Maundy Thursday Service

The word “Maundy” is thought to be an old English derivation from the Latin mandatum, from which we receive our more modern English term: mandate. In this worship service, we remember and celebrate Jesus’ last night, and his last supper with his disciples when he gave them a “new commandment.” As Jesus mandated to his disciples then, he commands us as his disciples today: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34). 

In this service, we will gather at 7pm in the Sanctuary for a Worship Night for the entire family. We will worship through song, prayer, and sacrament. We will hear anew how Jesus would expand the Passover story of His people, Israel, to culminate in his own life and sacrifice freely offered as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). We will celebrate Communion together, just as Jesus and his disciples would have shared together, and remember how on this night, Jesus was finally betrayed, arrested, and ultimately given for the life of the world.

As one of his final acts of humility and love before he would lay down his life, Jesus knelt to wash the feet of his disciples. “Do as I have done,” he would tell them (John 13:15). As a part of our Maundy Thursday worship, we will have a place where anyone who would like to experience foot washing may do so. Something happens when we humble ourselves, in the way of Christ, and kneel in service to wash the feet of someone else. At the same time, there is a certain humility and vulnerability required to allow our feet to be washed by another. For many, we experience the presence of Christ in a truly powerful way when serving and attending to one another through foot washing.  

We can't wait to worship with you during this special evening!