Maundy Thursday
Gathering as the Household of Christ Jesus
*You can download and print out a copy of this Order of Service by going to the link at the bottom of this page.
Whether you live alone or with others, we invite you to ‘gather’ together after your evening meal on Thursday 9th April.
Gathering as the household might mean:
- over the phone,
- with an app like Zoom, WhatsApp, Houseparty
- physically with the members of your household.
However you do it, we join together as members of Christ’s household. You will need:
Bread, or crackers, or cake/biscuit to break and share
Wine, or fruit juice, squash, water to drink
Candle and matches
Bible
Optional: turn off all mobiles/notifications/TV. Anything that will distract you.
Once you have shared your evening meal use the following to help us go on our Easter journey together. Take it in turns to read parts.
Set the bread and wine on the table
Pause and take a moment to be quiet.
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, we meet with you in this city,
We gather across streets and postcodes,
As your household,
Separate but connected in your Name.
Meet with us now as we remember you.
Amen
Read: Matthew 26: 17-25
Pause and ask a question (members of your gathering can ask one another these questions)
What was Judas feeling and thinking after the meal?
What was Jesus feeling and thinking after the meal?
What were the disciples feeling and thinking after the meal?
Read: Matthew 26: 26-30
Thanksgiving Prayer
On the night you were betrayed by your dear friend,
You took bread and wine.
The ordinary things of this world made special by your blessing:
For when we break the bread we remember your body broken for us.
When we drink the wine we remember your blood poured out for us.
We thank you that we can taste your forgiveness at this table, Lord Jesus
Amen
Serve one another with the bread and wine (or your substitutions)
Prayers of intercession:
We pray for your church across our city,
may we be faithful to you
even when the way ahead is marked with uncertainty and suffering.
We pray for those who are facing a difficult future, give them courage to follow the one who has gone before.
We pray for those who are tempted to do harm to themselves or others, deliver them from evil.
And for those who feel betrayed, Lord may they continue to show mercy, and put their trust in you.
For as you taught us so we pray:
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
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver from evil
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
Now and forever
Amen.
Sing or play a song
(suggestions: Abide with Me, Matt Redman)
To close say the Grace to one another:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen
As the disciples moved out to the Mount of Olives, so we get on with our evening routine.
[Before we go to sleep, we are invited to join in with these night prayers that focus on the rest of Chapter 26. You might do these alone rather than in a ‘gathered’ way or choose to reconnect later in the evening.]
Night Prayers ‘Watch and Pray’
Light a candle
Read: Matthew 26: 31-56
Pause
Pray:
Help us to watch and pray this night, Lord Jesus.
For the darkness grows round us
And we are cut adrift on our fears.
The hour of your trial is near,
Help us to watch and pray.
O Lord have mercy on us,
Christ have mercy.
Amen
Blow out the candle.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT OUT A PDF COPY OF THIS POST YOU CAN DO BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK https://www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Maundy-Thursday-Liturgy-pdf.pdf