Maundy Thursday 2020
Sentence of Scripture
This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10
Prayer of Preparation
Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards the human race
sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
that the world might see and believe
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Hymn
Prayers of Penitence
Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess we have failed you as did your first disciples.
We ask for your mercy and your help.
Our selfishness betrays you.
We fail to share the pain of your suffering.
We run away from those who abuse you.
We are afraid of being known to belong to you.
Lord, forgive us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Amen
Be encouraged by these words of Scripture:
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting people’s sins against them.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Cor 5:19a, 21
Bible Reading
Hymn
Bible Reading
Creed
Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Though he was divine,
he did not cling to equality with God,
but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave,
he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself
and was obedient to death,
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high,
and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
(cf. Philippians 2.6-11)
Sermon
Prayers
Wash your hands.
As you do, imagine Christ Jesus is washing away all that separates you from God;
pride, sins and doubts, grudges, betrayals and all that lurks in the dark corners of your soul.
Take 20 seconds and be with Christ.
The following prayers may be helpful – to pray at your sink or afterwards:
Lord Jesus, be with me:
forgive me those times when I forget that you are there.
Wash me clean by your love and help me walk in your clear, pure light,
truly honouring you as my Lord.
Amen
On this dark night when we remember your betrayal and arrest,
I pray for all who live in darkness:
the darkness of hunger, of war, of terror;
the darkness of poverty, of loneliness, of fear;
the darkness of broken relationships – cut off from others and from you.
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
be my light and theirs.
Amen.
A prayer concerning the coronavirus:
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Hymn
Closing Prayer
May the Father,
who so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
bring us by faith to his eternal life.
May the Son,
who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience to the Father’s will,
keep us steadfast as we walk with him the way of his cross.
May the Spirit,
who strengthens us to suffer with Christ that we may share his glory,
set our minds on life and peace.
Amen