April 06, 2023

Maundy Thursday

Pine Street Presbyterian Church

INTROIT A New Commandment Richard Shephard

A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another as I have loved you. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love if you have love for one another.

OPENING SENTENCES Rev. Matt Drumheller

One: Jesus said: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.

Many: Just as Christ has loved us, let us love one another.

One: This is the day when Christ, our Passover Lamb, surrendered himself to those who would kill him, setting us free from sin and death forever. This is the day when Christ, our Teacher and Lord, knelt down to wash the disciples’ feet, showing us how to love and serve one another. This is the day, when Christ, the bread of heaven, shared a holy meal with his followers, offering a feast of abundant life and grace for all. Let us pray together:

Many: O God, your love is embodied in Jesus Christ, who washed disciples’ feet on the night of his betrayal. Wash us from the stain of sin, so that, in hours of danger, we may not fail, but follow your Son through every trial, and praise him always as Lord and Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

† Those able are invited to stand

Bold text is read or sung by all

VOLUNTARY Deus Tuorum Militum (O Love, How Deep) Peter Pindar Stearns

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Eternal God, whose covenant with us is never broken, we confess that we fail to fulfill your will. Though you have bound yourself to us, we often refuse to bind ourselves to you. In Jesus Christ you serve us freely, but we refuse your love and withhold ourselves from others. We do not love you fully or love one another as you command. In your mercy, forgive and cleanse us. Lead us once again to your table and unite us to Christ, who is the bread of life and the vine from which we grow in peace.

ILENCE FOR PERSONAL CONFESSION

†ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

One: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Many: Thanks be to God. Amen.

FIRST READING Exodus 12:1-14 Old Testament Page 58

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the Passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you.

One: The Word of the Lord.

Many: Thanks be to God.

SALM 116 What Shall I Render to the Lord (No. 655, from Glory to God) MARTYRDOM

New Testament page 173

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

One: The Word of the Lord. Many: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL READING Matthew 26:17-30

New Testament page 30

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered,"The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 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." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying,"Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

One: The Word of the Lord.

Many: Thanks be to God.

SERMON “Bread and Cup” Rev. Drumheller

ANTHEM Sing, My Tongue Richard Shephard Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle, sing the last, the dread affray; o’er the cross, the victor’s trophy, sound the high triumphal lay, how, the pains of death enduring, earth’s Redeemer won the day. Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle, sing the last, the dread affray; o’er the cross, the victor’s trophy, sound the high triumphal lay. Faithful cross, above all other, one and only noble tree, none in foliage, none in blossom, none in fruit thy peer may be; sweetest wood and sweetest iron, sweetest weight is hung on thee, sweetest weight is hung on thee. Thou alone was counted worthy this world’s ransom to sustain, that by thee creation might its ark and haven gain. With the sacred blood anointed of the Lamb that hath been slain, of the Lamb that hath been slain. Praise and honor to the Father, praise and honor to the Son, praise and honor to the Spirit, ever Three and ever One: One in might and One in glory while eternal ages run. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

One: In your mercy,

Many: Lord, hear our prayer.

THE EUCHARIST

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

GREAT THANKSGIVING

One: The Lord be with you.

Many: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

Many: We lift them to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.

Many: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

The prayer continues…

…who forever sing to the glory of your name:

The prayer continues…

…that our lives may proclaim the One crucified and risen.

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, and 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.

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

CLOSING PRAYER

God of grace, your Son Jesus Christ left us this holy meal of bread and wine in which we share his body and blood. May we who have celebrated this sign of his great love show in our lives the fruits of his redemption; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. one God, now and forever. Amen.

STRIPPING OF THE CHURCH

LEADING IN WORSHIP THIS EVENING

Reverend Matthew Drumheller, Interim Pastor

Rev. Richard Sheffield, Lector

Joseph W. Garrison, Minister of Worship and Music The Chancel Choir

COPYRIGHT NOTES

Hymns in the bulletin are used by permission and printed legally under OneLicense.net #A-71074. All rights reserved.

Liturgy reprinted and adapted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word® Worship Companion. Copyright 2013.

Liturgy reprinted and adapted by permission from the Book of Common Worship,© 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.

The Last Supper

Throughout Lent we are using photography to explore the idea of wilderness.

At their final meal together, Jesus performs a most sacred act with his closest friends: he shares a meal with them. In doing so, he provides his companions with a memory of their close connection, and he provides the church with a lasting sacrament which will encourage it through the ages.

The worship art remains in place through Holy Week as an ongoing reminder of God’s grace, which persists through all forms of hardship and trial.

Photo Credit: David Colestock