FALCON HEIGHTS CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST THE SHROUDING OF THE CROSS Maundy Thursday THE CHALLENGE (3) 7:00 P.M. April 9, 2020 Service of Tenebrae CHORAL REFLECTION Adoramus te, Christe Brahms PRELUDE Clarinet Concerto Mozart
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION (1) THE SHADOWS – Abandoned by his friends, Jesus is alone in the darkness... FIRST READINGS The Shadow of Betrayal Matthew 26.20-25 Chuck Gramith Service Notes. The Last Supper Matthew 26.26-29 Conee Biggs The Shadow of Desertion Matthew 26.30-35 Nancy Ellias (1) We'll be sharing Holy Communion at home during this service. Before the time of the service, you will want to MUSICAL SELECTION Clair de Lune Debussy prepare some bread — a slice or a small loaf of any kind of
SECOND READINGS bread. Let it be something that you by yourself, or with The New Commandment John 15.12-17 Lee Barry others in your house, may break and share. Prepare a cup or The Unshared Vigil Matthew 26.36-41 Conee Biggs cups of juice — whatever you have on hand. We believe The Final Return Matthew 26.42-46 Chuck Gramith that Jesus makes the common things holy! The Betrayal Matthew 26.47-56 Nancy Ellias Set these elements in the living room or kitchen or wherever
MUSICAL SELECTION Air on the G String Bach you experience worship electronically with the FHC community. Perhaps you want to put them on a lovely cloth or THIRD READINGS fabric that reminds you of a special time or a person deeply The Trial – Sanhedrin Matthew 26.57-68 Lee Barry connected with you in the communion of saints. Perhaps you The Denial Matthew 26.69-75 Nancy Ellias will light a candle or place a flower or plant or the photograph The Trial – Pilate Mark 15.1-14 Chuck Gramith of someone you wish to bring into the circle of faith beside the bread and the cup. MUSICAL SELECTION Adagio Albinoni
FOURTH READING (2) The Christ Candle is extinguished, but only momentarily as The Mockery Mark 15.15-32 Lee Barry part of the Passion Story. Christian belief centers, always, on a flicker of light -- a hope that prevails in the darkest of MUSICAL SELECTION Adagio for Strings Barber times that deep down in every soul resurrection awaits. The FINAL READING Christ Candle will move from our worship space and into The Death Mark 15.33-39 Conee Biggs our inner lobby until Easter morning.
EXTINGUISHING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE (2) (3) The Maundy Thursday Service is the one time during the PROCESSION OF THE CHRIST CANDLE church year when we do not close our worship with a (One Voice, joined by many) Benediction (the Peace) or Blessing. Instead we close with Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. The Challenge to be faithful in our following of Jesus through the difficult hours leading up to his resurrection.