A WORSHIP GUIDE For a Communion and Tenebrae Service April 9, 2020 7p.m.

Holy Thursday begins the most holy three days in the Christian year. In the Jewish manner of the accounting of days, sunset on Holy Thursday marks the first day. These twenty-four hours hold the with and his disciples; prayer in the garden of Gethsemane with His betrayal and arrest; a hearing before the chief priests and elders; a denial by one closest to Him and then the condemning to be crucified on the cross. Holy Thursday has been traditionally called “Maundy Thursday” referring to the new commandment ( word: mandatum) that Jesus gave his disciples-- “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:31-35).

INVITATION TO THE TABLE (Light a candle in the name of Him who is the Light of the world) Welcome tonight in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! You are invited to gather at the table in His name. All are welcomed!

PREPARATION Why is this night different from all other nights? Tonight is special because we will celebrate the Lord’s supper by breaking bread and sharing the cup as He told His disciples to do “in remembrance of me.” Tonight is special for we will do a tenebrae reading of the last hours of the life of Jesus. It is a candle lighting in in reverse going from the light to the darkness in the death of Jesus on the cross. Tonight is special for we will be strengthened in faith to leave one another in the silence of the darkness to gather all once again on morning.

SCRIPTURE I Corinthians 11:23-26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. O God of us all, we give our thanks and praise to You for the gift of life, for our daily bread, for the love we have. This night of all nights we come to remember, to be fed, to be strengthened by Your Love that we know in Your Son Jesus Christ. We confess that we fall so short in who we are like the disciples long ago. We know we need You, O God, Your grace and Your mercy. (time for silent prayer) And in the communion of the saints, we lift up our voices to pray the prayer You taught your disciples to pray… Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.

SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP As you eat the bread, remember that Jesus is the Bread of Life for us all. As you drink from the cup, remember that Jesus is the Cup of Salvation for us all.

PRAYER God, be the love to search and keep me; God, be the praise to move my voice God, be the strength to now uphold me. O, Christ, surround me. Amen.

THE TENEBRAE Jesus and his disciples leave after the supper Matthew 26:30 Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 14:32-42 Jesus betrayed and arrested. Mark 14:43-46 Peter denies even knowing Jesus. Matthew 26:69-75 Jesus is tried. Matthew 26:57-67; 27:11-31 Jesus is killed Luke 23:26-49 Jesus is buried Matthew 27:57-60

Let us leave the table in silence with the hope of Easter before us.