Maundy Thursday (April 9)
I encourage you to create a small sacred space at home. In it you might have a simple cross of wood, perhaps some purple fabric, a candle, a branch or other symbols and signs that speak of the presence of God in your daily life. On this night, you might add a bowl of water that will be blessed by our prayers together and can be used for hand or foot washing after the service.
The Collect
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell 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. If 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. This 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. For 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. The 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.
This 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.
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, * because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
10 How shall I repay the LORD * for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation * and call upon the Name of the LORD.
12 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the LORD * is the death of his servants.
14 O LORD, I am your servant; * I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving * and call upon the Name of the LORD.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the LORD’s house, * in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
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. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus 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." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."
After 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? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
"Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little 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.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Officiant:
The Lord Jesus, after he had supped with his disciples and had washed their feet, said to them, "Do you know what I, your
Lord and Master, have done to you? I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done."
Response: Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.
Response: Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
By this shall the world know that you are my disciples: That you have love for one another.
Prayers of the People - Prayers of the People will follow Form II in the BCP
I ask your prayers for God's people throughout the world; for our Bishop(s); for this gathering; and for all ministers and people.
Pray for the Church.
Silence
I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble.
Silence
I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of God.
Pray that they may find and be found by God.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the departed [especially ].
Pray for those who have died.
Silence
Members of the congregation may ask the prayers or the
thanksgivings of those present
I ask your prayers for .
I ask your thanksgiving for .
Silence
Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.
Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence
Concluding Collect
Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer: Let the cry of those in anxiety and need come to you, that they may find your mercy present with them in all their afflictions; and give us, we pray, the strength to serve them for the sake of him who suffered for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Footwashing
All are encouraged to share a special, simple meal with loved ones as you are able this evening.
Before the meal, take your bowl of water and your hand sanitizer, cleaners, wipes or soap and pray a prayer of gratitude for it and a prayer of concern for those who have none or who are exposed to the virus as they are doing their essential jobs. Wash hands or feet together or on your own, wash down your counters, doorknobs, handles, mobile devices, etc. and pray for ourselves, each other and for the world. If you have a sacred space, you could now simplify it or strip it or cover it with a cloth until the fire of the Easter Vigil is kindled on Saturday night.
I encourage you to create a small sacred space at home. In it you might have a simple cross of wood, perhaps some purple fabric, a candle, a branch or other symbols and signs that speak of the presence of God in your daily life. On this night, you might add a bowl of water that will be blessed by our prayers together and can be used for hand or foot washing after the service.
The Collect
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell 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. If 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. This 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. For 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. The 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.
This 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.
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, * because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
10 How shall I repay the LORD * for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation * and call upon the Name of the LORD.
12 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the LORD * is the death of his servants.
14 O LORD, I am your servant; * I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving * and call upon the Name of the LORD.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the LORD’s house, * in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
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. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus 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." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."
After 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? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
"Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little 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.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Officiant:
The Lord Jesus, after he had supped with his disciples and had washed their feet, said to them, "Do you know what I, your
Lord and Master, have done to you? I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done."
Response: Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.
Response: Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
By this shall the world know that you are my disciples: That you have love for one another.
Prayers of the People - Prayers of the People will follow Form II in the BCP
I ask your prayers for God's people throughout the world; for our Bishop(s); for this gathering; and for all ministers and people.
Pray for the Church.
Silence
I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble.
Silence
I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of God.
Pray that they may find and be found by God.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the departed [especially ].
Pray for those who have died.
Silence
Members of the congregation may ask the prayers or the
thanksgivings of those present
I ask your prayers for .
I ask your thanksgiving for .
Silence
Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.
Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence
Concluding Collect
Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer: Let the cry of those in anxiety and need come to you, that they may find your mercy present with them in all their afflictions; and give us, we pray, the strength to serve them for the sake of him who suffered for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Footwashing
All are encouraged to share a special, simple meal with loved ones as you are able this evening.
Before the meal, take your bowl of water and your hand sanitizer, cleaners, wipes or soap and pray a prayer of gratitude for it and a prayer of concern for those who have none or who are exposed to the virus as they are doing their essential jobs. Wash hands or feet together or on your own, wash down your counters, doorknobs, handles, mobile devices, etc. and pray for ourselves, each other and for the world. If you have a sacred space, you could now simplify it or strip it or cover it with a cloth until the fire of the Easter Vigil is kindled on Saturday night.
