Maundy Thursday, Holy Week - 2017

Tonight celebrates the Passover Meal at which Jesus also "initiates" the Lord's Supper / Communion / Eucharist (according to Matthew, Mark and Luke) and at which Jesus washes his disciples' feet (according to John). Below is a service that comes from the United Methodist Book of Worship. May it be a moving event for you.

For a reflection upon Holy Week in general, and Maundy Thursday in particular, here is a past post in which my reflection includes the scriptures and some historical context from Saving Paradise (Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker. Beacon Press. 2008).

Blessing on this Maundy Thursday.
Joel

       (Hymn numbers refer to the United Methodist Hymnal)

A Maundy Thursday Service

Greeting:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

And also with you.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Christ has prepared a Feast of Love.

Hymn What Wondrous Love Is This ....................................... #292

Opening Prayer

O God; by the example of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, you taught us the greatness of true humility, and call us to watch with him in his passion. Give us grace to serve one another in all lowliness, and to enter into the fellowship of his suffering; in his name and for his suffering; in his name and for his sake. Amen.

(W.E. Ochard, England, 20^th Cent. Alt)

Confession and Pardon

My sisters and brothers, Christ shows us his love by becoming a humble servant. Let us draw near to God and confess our sin in the truth of God’s Spirit.

Most merciful God, we your Church confess that often our spirit has not been that of Christ. Where we have failed to love one another as he loves us, where we have pledged loyalty to him with our lips and then betrayed, deserted, or denied him, forgive us, we pray; and by our Spirit make us faithful in every time of trail; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ. But Christ suffered and died for us, was raised form the dad and ascended into heaven for us, and continues to interceded for us. Believe the good news: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven!

Glory to God. Amen.

Scripture Lessons:

Exodus 12:1-14 ; Psalm 116 ; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ; John 13:1-17; 31b-35

Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer / Our Father

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins

As we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trail,

And deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours.

Now and for ever. Amen.

Communion / Eucharist / Love Feast

(Now is the time to celebrate the Eucharist. If you don’t have a clergy person present, one could celebrate a Love Feast instead.)

Hymn  Jesu, Jesu  .......................................................   # 432

Footwashing

(The first person comes forward and washes the feet of the next person, who turns and washes the feet of the next person, the last person will wash the feet of the first.)

Stripping the Church (or alter area on your boat, if you so desire)

Benediction

Go in peace. May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, keep you and strengthen you this night and for ever. Amen.

Depart in Silence

Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Good Friday to Easter

We now find ourselves in Holy Week. Half of John's Gospel take place during this week. Mark, Matthew and Luke all have Jesus' theological "direction" centered around this week (Jesus continues on the road to Jerusalem). We start the week with the crowds cheering the new Messiah and end the week watching with the crowds deriding this Messiah upon the cross - if we haven't been among those shouting for his crucifixion. These powerful gospel stories carry me through the week. Some how, they have me routing for Jesus (even though I know the outcome) while also asking me who I would really stand alongside and support (The crowds? the Jewish aristocratic leadership? The Romans? Who?).

While this is a story about a Jewish man from a backwater town on the edge of an
Empire, it is also about us. In that sense, this story is Archetypal (it applies to us, too). What are we willing to die for? What are our priorities and principles and how do they guide us? How do we continue to open ourselves up to the Divine Mystery's call in our lives? Where do still need to let the Ego die within us to more fully open up to life, to living in a non-dualistic way?

Blessed Be,

Joel

Reflections for Holy Week - Easter, 2014

Coming into Holy Week, I thought rather than doing any reflections on my part, I would instead offer questions to ponder during this week.

During these readings, who is in charge? Who appears to be?
How is non-violent resistance taken? Is it always appropriate?
What are the things you feel so powerful about that you are willing to loose your life?
Are there things worse than death?
How do you experience God when having to make difficult choices and during difficult times?
How is your community supportive, or not?
These disciples - who later become apostles and heroes of the church (if you don't want to use the word "saint") and whom tradition tells us all die for their faith - during this week's readings, all fail Jesus. Knowing that, in what ways is it empowering to you?
Foot washing is an incredibly intimate event (is that why you are shying from it?) in which it takes trust and knowing the other person. What correlations are there in John's Gospel between the disciples asking which one of them is betraying Jesus and his insistence on washing their feet?
There are no benedictions from Thursday until Easter morning, do feel a sense that the services are continuing even when not in church?
What is the difference between Resurrection and Resuscitation?
Where are you experiencing Resurrection in your life?

And finally a poem/saying that struck me as appropriate for this week:

“The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.”
~ Deng Ming-Dao

Have a Blessed Holy Week,

Joel

Holy Week & the Five Excellent Practices of Pilgrimages

As we enter Holy Week, I am reminded of Jesus' own life of travel. Rather than settle in one location, setting up shop as a healer, and creating patron-client relationships, an expectation of at least his own family and perhaps his hometown, Jesus felt his ministry was one of iteneracy. We are reminded of Jesus' constant travel with this weeks start of Holy Week: Palm Sunday and his instance into Jerusalem.
Many traditions celebrate this week with smaller pilgrimages inside a church or around the church grounds; following the stations of the cross. Perhaps you just find yourself walking through countryside or town.
No matter what time off year, may these five steps be helpful to you.
"Inspired by a fifth-century conversion between Zi Zhang and Confucius about the practices of wise rulers in _The Analects_, here are five excellent practices for travelers on sacred journeys:
_Practice the arts of attention and listening._
_Practice renewing yourself every day._
_Practice meandering toward the center of every place._
_Practice the ritual of reading sacred texts._
_Practice gratitude and praise-singing._" *
* Cousineau. _The Art of Pilgrimage_ (126)

Questions of Jesus - Holy Week - 2 April - The Cross

For which of these good works are you trying to stone me?

(John 10:32)

Why are you trying to kill me?

(John 7:19)

What should I say, "Father, save me from this hour?"

(John 12:27)

At that time people will say to the mountains, "Fall upon us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" for if these things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?

(Luke 23:30-31)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

(Mark 15:34, Matthew 27:46)