Join us for a virtual Maundy Thursday Service. All are welcome.
Introduction, instructions for joining and order of service will be found below.
Introduction
“The service for Holy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ words and actions on the night before his crucifixion. It is also sometimes called “Maundy Thursday,” after the Latin word mandatum, which means “commandment”— referring to the “new commandment” Jesus spoke that night, ” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (St. John 13.34) Jesus’ words and actions that night included his final meal with his disciples — where he instituted the Lord’s Supper or sacrament of Holy Communion; and where he washed his disciples’ feet. They also included his so-called “Farewell” or “High Priestly” prayer in John, chapter 17. And finally, we remember the Garden of Gethsemane, the place of his agony and arrest. The order of service can be found below. The service will include the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and a ritual of anointing. If you would like to join, have some Bread, wine or juice, a bowl with a small amount of olive (or other) oil, or water, at hand. “Blessings in Christ, as we look forward to this time of ‘spiritual worship.’ (Romans 12.1)”
Instructions for joining
7 pm on Thursday, April 9th.
You can join us in one of these three ways:
1) Join Zoom Meeting by clicking link: .https://zoom.us/j/116874711 Copy
2) Open your browser and type in https://zoom.us
Click on “Join a meeting”Type in Meeting ID: 116 874 711 Password: 1111963)
3) Call in from your mobile phone (the meeting ID is the 702207300 number) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Maryland) Meeting ID: 116 874 711 Password: 111196
Order of service
Holy Thursday Liturgy, April 9, 2020
Introduction to zoom by Kathy
Eileen: Welcome
Caryl: Sign of the Cross
Assembly: Amen.
Caryl: The grace of Jesus our Emmanuel, the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Assembly: And also with you.
Evelyn: Merciful and loving God, we come before you this evening with sorrow in our hearts. Our sisters and brothers are sick and dying. Our health care workers need the proper equipment to care for those who fall ill. So many of us, God have lost our jobs and need food for our families. We call to you from the depths of our burdened, worried souls.
Art: We know, O God, that you feel our pain. And so, we lean upon your great heart, resting there as the turmoil that exhausts us is brought to bear on your great love. We lean and lean and lean upon this great heart that hurts with us. Divine strength lifts the weight of our distress. Courage wraps around our shoulders.
Evelyn: We know there will not be a miracle of instant recovery. Our burdens will remain. Yet, there is solace for our souls and refuge for our tears and worries. It is enough, O God, to know that your heart is with our hearts, that your compassion and mercy will be tending to our wounds. Amen. Joyce Rupp, Out of the Ordinary, p. 75 (adapted EMD)
First Reading—Exodus 12: 1-4 (5-10) 11-14
Responsorial Psalm—Psalm 116: 1-2, 12-19
I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
Second Reading—1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
Sarah: Gospel—John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
Sarah: Homily
⸰ Moment of Quiet Reflection
Caryl: Anointing
Intercessory prayer
Evelyn: With hearts of love, we now move into a time of intercessory prayer. As we offer our prayers for those in need, you will be invited after each petition to offer aloud or in silence the names of those you wish to remember. And so we pray.
Art: God calls us to be people of justice and mercy, to lead God’s people into life-giving choices in the midst of life’s harsh realities. We pray for all people in leadership positions: leaders of faith, government, education, health-care, and business. We now pause to offer aloud or in silence the names of those leaders you wish to remember.
- Pause
Caryl: Our neighborhood and faith communities are ever-changing. As we create new communities and re-create present ones, we pray for open hearts and minds to the many faith traditions of the world. We pray for the discerning gifts of wisdom and openness to Spirit’s leading. We pray now for all communities throughout the world as they seek the life-pulse of God. Please offer aloud or in silence those communities you wish to remember.
- Pause
Sarah: There are many people in our world who live in dangerous situations. We pray for all victims of injustice and for their courage to leave what is harmful as they seek safety and protection. Please offer aloud or in silence those individuals or groups you wish to remember.
- Pause
Eileen: Many are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirit. We especially pray for all affected in any way by the coronavirus—for those who are sick, for their families, and for health-care workers who are caring for them. We pray for those whose employment has been affected and for those who feel anxious. We also remember those who have died and those grieving the death of a loved one or other losses. We now pray for their healing. Please offer aloud or in silence those you wish to remember.
- Pause
Eileen: the silence of our hearts we now take a moment to offer other intentions we may have.
- Pause
Closing Prayer to Intercessions—offered by Rev. Evelyn Kent Clark
Offertory
Caryl: Our tables of plenty have been set with holy things for holy people. Let us pray in confidence that our gifts are acceptable to our loving God.
Assembly: Holy One, accept these gifts from our hands for the praise and glory of your name, for our good and the good of all your people.
Eucharistic Prayer—Thom Shuman, textweek.com (adapted CCJ)
Evelyn: Heaven and earth are witnesses to your creation, God of forever, as you chose to bring forth life, goodness, and beauty out of the empty canyons of chaos.Soft winds rippled grains in meadows, thunder and lightning echoed your praise, insects chattered away in hidden places.
Art: All these were blessings, for all of creation has been crafted in your image.
Even when we turn away from you, your words invite us back to your heart.
You sent Jesus to us, the One who walked that path of truth and forgiveness
so we might know the Way.
So with those who are mature in faith and those who are just starting the journey, we lift our song of thanksgiving:
Holy, holy, holy God,
Spirit of love and of peace.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory;
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed the One who comes in the name of our God,
Hosanna in the highest.
Eileen: Seeking to listen to you, God of every good choice, Jesus came, so we might walk in his footprints on that path to life.
Jesus came, so we would be attentive and see you in our sisters and brothers and in all creation.
We seek to mirror his faithfulness, as we choose to follow him.
Caryl: —All extend hands
And so we pray that your Spirit, ever-present, be poured forth on us and on our gifts, that they and we may become for one another the body and blood of Christ.
Evelyn: We break bread as Jesus broke bread at the Seder, mindful of the call to love generously and faithfully, whatever the cost. Jesus shared this bread with his friends saying:
All: Take this all of you and eat. This is my body, which is given up for you. When you break bread together, remember me.
Art: We take this wine, mindful of our responsibility to be bearers of forgiveness, tolerance, and understanding. Jesus blessed the cup and shared it with those at table saying:
All: Take this all of you and drink. This is my blood, the new covenant of God-with-you. When you drink from this cup, remember me.
Evelyn: At this Table of Life your Spirit of grace and joy is poured out upon us.
As we are filled with the bread which symbolizes your brokenness and life,
may we choose to be reconciled to one another, honoring all relationships.
As we are transformed by the cup, may we choose to work together so all
may be blessed by your love and peace.
Sarah: Together we pray
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor is yours all-loving God forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Eileen: Intro to Our Father and Sign of Peace
Sign of Peace
Caryl: Communion—Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, the Bread of Life and Cup of Love. Happy are we who are called to this Table of Love.
Assembly: Jesus, you make us worthy to receive you and by your word, we are healed.
Sharing of bread and wine/grape juice
Evelyn: Closing Prayer—Prayer in the Midst of the Present Crisis
God of all mercies, grant:
To the people of earth, safety and good healing;
To those afflicted with COVID-19, swift healing;
To the frightened, courage;
To the dying, comfort;
To the dead, eternal life;
To health care providers, strength and stamina;
To our leaders, wisdom and compassion;
To our nation, unity of purpose;
To those who profess belief in God, the grace to serve the suffering selflessly;
To all believers, strong faith in Your presence;
To the whole human family, unity of heart
To us, your servants, the reward of knowing that we are doing your will when we spend ourselves in loving service of others.
Amen.
Joseph M. McShane, S.J. adapted
Art: Final Blessing
We thank all of you for joining together in worship. We are also grateful to Rev. Kathleen Gibbons Schuck for making this possible through her technical support. May you and your family have a very happy and blessed Easter!
Participating Churches
Rev. Sarah Anderson-Rajarigam, Grace Lutheran Church, Drexel Hill
Rev. Evelyn Kent Clark, New Life United Methodist Church, Upper Darby
and The Garden Church, Lansdowne
Rev. Eileen McCafferty DiFranco, St. Mary Magdalene Community, Drexel Hill
Rev. Caryl Conroy Johnson, St. Mary Magdalene Community, Drexel Hill
Rev. Kathleen Gibbons Schuck, St. Mary Magdalene Community, Drexel Hill
Rev. Art Tung, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lansdowne and Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, Upper Darby