ST. ANDREW’S, MAUNDY THURSDSAY, APRIL 14th, 2022

 

 WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

To you who have gathered here this evening for worship I welcome you. As you can see by the bulletin, the format  is somewhat different  from our “ordinary worship practice”  I invite you  to spend a minute of silence  after  each of the short  meditations .  Let us now sit  in silence as we  prepare  for worship

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

This is the day

when Christ gathered with his disciples in an upper room.

This is the day

when Christ shared a meal as a sign of his great love.

This is the day

when Christ took a towel, washed the disciples’ feet

and showed us how to serve others.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

We will watch and listen with open hearts, filled with gratitude.

 

HYMN       206  Jesus  remember me    X3

 

Jesus, remember me when you come in to your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me when you come in to your kingdom.

 

OPENING PRAYER

Holy and mysterious God,  as we gather and prepare to hear again the story of the Last Supper, focus our attention with ears prepared to hear,

minds prepared to learn, hands prepared to receive, and hearts prepared to love, even to the point of breaking. Draw us closer to Christ to receive his loving kindness. Draw us closer to you and to one another, in the name of Jesus, our Servant Lord.  Hear us as we confess together ….

 

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord Jesus , like Judas we have betrayed you

Like Peter we have denied you

Like the other disciples we have forsaken you

Yet you remain faithful to us unto death

Even death on a cross .

WE plead for your forgiveness  and mercy

And we ask  that you strengthen  us

So that we do not turn aside

But follow you to the very end

For the final victory  belongs to you   AMEN

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Brothers and sister in Christ,  the Jesus  we remember tonight  is the Saviour of the world.  In Christ we are forgiven  and through Him, God  abides with us  Through Christ, we receive his everlasting peace  Peace be with you

 

THE PEACE

 

HYMN       210  Man of sorrows

Man of sorrows, wondrous name
for the Son of God who came
ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah! Gracious Saviour!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah! Loving Saviour!
Guilty, helpless, lost were we;
spotless Lamb of God was he;
full atonement can it be?
Hallelujah! Blessed Saviour
Lifted up he was to die,
‘It is finished’ was his cry,
now in heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah! Mighty Saviour!
When Christ comes, our glorious King,all the ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! Wondrous Saviour!

 

SCRIPTURE READING

Exodus 12:  1 – 10                       

 

12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.

 

MEDITATION

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the Jewish religion’s most sacred and widely observed holidays. In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites’ departure from ancient Egypt,where they had  been held  in slavery and God’s leading to the holy land  The story appears in the Hebrew Bible’s books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, among other texts. Jews observe the week long festival with a number of important rituals, including a traditional Passover meal known as a Seder, the removal of leavened products from their home, the substitution of matzo for bread and the retelling of the exodus tale

On the first two nights of Passover, families and friends gather for a religious feast known as a Seder for the Jewish holiday. During the meal, the story of the exodus from Egypt is read aloud from a special text called the Haggadah (Hebrew for “telling”), and rituals corresponding to various aspects of the narrative are performed. For example, vegetables are dipped into salt water representing the tears Jews shed during their time as slaves, and bitter herbs (usually horseradish) symbolizing the unpleasant years of their bondage are eaten.

Passover is traditionally celebrated for seven days and for eight days among many Jews in the Diaspora, typically falling in March or April of the Gregorian calendar often  near to  or coinciding with Easter

Pause for a  min of meditation

 

SCRIPTURE READING

Psalm  116:  1 – 2  & 12 – 19      

 

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. Truly I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, Jerusalem.

 

MEDITATION

The psalmist begins his song with the most  simple expression of grateful love. He has a great love for Yahweh because God answered prayer in a desperate season. In the painful grip of death, the psalmist knows nothing but trouble and sorrow. This death crisis may have come from sickness, injury, or persecution. In light of his deliverance, the psalmist praises the gracious, righteous, and merciful character of God.

For a season the soul of the psalmist has been  troubled Now he could reflect on how God has dealt bountifully with him, and he has come back to a previous standing of rest.

 

Though death is a curse and an enemy, it is still precious because it removes the remaining barriers between God and His saints, It is the doorway to an eternity of perfect fellowship. “Death to the saints is not a penalty, it is not destruction, it is not even a loss.”

The psalm ends with Hallelujah, both as a declaration of personal praise and a call to God’s people to join with the proclamation.

Jesus sang this song of prophetic triumph over the sharpness of the hour of passion to which He was passing. He has passed  it over to all His own as their triumph song over death.”

Pause for a  min of meditation

 

SCRIPTURE READING

LUKE 22:7 & 8   and 13 – 20

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

MEDITATION

The scene here implies secrecy, and Jesus has good reason to quietly make arrangements for Passover. He doesn’t want Judas to betray Him before He can give a final talk to the disciples.

 

This is a passionate moment for Jesus. It isn’t so much that He is saying goodbye to His disciples, as much as now He arrived at the central reason why He came to man: to institute a new covenant with men, based on His own sacrifice. This is not the beginning of the end; it is the beginning of the beginning.

 

Jesus doesn’t give the normal explanation of the meaning of each of the foods. He reinterprets them in Himself, and the focus is no longer on the suffering of Israel in Egypt, but on the sin-bearing suffering of Jesus on their behalf. The words ‘this is my body’ has no place in the Passover ritual; and as an innovation, they must have had a stunning effect, an effect that would grow with the increased understanding gained after Easter.

Although  this evening  we are not actually celebrating  Holy Communion,  nevertheless when we do have this opportunity – this is how we remember what Jesus did for us. When  we eat the bread, we should remember how Jesus was broken, pierced, and beaten with stripes for our redemption. When  we drink the cup, we should remember that His blood, His life was poured out on Calvary for us.

Pause for a  min of meditation

 

229   Jesu Jesu, fill us with your love  ( Pronounce  this Yeah-zoo as  is the Hebrew  pronunciation )

 Refrain:Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends,  silently washes their feet,Master who acts as a slave to them.       Refrain

Neighbors are wealthy and poor, varied in color and race,neighbors are near us and far away.       Refrain

These are the ones we should serve,  these are the ones we should love,all these are neighbors to us and you.       Refrain

Loving puts us on our knees, silently washing their feet,this is the way we should live with you.       Refrain

 

SCRIPTURE READING

John 13:  1 – 17  &  34-35

 

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

 

MEDITATION

In the days  when  everyone walked  dusty roads  in sandals , it was customary  for a household  servant – not  the host – to  wash  the feet of a guest

On the night of his arrest, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment

and set an example for them by washing their feet.

This conveys a message deeper than what Peter  can  comprehend. This is an act which portends  Jesus death  and  that  his love  his disciples is eternal. If one cannot  accept this service of washing, he cannot belong to Jesus . Jesus knows that  they  will understand  after his heavenly glorification

In this act of service, he reminded his followers to serve one another.

Remember your baptism, and your calling to follow Christ’s example.

Pause for a  min of meditation

HYMN                694  This is my commandment   X2

 

This is my commandment, that you love one another
that your joy may be full.

This is my commandment, that you love one another
that your joy may be full,
that your joy may be full, that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment, that you love one another
that your joy may be full.

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

God of love, it is because of your immense love for us that you stooped  to be our servant  and willingly suffered to give us life. We honour and praise you  and  give our  heartfelt thanks. We also praise you for the way this love is evidenced …in creation … in our community… in our church… in  the lives of our congregational folks … and in the events  of this Holy Week

 

We pray that God blesses the church with a renewed and greater awareness of Christ’s commandment to love one another as he loves us. We pray that we may, by faithful in worship, humble in service, gracious in spirit, grounded in truth and persistent in proclaiming the good news of the gospel.  We come to you as we pray together  saying …..

 

THE  LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name,  thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

As the supper  continues   Jesus  shares his final teaching  and  withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane  for  an extended time of very intimate prayer .

 

HYMN                230  Go to dark  Gethsemane

 

1. Go to dark Gethsemane,
You who feel the tempter’s pow’r;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see;
Watch with Him one bitter hour;
Turn not from His griefs away;
Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

2. Follow to the judgment hall;
View the Lord of life arraigned;
O the worm-wood and the gall!
O the pangs His soul sustained!
Shun not suff’ring, shame, or loss;
Learn of Him to bear the cross.

3. Calv’ry’s mournful mountain climb
There’ adoring at His feet,
Mark the miracle of time,
God’s own sacrifice complete:
“It is finished!” Hear the cry;
Learn of Jesus Christ to die.

4. Early hasten to the tomb
Where they laid his breathless clay;
All is solitude and gloom;
Who hath taken Him away?
Christ is ris’n! He meets our eyes:
Savior, teach us so to rise.

BENEDICTION

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the  sure knowledge  and love  of God, and his son Jesus Christ our Lord ; and may  the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit remain with you always

 

At the conclusion of the service, the congregation leaves in silence.