Last Supper, The
Description
Here are worship resources suitable for use on Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Good Friday), or on Good Friday. They focus on the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion.
Scripture
Matthew 26:17-30Mark 14:12-26
Luke 22:14-20
John 13
Prayers
Opening Prayer
Holy God, we come to worship in the gathering shadows of Jesus’ suffering and death. We come with his friends, the men and women who have followed him in every place and generation, to live once again this story of service and betrayal, of weakness and of courage. We come to witness your love in action. Be with us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen. ~ from Worship Sourcebook, posted on Reformed Worship. http://www.reformedworship.org/
Pastoral Prayer
Gracious God, As those who strive to follow Jesus in our living and to trust your power in our dying, we gather to reflect upon the life that ended on a cross. We recognize in ourselves the strengths and weaknesses of Jesus’ disciples: although they loved him, they disappointed and failed him. And yet, gathering with these imperfect friends at this last meal Jesus washed their feet in service, and then extended the bread and cup to each. Jesus called them to love one another, and invited them to share in his very life and in his acceptance of the road ahead. We are humbled, honored and inspired by the deep love Christ extended to the world, and we take seriously the calling to be the body of Christ today. Forgive us when we disappoint and fail you, and guide us back to a place of trust and faithful living. Grant us the vision to see the world as you see it, with love and compassion for each creature and all of your creation. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray to you. . . Our Father . . . ~ written by Rev. Kelly Burd. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
Prayer of Intercession
Father, on this, the night he was betrayed, your Son Jesus Christ washed his disciples' feet. We commit ourselves to follow his example of love and service. Lord, hear us and humble us. On this night, he prayed for his disciples to be one. We pray for the unity of your Church... Lord, hear us and unite us. On this night, he prayed for those who were to believe through their ministry. We pray for the mission of your Church... Lord, hear us and renew our zeal. On this night, he commanded them to love, but suffered rejection himself. We pray for the rejected and unloved... Lord, hear us and fill us with your love. On this night, he reminded them that if the world hated them it hated him first. We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith... Lord, hear us and give us your peace. ~ posted on the Oremus website. http://www.oremus.org/
Spoken Resources
Call to Worship Litany: Maundy Thursday
Welcome to you who call upon the name of Christ. We gather tonight to recall the story of the night Jesus was betrayed. Are you prepared to come to the feast of Jesus, the Christ, whose life was poured out for you? By the grace of God, we are. Are you able to watch with Jesus at prayer in the garden -- indeed, to struggle yourselves to be in unity with God's will for you? By the grace of God, we are. Then let us praise God, even in this hour of darkness! God of all grace and steadfast love, greatly is your name to be praised in all the earth. Bring us to this feast of remembrance with open hearts! ~ from Maundy Thursday Worship 2002, on the Seekers Church website. http://www.seekerschurch.org/
A sort of statement of faith
some shout hosanna some shout crucify some shout Jesus some shout Barabbas some wave palms some shake their fists today we choose... some break bread some break silence some proclaim Jesus some deny Jesus some carry the cross some run from the cross today we choose... some are angry some rejoice some anoint with costly perfume some complain at the waste some like the light some prefer the shadows today we choose... some weep some conspire some follow some hide some believe some betray today we choose to shout for life to follow the cross to break bread to hold belief to trust love and tell the world we choose to follow Jesus ~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Listening to the Stones. http://newkilpatrickblog.typepad.com/nk-blogging/mucky-paws/
It Would Not Have Been God's Table
On their own, the bread and wine are nothing. To become a foretaste and a promise of love made real and a world made whole, they need a story and a blessing and a people who believe… It would not have been God’s table if they hadn’t all been gathered around it: the betrayer and the friend the power-hungry and the justice seeker the faithful and the fickle. When Jesus poured the wine, and the bread was broken; when everyone could eat - the outcast and the beloved the arrogant and the gracious the wrong-doer and the wrongly done by - the table became a foretaste of love made real and of a world made whole. Your company at the table will include the betrayer and the beloved the wrong-doer and the wrongly done by. It would not be God’s table without them. And the promise is that when you are together, when you tell the story and give the blessing when you break the bread and pour the wine you will discover a foretaste of love made real and of a world made whole. ~ Cheryl Lawrie, on [hold this space]. http://holdthisspace.org.au/
Songs
Traditional Hymn: Let Us Break Bread Together
Worship Together #245 Let us break bread together on our knees; Let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. Let us drink wine together on our knees. Let us drink wine together on our knees. Let us praise God together on our knees; Let us praise God together on our knees. ~ Traditional spiritual
Contemporary Hymn: We Come as Guests Invited
Worship Together #246 We come as guests invited when Jesus bids us dine, his friends on earth united to share the bread and wine; the bread of life is broken, the wine is freely poured for us, in solemn token of Christ our dying Lord. We eat and drink, receiving from Christ the grace we need, and in our hearts believing on him by faith we feed; with wonder and thanksgiving for love that knows no end, we find in Jesus living our ever-present friend. One bread is ours for sharing, one single fruitful vine, our fellowship declaring renewed in bread and wine: renewed, sustained and given by token, sign and word, the pledge and seal of heaven, the love of Christ our Lord. ~ Timothy Dudley-Smith Words © 1984 Hope Publishing Company. If you use this song in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Tune suggestions: AURELIA (“The Church’s one foundation”) Listen to it here: http://www.hymnary.org/tune/aurelia_wesley WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN (“Sing to the Lord of harvest”) http://www.hymnary.org/tune/wie_lieblich_ist_der_maien_steurlein
Contemporary Song: Emmanuel
On the dark night that you were betrayed You broke the bread in pieces You poured the wine, knowing your life Would soon be poured out to heal us What love is this? Emmanuel you're God with us And we remember you Through your body and your blood Emmanuel, you gave your life Our hearts cry thank you For your sacrifice Why would you die for someone like me Someone so undeserving? Why would you leave heaven's glory To step down and carry my burdens What love is this? Emmanuel you're God with us Let your blood cover me Wash me white and set me free Let your blood make my clean Today, today (repeat) ~ Vicky Beeching. Copyright © 2010 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at EMICMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by kingswaysongs.com) / Integrity Worship Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission. CCLI Song #5670657. If you use this song in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Listen to it here: http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1812635
Contemporary Song: Banquet
There's no banquet so rich As the bread and the wine No table more holy No welcome so kind There's no mercy so wide As the arms of the cross Come and taste come and see Come find and be found There's no banquet so rich For what feast could compare With the body of Jesus Blessed broken and shared Here is grace to forgive Here is blood that atoned Come and taste come and see Come know and be known Take the bread drink the wine And remember His sacrifice There's no banquet so rich As the feast we will share When God gathers the nations And dines with us here When death's shadow is gone Every tear wiped away Come and eat come and drink Come welcome that day There's no banquet so rich For our Saviour we find Present here in the mystery Of these humble signs Cleansed renewed reconciled Let us go out as one Live in love and proclaim His death till He comes ~ Graham Kendrick. Copyright © 2011 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.). CCLI Song #5936126. If you use this song in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_a9jfNXxI
Images
~ The Last Supper, Juan de Jaunes, ca. 1560
Notes
This worship resource was created/compiled by Christine Longhurst. You are welcome to use it free of charge, and where appropriate, please note the source. If you are printing any of the resources for distribution, please print the source as well. The content of the worship resource does not necessarily represent the views of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, which oversees the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. For more worship resources by Christine Longhurst, see http://www.re-worship.blogspot.ca or http://www.faithmatters.ca.