Maundy Thursday
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
Object:
A Maundy Meal For The Whole Family
Goals
To acknowledge the downsides of life, the injustices, the evil
To tell the Christian story
To tell the Jewish story
To provide opportunity to prepare foods as small groups ahead of the event
To provide time and space to enjoy healthy, simple foods with friends
To determine to be loyal to the truths of Jesus of Nazareth
This event, one and one half hours in length, with food can be in the sanctuary, though unmovable seating makes sharing difficult as well as clean-up. If the event is in the fellowship hall, encourage people to place foods on at least two serving tables so children and adults can serve themselves -- breads all placed together, cheese all in one spot, and beverages all on a separate table (facilitates movement of people). Families could bring blankets to sit together on the floor -- like a picnic, though older people may have difficulty sitting down and getting up.
Light candles on the serving table if people are seated on blankets. If people are seated at tables, light a candle on each table.
Shared Simple Communal Meal
Includes traditional Passover ingredients: bread, cheese, wine, lettuce, and herbs.
Have several families make bread earlier in the week.
Have people sign up ahead of time to bring
• cheeses,
• easy casseroles with parsley,
• hard-boiled eggs,
• celery strips, and
• matzos.
Have people sign up to bring beverages
• iced tea,
• wines, and
• vegetable juices.
Provide some romaine and leaf lettuce.
Make haroset (a mixture of apples, almonds, and cinnamon).
Greeting
(After people are settled for the meal)
Leader: We're celebrating the life of Jesus and the story of the Passover -- freedom from oppression.
Let's enjoy good food and good conversation. After eating, we will tell the stories of this famous Thursday.
Let's thank God for all the ideas and nurturing foods that give us body and soul health.
God of yesterday and tomorrow --
Thank you for being available to humankind throughout history.
Thank you for the Hebrews who trusted that you would see them through years of desert wandering.
Thank you for Jesus who trusted that you would see him through the suffering of betrayal and physical dying.
Thank you for being with us, teaching us to love ourselves and one another.
We appreciate the foods set before us.
Amen.
(People sit in small groups to enjoy the assembled foods. As people finish eating, call for their attention.)
Judaism Story
(Background "Music From Judiasm" -- any clesmer instrumental CD)
Long ago, 4,000 years ago, Hebrew were slaves in the land along the Nile River. One man with his brother and sister mobilized the people with a dream of freedom. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam led the Hebrews out of plagues and Egypt into the Sinai desert where they experienced freedom to be as difficult as slavery! One night, they tiptoed out of Pharaoh's land, grateful for divine help and for all their belongings. The Egyptians woke to find their eldest children dead and the brickyards with out any workers. The Hebrews explained their freedom by saying, "God's messenger passed over our homes and set us free." Each year, the Jews tell this Passover story with words, music, and foods -- bitter and sweet!
Christian Story
(A scene from Jesus of Montreal, Jesus Christ Superstar, or Godspell might suffice for this part of the evening. Also, a precocious teen might enjoy making comparisons of Harry Potter images with Christian images of good and evil, friendship and betrayal, and messiah-like people.)
Jesus was a Jew who lived at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in the first century of this common era. So this story is very old, too. Jesus gathered his friends for Passover celebration in Jerusalem -- in a special room with special foods. That evening, one friend -- Judas -- left early. He went to government and religious authorities and accused Jesus of inappropriate actions. So Jesus was arrested and the assembled mob murdered him. His friends laid his body in a cave and put a big stone in front of the opening. Three days later, the body was gone! The friends were frantic. But they experienced Jesus in the garden and on the road to Emmaus. They believed he had risen from death!
Today, 2,000 years later, we believe that Jesus is the Christ and lives in you and me! We believe that Jesus gives us three directives or mandates: love God, love self, love neighbor!
Congregational Song
Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God
Contemporary Story
A Guided Meditation
(Tavener's Ikos would be nice background music.)
Be still; breathe gently.
Imagine receiving these two stories -- Jewish and Christian -- as a gift.
Recall the Jewish story. What part do you play in that story? Notice how you relate to other people. What would you ask God for?
Recall the Christian story. What would be your part in the story? Notice how you relate to Jesus.
What do you say to God? What does God say to you? Hold God's words in your memory.
Enjoy the Holy Presence with you. When you're ready, come to this place.
Congregational Song
This Is The Day The Lord Has Made
Benediction
Sing Canto de Experanza: Song of Hope (in English and in Spanish)
(Make a circle, each person placing her/his right hand palm down in the neighbor's left hand palm-up -- makes a complete energy circuit.)
May the God of hope go with us every day
Filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way
Bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Praying, let us work for peace
Singing, share our joy with all,
Working for a world that's new
Faithful when we hear Christ's call!
Music
For The Bread Which You Have Broken
Words: Louis F. Benson, 1924, alt.
Music: Charles J. Dickenson, 1861
AGAPE
Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees
Words: African-American spiritual
Music: African-American spiritual; arr. Carlton R. Young, 1964, alt.
LET US BREAK BREAD
Goals
To acknowledge the downsides of life, the injustices, the evil
To tell the Christian story
To tell the Jewish story
To provide opportunity to prepare foods as small groups ahead of the event
To provide time and space to enjoy healthy, simple foods with friends
To determine to be loyal to the truths of Jesus of Nazareth
This event, one and one half hours in length, with food can be in the sanctuary, though unmovable seating makes sharing difficult as well as clean-up. If the event is in the fellowship hall, encourage people to place foods on at least two serving tables so children and adults can serve themselves -- breads all placed together, cheese all in one spot, and beverages all on a separate table (facilitates movement of people). Families could bring blankets to sit together on the floor -- like a picnic, though older people may have difficulty sitting down and getting up.
Light candles on the serving table if people are seated on blankets. If people are seated at tables, light a candle on each table.
Shared Simple Communal Meal
Includes traditional Passover ingredients: bread, cheese, wine, lettuce, and herbs.
Have several families make bread earlier in the week.
Have people sign up ahead of time to bring
• cheeses,
• easy casseroles with parsley,
• hard-boiled eggs,
• celery strips, and
• matzos.
Have people sign up to bring beverages
• iced tea,
• wines, and
• vegetable juices.
Provide some romaine and leaf lettuce.
Make haroset (a mixture of apples, almonds, and cinnamon).
Greeting
(After people are settled for the meal)
Leader: We're celebrating the life of Jesus and the story of the Passover -- freedom from oppression.
Let's enjoy good food and good conversation. After eating, we will tell the stories of this famous Thursday.
Let's thank God for all the ideas and nurturing foods that give us body and soul health.
God of yesterday and tomorrow --
Thank you for being available to humankind throughout history.
Thank you for the Hebrews who trusted that you would see them through years of desert wandering.
Thank you for Jesus who trusted that you would see him through the suffering of betrayal and physical dying.
Thank you for being with us, teaching us to love ourselves and one another.
We appreciate the foods set before us.
Amen.
(People sit in small groups to enjoy the assembled foods. As people finish eating, call for their attention.)
Judaism Story
(Background "Music From Judiasm" -- any clesmer instrumental CD)
Long ago, 4,000 years ago, Hebrew were slaves in the land along the Nile River. One man with his brother and sister mobilized the people with a dream of freedom. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam led the Hebrews out of plagues and Egypt into the Sinai desert where they experienced freedom to be as difficult as slavery! One night, they tiptoed out of Pharaoh's land, grateful for divine help and for all their belongings. The Egyptians woke to find their eldest children dead and the brickyards with out any workers. The Hebrews explained their freedom by saying, "God's messenger passed over our homes and set us free." Each year, the Jews tell this Passover story with words, music, and foods -- bitter and sweet!
Christian Story
(A scene from Jesus of Montreal, Jesus Christ Superstar, or Godspell might suffice for this part of the evening. Also, a precocious teen might enjoy making comparisons of Harry Potter images with Christian images of good and evil, friendship and betrayal, and messiah-like people.)
Jesus was a Jew who lived at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in the first century of this common era. So this story is very old, too. Jesus gathered his friends for Passover celebration in Jerusalem -- in a special room with special foods. That evening, one friend -- Judas -- left early. He went to government and religious authorities and accused Jesus of inappropriate actions. So Jesus was arrested and the assembled mob murdered him. His friends laid his body in a cave and put a big stone in front of the opening. Three days later, the body was gone! The friends were frantic. But they experienced Jesus in the garden and on the road to Emmaus. They believed he had risen from death!
Today, 2,000 years later, we believe that Jesus is the Christ and lives in you and me! We believe that Jesus gives us three directives or mandates: love God, love self, love neighbor!
Congregational Song
Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God
Contemporary Story
A Guided Meditation
(Tavener's Ikos would be nice background music.)
Be still; breathe gently.
Imagine receiving these two stories -- Jewish and Christian -- as a gift.
Recall the Jewish story. What part do you play in that story? Notice how you relate to other people. What would you ask God for?
Recall the Christian story. What would be your part in the story? Notice how you relate to Jesus.
What do you say to God? What does God say to you? Hold God's words in your memory.
Enjoy the Holy Presence with you. When you're ready, come to this place.
Congregational Song
This Is The Day The Lord Has Made
Benediction
Sing Canto de Experanza: Song of Hope (in English and in Spanish)
(Make a circle, each person placing her/his right hand palm down in the neighbor's left hand palm-up -- makes a complete energy circuit.)
May the God of hope go with us every day
Filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way
Bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Praying, let us work for peace
Singing, share our joy with all,
Working for a world that's new
Faithful when we hear Christ's call!
Music
For The Bread Which You Have Broken
Words: Louis F. Benson, 1924, alt.
Music: Charles J. Dickenson, 1861
AGAPE
Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees
Words: African-American spiritual
Music: African-American spiritual; arr. Carlton R. Young, 1964, alt.
LET US BREAK BREAD
