Maundy Thursday – 4/1/21

To The End – Psalm 41.4-10 & John 13.1, 12-20
Available Here
To support Cokesbury financially, you can give online here: http://cokesburyumc.church/about/

Greeting

Opening Prayer
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we might rejoice in the knowledge that even Judas feasted at the table and therefore there is space for every single one of us no matter what we’ve done or left undone. Thank you Lord for doing what we could not and would not do for ourselves. Amen.

Scripture:
Psalm 41.4-10
As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” My enemies wonder in malice when I will die, and my name perish. And when they come to see me, they utter empty words, while their hearts gather mischief; when they go out, they tell it abroad. All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. They think that a deadly thing has fastened on me, that I will not rise again from where I lie. Even my bosom
friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me. But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.

John 13.1, 12-20
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to was one another’s feet. For I have set you an example that you also should so as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speak of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”

Hymn 156 – I Love to Tell the Story:
V1. I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
Refrain
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
V2. I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems Than all the golden fancies of all our golden
dreams. I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.
Refrain
V3. I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.
Refrain
V4. I love to tell the story, for those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
Refrain

Sermon: To The End

Confession
Friends, we have come together, in these strange times and in this strange way, to set forth praise to God amighty, to hear God’s holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship God, let us pray in silence or aloud, and with penitent and obedient hearts, confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by God’s infinite goodness and mercy…

Silence
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen

Pardon
Now hear the Good News: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven. Amen.

Striking The Altar
Maundy Thursday services often end in a confusing way. Tonight, as we conclude, we will join with Christians across the globe in the striking of our altar. We will remove elements of color and vitality making the turn toward the cross.