, I am With You"  (CH 430)

Benediction