Foot Washing As an Act of Worship

I admit that prior to coming to my current ministry position, I had never participated in a Foot Washing Service, and I also have to admit that as a basically shy introvert, I approach it every year with some trepidation. However, as the service moves along and I find myself engaged, I realize how this kind of intimacy strengthens the Body of Christ.

Similar to the Ash Wednesday Service, this one provides a level of intimacy. At Ash Wednesday, the intimacy is between the minister who confers the ashes and the congregant who receives the ashes. It is the only time during the year that I am half-an-arm’s-length from folks in the congregation.

At the Foot Washing Service, however, the intimacy is between members of the congregation, humbling themselves to act as servant for the one next to them.

The “dramatic” in me really surfaces when I talk about both of these services because in both, we “act out” or demonstrate basic principles of the faith. Sometimes we overlook the dramatic/ demonstrative aspects of the more common events: baptism, communion, procession, receiving the offering, etc. But when it comes to Foot Washing, it is nothing if not dramatic.

THE SETTING:

Some congregations do this around tables after Maundy Thursday communion. In that case, usually the people at each table wash only the feet of those at their table. This requires a bowl and towel for each table and takes a lot less time. The drawback is that most people sit with their closest comrades at dinner, so they end up washing the feet of those comrades and (this is more important), they only observe their closest friends’ involvement.

The Foot Washing works better in an open room with a circle of chairs with no more than about 40 chairs in the circle. If the group is larger, divide them into several circles in one large room… OR set up several rooms for different groups.

Include all age groups in the circle; if you divide up into rooms, don’t do that by age or gender!

The lighting needs to be dim; candles make the best light for this service. The only “props” you need for this drama are a large bowl (pottery is better) filled about half way with luke-warm water and a towel.

A single cross or pieces of religious artwork might add to the ambience, but don’t force it. Make sure everything about the room ADDS to the event and does not distract. THE PROCESS:

The minister (or circle-leader) should be seated with the bowl immediately in front of him/her. When everyone is in place, if there are gaps of empty chairs in the circle, you might want to remove them and tighten up the group so that every chair is occupied; this will make the “process” work better.

Have everyone remove their shoes and socks and place them under chairs. To avoid making a verbal announcement, you might have a sign posted at the door: “Please have a seat. Remove your shoes and socks and place them under your chair.”

It is my experience that silence will pervade. It may be nervous anticipation or may hinge on the fact that these folks have just been dismissed in silence from the Maundy Thursday communion service.

The leader might begin with some simple instructions (describing the following events), especially if this is a new experience for your people. Basically, it is a follow-the-leader process.

HINT: If this is new to everyone in the room, “plant” a person to the leader’s right who has rehearsed the process or been fully indoctrinated in what is going to happen. From then on, everyone simply does what they’ve seen done.

After the instructions are made, the passage from chapter 13 of John’s Gospel should be read. The event itself is described in verses 1-20; you may want to continue with the verses on betrayal – that’s up to you.

I think it is good to sing together at this point, just before the actual washing begins. There is something “binding” about corporate song; it also helps establish a comfortable intimacy. Use a song that is very familiar to everyone – a song that does not require holding a hymnal or songbook. This song needs to have a fairly narrow range and have few words.

Song Possibilities: (use only the refrain of the hymns listed) “O How I Love Jesus” “O How He Loves You and Me” “Blessed Redeemer” “Jesus Paid It All” “I Love You, Lord”

Look through your own hymnals and songbooks to discover good choices for your people.

NOTE: On the “Congregational Song” page of www.WorshipRx.com, you’ll find “I Will Be Your Servant.” This simple song was written for our Foot Washing service; you might begin with this song.

After a few moments of silence, someone should lead in a prayer for humility and thanksgiving for the model of Christ as our Servant. This is what you do: the leader does it first:  Put the towel across your shoulder.  Kneel in front of the person to the right.  Take both the person’s feet in your left hand and lift them over the bowl.  Dip your right hand into the water and pour a couple of hands-full of water over their feet.  As you continue to hold their feet in your left hand, take the towel from your shoulder with your right hand and gently wipe the excess water from their feet.  Hand them the towel; they should put it over their shoulder.  Move the basin to the next person. (This move really helps, by the way!)  Return to your seat.

The process moves slowly (do not let it become hurried) all the way around the circle until the last person washes the feet of the leader.

When everyone has been served, you can close the service any way you would like. Here are some possibilities:  To keep the quietness going, you may wish to lead in prayer followed by the corporate saying of the Lord’s Prayer.  Sing together the same song you began with… or some other appropriate text/tune.  Some groups end with a time of fellowship, standing to hug one another and express words of appreciation.  If you don’t feel pressed for time, have a couple of the participants express aloud what they have experienced. This can be a rich few minutes!  The simplest ending is to pass the peace. [Leader: The peace of Christ be with you. Response: And also with you.]

If possible, don’t straighten up the room just yet. Leave the bowl and used-towel in place as a symbol of what has just happened. Don’t race around and extinguish candles. After everyone has moved out of the room and out of that part of the building, go back and do what has to be done to “shut down” the room.

R. G. Huff 2007