Worship at home on Maundy Thursday

A resource for you to use to worship at home on Maundy Thursday during quarantine.

Worship at Home… In Our Shared Wilderness

ABOUT THE LITURGY

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. “Maundy” means commandment, referencing the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples on this day; for it was on this day that Jesus had his last meal with his disciples. Jesus broke bread, washed the disciples’ feet, and hinted at his coming crucifixion and betrayal. At the time, the disciples did not realize the significance of this moment, but now we recognize how powerful and special this last supper was. As a result, it is our Christian tradition to celebrate this evening with the gift of worship and the sacrament of Communion, just as the disciples did on that night.

Pastor Becca prepared two loaves to bake at home.

This year, we are unable to gather together in person to share in Communion and to honor this sacred night, so we have adapted this at-home liturgy to serve as a reminder that God meets us at every table. Every meal we share is a reminder of the holy meal we share during Communion. May this liturgy be a source of reorientation to the sacredness all around us.

SUPPLIES

• Bread recipe (any type) and needed ingredients
• Dinner table
• Candle and matches
• Optional: markers/crayons/paints/colored pencils and paper

PRELUDE

Play a favorite song, or opt for one of these to set the tone:

Just As I Am (NCH 207)

Spirit of the Living God (NCH 283)

POEM| "Bread" by Sarah Are

Read the following poem a few times through as a centering prayer.  

Circle words that stand out to you. Pay attention to what visuals come to mind.

“After he had washed their feet . . . [Jesus] returned to the table.” (John 13:12)

Jesus returned to the table, that simple common space,  

Moving from water and undeserved grace  

To bread that nourishes and sustains our place—

Two simple elements, no time to waste.  

I should have known there would be water,  

But of course there would be bread.  

From the start of creation, God has tried to keep us fed—  

Fed on bread and roses and love we don’t notice.  

I should have known there would be water,  

But of course there would be bread.  

BLESSING| A Prayer to Bless the Bread

Before putting your bread or baked good into the oven, say this prayer:  

Holy God,

Your last meal was an ordinary meal—  

Simple bread and juice, nothing fancy;  

And yet, it was holy.  

It was holy because all were welcomed at your table—

Even the one who would betray you.  

So today we prepare our own bread as a form of prayer.  

And in our kneading and mixing,  

In our measuring and waiting,  

In our recipe-card-reading and taste-testing,

We remember you.  

As these ingredients mix,  

May our hearts mix with yours.  

And as this bread rises,  

May our awareness of you rise.  

And as this bread is shared,  

May your love be shared.

With hope and gratitude we pray,

Amen.  

Tip: Color while the bread is baking, and then use your colored pages as placemats for your shared meal!

LISTEN| Scripture Reading

Read Luke 22:7-23 out loud. As you read it, pick out a word, phrase, or emotion that stands out to you. Share that word, phrase, or emotion with those around you.  

When the day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, 8 Jesus sent Peter and John out with the instructions, “Go and make the preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the seder?” 10 Jesus answered, “When you enter the city, a man will meet you carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Say to the owner of the house, ‘The Rabbi asks, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover seder with my disciples?” 12 The owner will show you a large furnished upper room. Make the preparations there.” 13 They went out and found everything as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

REFLECT| The Meal is Served

Once your bread or baked goods are prepared, gather around the table for a meal. Light a candle in the center of the table as a reminder that this is a space set apart.

This meal is a reminder of the promises made to us in the sacrament of Communion—that all belong to God, that God’s love is stronger than death, and that one day, all will be fed. During your meal, reflect on the following prompts. You can either jot these down in a journal, mull them over in your mind as the bread bakes, or discuss them with those who are present.

• Reflect back to past meals and moments around table. What meals have been memorable? What gatherings made you feel welcomed? Have you ever had a memorable Communion experience? What made it memorable?  
• How does it make you feel to know that Jesus fed and shared a meal with all of his disciples, even Judas who would soon betray him? What does that teach us about God?  
• Jesus gives thanks for the bread before breaking it. What things do you give thanks for in your life? Make a quick mental list of 5-10 things you often forget to thank God for. Jot them down or share them with those gathered at the table.  
• Food is a common love language. Think back to a time when someone offered or prepared food for you as a sign of love. Do you think that Jesus was trying to express his love for his disciples in this last meal? How does that layer add to the story?  

Tip: Invite each person at the table to reflect on their favorite dinner blessing and sing/say it together. Jesus also offers a blessing to God for the bread before he and his disciples eat, so when we say grace, we are being like Jesus.

This worship was adapted for use by the people of St. Peter’s UCC and beyond from the Liturgy by Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org.  This liturgy was created during Lent 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19.