Welcome to Bethlehem United Church of Christ Maundy Thursday – April 1, 2021 Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89075172942?pwd=dERQd3FNZ3NSS0J0MmtBM0dJdXhqZz09 Meeting ID: 890 7517 2942 Passcode: 826519

MUSICAL MEDITATION Gail Jennings

WELCOME AND GATHERING FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY Pastor John

LISTENING FOR GOD IN THE STORIES OF OUR TRADITION Marsha Rinke

First Scripture Reading John 13:1-17

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So Jesus got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter,

Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

Peter protested, “No, you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what Jesus meant when he said,

“Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, Jesus put on his robe again and sat down and asked,

“Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them".

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said,

“The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love Each Other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

REFLECTION- HELPFUL HANDS, HEALING HANDS Pastor John (Water, bowl or sink & towel or paper towels needed)

MAUNDY THURSDAY: Maundatum (latin) = “Mandate”;

To loves others, as God loves us.

MUSICAL MEDITATION Jesus Walked this Lonely Valley arr. Dorthy Wells Must Jesus Walk the Cross Alone performed by Gail Jennings

REMEMBRANCE OF THE LAST SUPPER - THE UPPER ROOM Pastor John

Second Scripture Reading Matthew 26: 17-30 - The Last Supper John Samford

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

“As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’”

So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there. When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, he said,

“I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn,

“Am I the one, Lord?”

Jesus replied,

“One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,

“Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.

Jesus gave it to them and said,

“Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

PRAYER FOR THE SENDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE ELEMENTS Pastor John

SHARING THE MEAL

Third Scripture Reading Matthew 26:31-46 Kennedy Family

On the way, Jesus told them,

“Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Peter insisted. “No! Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said,

“Sit here while I go over there to pray.”

He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.

Jesus told them,

“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Jesus went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying,

“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet, I want your Will to be Done, not mine.”

Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them asleep.

Jesus said to Peter,

“Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed,

“My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your Will Be Done.”

When Jesus returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.

Then Jesus came to the disciples and said,

“Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!"

CLOSING PRAYER Pastor John

HELPING IN THE SERVICES TODAY Pastor: Rev. John L. Kennedy Director of Music: David Hahn Piano / Organ: Gail Jennings Liturgists: Marsha Rinke, Karen Kennedy, Sarah Kennedy, Julia Kennedy, John Matthew Kennedy, John Samford