MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
April 17, 2025 7:00PM
The English word “maundy” is derived from the Latin word mandatum, a command or a charge. "A new commandment I give to you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13).
This is the night that Christ the Son of God gathered with His disciples in the upper room. This is the night that Christ our Lord and Master took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet, calling us to love one another as He has loved us. This is the night that Christ the Son of God gave us this holy feast, that we who eat this bread and drink this cup may here proclaim His perfect sacrifice. This is the night that Christ the Lamb of God gave Himself into the hands of those who would slay Him.
PRELUDE
Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners
Based on HYFRYDOL
Music, Rowland H. Prichard; orchestrated by Dan Goeller
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES AND OPENING OF THE BIBLE
THE GREETING TO WORSHIPERS………………………………………Rev. Dr. Chris George
We are gathered in the presence of God, Who asks us to choose between life and death, between blessing and curse.
We are gathered like the people of Israel, who were challenged to choose the way of life. Like them, we often follow the ways of death.
Yet, like them, we have the freedom each day to begin anew by the grace of God. By our presence here, we are saying that we choose life.
Let us praise the God of love and life Who has called us to this place.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.
THE CALL TO WORSHIP………………………………………...Rev. Rebecca Caswell-Speight
A table is set before us. A feast is prepared for us. A meal of bread and wine, of meat and bitter herbs. The Lord calls us to this supper of remembrance. The Lord calls us to serve and to be served. As we break the bread and share the cup, our understanding may fail us.
But we will never forget Christ’s example. We will never forget the full extent of His love.
C
HORAL MUSIC
Wondrous Love
Based on an American folk hymn Music, Eric Nelson Nathan Langley and Anna Murdoch, soloists
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing; to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb who is the great "I AM," while millions join the theme, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on; and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on. And when from death I'm free I'll sing and joyful be; and thro' eternity, I'll sing on.
† HYMN 438
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
EBENEZER
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING……………………………………………Rev. Dr. Jim Smith
Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell 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. 4If 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.
11This 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. 12For 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. 13The 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. 14This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
THE PSALM…………………………………………………………………Rev. Hannah Vassar
Psalm 116:1-2; 12-19
1I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
2Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
12What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
14I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.
16O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.
17I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord.
18I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
THE CALL TO CONFESSION………………………………………..Rev. Mitzi Ethridge-Cantrell
The Psalmist declares:
I Love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.
We gather as a community in need of a Redeemer. We offer our honest confession in faith and trust in our covenant God, knowing that God hears our voice.
CHORAL MUSIC
O Divine Redeemer
Charles Gounod
Ah, turn me not away, receive me though unworthy. Hear Thou my cry; hear Thou my cry; behold, Lord, my distress.
Answer me from Thy throne. Haste Thee, Lord, to mine aid. Thy pity show in my deep anguish.
Let not the sword of vengeance smite me, though righteous Thine anger, O Lord! Shield me in danger. O regard me; on Thee, Lord, alone will I call!
O divine Redeemer, I pray Thee, grant me pardon and remember not my sins!
Night gathers round my soul; fearful, I cry to Thee. Come to mine aid, O Lord! Haste Thee, Lord, haste to help me!
O divine Redeemer, I pray Thee, grant me pardon and remember not my sins!
Hear my cry. Save me, Lord, in Thy mercy; Hear my cry; come and save me, O Lord!
Save in the day of retribution; from death shield Thou me, O my God!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION………………………………………………Rev. Ethridge-Cantrell
Merciful God, we have not loved You with all our heart and mind and strength and soul. (Silence)
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We have not loved our neighbors as You have taught us. (Silence.)
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We are indifferent to the saving grace of Your Word and life. (Silence.)
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Forgive and heal us by Your steadfast love made known to us in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON………………………………………………..Rev. Ethridge-Cantrell
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Jesus we remember tonight is the Savior of the world. In Christ we are forgiven. And through Him God abides even with us. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
† HYMN 445
There Is a Fountain CLEANSING FOUNTAIN
THE EPISTLE READING……………………………………………………Rev. Kathy Dobbins
I Corinthians 11:23-26
23For 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, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25In 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.”
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
CHORAL MUSIC
In Remembrance of Me
Buryl Red
In remembrance of Me, eat this bread. In remembrance of Me, drink this wine.
In remembrance of Me, pray for the time when God's own will is done.
In remembrance of Me, heal the sick.
In remembrance of Me, feed the poor.
In remembrance of Me, open the door and let your brother in; let him in.
Take, eat and be comforted.
Drink and remember too that this is My body and precious blood shed for you.
In remembrance of Me, search for truth.
In remembrance of Me, always love.
In remembrance of Me, don't look above, but look in your heart for God. Do this in remembrance of Me.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION……………………
OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Dr. George
THE NEW TESTAMENT READING…………………………………………….Rev. Bart McNiel
John 13:1-17; 31b-35
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then 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. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
31b “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
† HYMN 264
Where Charity and Love Prevail