Maundy Thursday ABC ( March 28)

 

 

Bible Readings: Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14, Psalm 116: 1-2, 12-19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13: 1-7, 31b-35 

(these are the same readings as for Year A and Year C).

About the Images:

Upper Left and Right and Middle Left:  These three images come from the free Heartlight site.  See my link column at left. 

Middle Right: This is my image so you are free to use it for worship and related activities.  It has been carved in olive wood by a craftsman in Bethlehem in Palestine.  If you would like one, please contact https://starbazaar.bethbc.edu/ .  I love mine. It sits in my office where I can always see it to remind me of what real leadership is all about. 

Lower Left: This is a free image from the now defunct Imagebank site.

Lower Right: This image  comes from the free Hermano Leon site.  See my links column at left.

Bottom Left: This is a free image from the now defunct Imagebank site. 

Introductory Activity:                                                                                                  Have a small laminated footwashing picture for each person to hold throughout the service and take home afterwards. some of the images above would work well or visit www.paulajolly.com for a couple of great pencil sketches on this theme. Please abide by all copyright rules.

Response Activity:                                                                                                      This works well as a change from foot washing or when there are congregational members who have mobility difficulties. It also takes a while to do so have some meditative music playing in the background.  Pass a peeled onion around and talk about how raw onions leave a nasty reminder behind. As each person takes a turn to hold the onion ask them to think of a disappointment, a hurt or an action that they have suffered or caused.  Then pass a box of scented disposable towelettes around and ask each person to wash the hands of the person on their right. As they do so, ask them to pray for that person asking God to remove the pain or disappointment or hurt in that person's life. I am fairly sure this is my idea but lots of other people have had e a similar idea and there are numerous variations on this theme. 

Just to be a little different  at any time                                                                      I sometimes use the Matthew readings which lead up to Jesus' arrest - so our concentration was  on the Last Supper rather than the foot washing.  We sat in a circle and remembered the foot washing story by serving each other communion poured from a communal jug/pitcher/bottle. We used a little more food than just the bread and reflected on betrayal and denial, grief and desertion and how each of these can be overcome by companionship and community. 

Also:

A Chapter of Resources for Maundy Thursday: 

By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 154-163 (pictured at left). 

For Children and Families: God is for Everyone

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SUVictoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5 (pictured at right) . This is based on the gospel reading. 

Drama: Love One another
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151v1, page 32 (pictured at left). This has been written for the gospel reading.

Drama: I have set you an Example

Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verona Johnson (ed) Openbook, 2002, ISBN 0859109178 (v.3), page 64 (pictured at right) . This drama is based on the Gospel reading. 

Messy Communion

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 200ff (pictured at left). This is based on the 1 Corinthians reading.

Prayer 

By Kathryn J Campbell and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 66 (pictured at right).