For others, perhaps hand-washing may be the more needful basic act of physical care. Do share a meal. It doesn't have to be Holy Communion. The Maundy Thursday story as told by John is of Jesus gathered with his disciples around a meal. In John, this is not specified as a passover meal. Neither, in John's gospel, is this meal identified as the "institution" of the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Indeed, the Western Church Roman Catholic established an entirely different festival Corpus Christi, observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday to observe the founding of that feast. So, don't feel bound to try to combine footwashing and communion in one service. See our proposed Order of Worship for Maundy Thursday for a service that places the footwashing the in context of a shared evening meal, instead.
We may easily miss this as the focal point if we overload a service primarily about the new commandment and footwashing with a re-enactment of the Last Supper as well. Worse, there is a temptation to substitute re-enactments for the actual Prayer of Great Thanksgiving, turning the prayer of the church into a play.
To be sure, there is nothing wrong with a program in which the Last Supper is re-enacted. And many United Methodists have been doing this for years. It just doesn't belong on Maundy Thursday. So how do we honor some of our local traditions in this matter without getting in the way of what we're supposed to be doing in the Maundy Thursday service? It's a matter of scheduling. There may be other occasions during Holy Week when re-enactment of the Last Supper may make much better sense.
A service of Tenebrae, either immediately following the Maundy Thursday service or on Friday night, may be one of them. A simple re-enactment could be offered immediately before the beginning of the reading from the passion narrative as background before the reading. Christian-hosted Seders The United Methodist Book of Worship has this to say about United Methodists and Seder practices: "United Methodists are encouraged to celebrate the Seder as invited guests in a Jewish home or in consultation with representatives of the Jewish community , thus respecting the integrity of what is a Jewish tradition and continuing the worthy practice of Jews and Christians sharing at table together.
Celebrating the modern meal without a Jewish family as host is an affront to Jewish tradition and sometimes creates misunderstanding about the meaning of the Lord's Supper " emphasis added. Why is our General Conference-approved official guidance on this matter so strong?
The answer is because it is simply true. Sunday school is available for children. An Easter Egg Hunt happens at a. Seder Meal - 5 p. Maundy Thursday gets its name from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning "commandment. Worship begins at 7 p. Childcare is available for children under age Before the service, join us as we observe Seder, detail below.
Participation in this service prepares us for the miracle of Easter, reminding us of Jesus' great love and the sacrifice he made on our behalf. On Easter morning we will celebrate the Resurrection with modern worship at a. Join us as we proclaim that "Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed! Designated persons pick up the cloths on the Lord's table and the pulpit and other hangings, banners, candlesticks, and decorations and quietly carry them from the sanctuary.
This may be done in silence, or Psalm 22 UMH may be used. The church then remains bare until the Easter Vigil, when the process is reversed. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Christ has prepared a feast of love. A brief silence for individual confession. 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 your Spirit make us faithful in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ. But Christ suffered and died for us, was raised from the dead and ascended on high for us, and continues to intercede for us. Believe the good news: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
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