Tuesday, 30 March 2021

MRUC Worship Maundy Thursday Holy Communion and Tenebrae - 1 April 2021

 


Marsden Road Uniting Church Carlingford

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“Day of Remembrance”

01st April 2021

Maundy Thursday in the year of Mark

 Tenebrae 7.00 pm

Tenebrae or “Service of Darkness” or “Service of Shadows” is the name given to a medieval tradition of reading Scripture and extinguishing candles, either at the end of a Holy Thursday service or on Good Friday. 

Gathering God’s People 

        Call to Worship - (Abingdon 2015)       

     This is a day of remembrance. This is a day to reflect on the traditions our ancestors received as a sacred trust. Listen . . . reflect . . . remember. Enter into the stories of our faith.

     God has delivered us from bondage and has set us free.

     This is a night of remembrance.

     Washing our feet, Jesus shows us that to love is to serve. This is a night to reflect on our faith.

     Bread has been broken; wine has been poured.

     This is a night to journey to our past.

     A new commandment has been given: Love one another. This is a night to reclaim our story.

     Through these acts, we remember that our story lives on. This is a night of remembrance.  

TIS 536: An upper room did our Lord prepare.

             (Tune – O Waly Waly) 

1.  An upper room did our Lord prepare

for those he loved until the end:

and his disciples still gather there

to celebrate their risen friend.


2.  A lasting gift Jesus gave his own:

to share his bread, his loving cup.

Whatever burdens may bow us down,

he by his cross shall lift us up.

 

3.  And after supper he washed their feet,

for service, too, is sacrament.

In Christ our joy shall be made complete:

sent out to serve, as he was sent.

 

4.  No end there is! We depart in peace,

he loves beyond the uttermost:

in every room in our Father's house

Christ will be there, as Lord and Host.

Opening prayer 

     God of our ancestors, we have come tonight to remember. We have come to recall your saving power and your steadfast love for all people. We have come to the Upper Room with Jesus: to be washed, to be fed, to be taught, and to follow his example of service and sacrifice. Through our words and through our actions, draw us into the sacred story of faith once again,  that we might love and serve one another as your disciples. 

     Invitation to Communion 

Tonight, we come to this table remembering the simplicity of this meal. The elements are common— bread and wine— but the meaning is profound. In giving his disciples the gift of this shared meal, Jesus not only called them to remember him, but he also gave them the means to re-member themselves, to become one body around this table. And so, it is with us. Each time we come to this table, we come to remember and to be re-membered; we come to become one in the body of Christ. 

Prayer of Confession 

God of grace and God of glory, we are more of a people of forgetfulness, than a people of remembrance. 

You have freed us from the bondage of death, yet we continue to live enslaved to fear. You have called us to be servants, yet we seek our own gain and put ourselves first.

Forgive us, O God. Guide us in the ways of life when we fail to follow the example of your Son.

Teach us to love, as you have loved us, that everyone may know we are your disciples. 

Assurance of Forgiveness. 

God listens closely to our prayers. God hears our requests for mercy. The cup of salvation has been poured out for us. In the name of Christ, who loves us fully, we are forgiven.

Thanks, be to God! 

Great Thanksgiving 

Holy are you and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. When we turned aside from your way and abused your gifts, you gave us in him your crowning gift. Emptying himself that our joy might be full, he fed the hungry, healed the sick, ate with scorned and forgotten, washed his disciples’ feet, and gave a holy meal as a pledge of his abiding presence. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honour and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. Amen. 

Distribution of Communion 

Prayer after Communion 

Holy Trinity, you have given yourself to us through the life and death of Jesus Christ. With thanksgiving, we now follow your last hours as we prepare to give ourselves for others. 

Tenebrae 

Mark 14:32-42  

Extinguish first candle in silence. 

Mark 14: 43-52 

Extinguish second candle in silence. 

Mark 14:53-63  

Extinguish third candle in silence. 

Mark 14:64-65  

Extinguish fourth candle in silence. 

Mark 14:66-72  

Extinguish fifth candle in silence. 

Mark 15:1-5  

Extinguish sixth candle in silence. 

Mark 15:6-15  

Extinguish seventh candle in silence. 

Mark 15:16-20  

Extinguish eighth candle in silence. 

Mark 15:21-26  

Extinguish ninth candle in silence. 

        Hymn TIS 608: Where cross the crowded ways of life

                             (Tune – Fulda) 

1 Where cross the crowded ways of life,
where sound the cries of race and clan,
above the noise of selfish strife,
we hear your voice, O Son of Man.
 

2 In haunts of wretchedness and need,
on shadowed thresholds fraught with fears,
from paths where hide the lures of greed,
we catch the vision of your tears.
 

3 From tender childhood's helplessness,
from human grief and burdened toil,
from famished souls, from sorrow's stress,
your heart has never known recoil.
 

4 The cup of water given for you
still holds the freshness of your grace;
yet long these multitudes to view
the sweet compassion of your face.
 

5 O Master, from the mountainside,
make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
among these restless throngs abide;
O tread the city's streets again;
 

6 Till all the world shall learn your love,
and follow where your feet have trod;
till glorious from your heaven above
shall come the city of our God.
 

The Lord's Prayer 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen 

Extinguish or remove tenth candle in silence. 

After a brief time, only enough lights are switched on so that people can leave. People are invited to stay for a time of silent meditation and to leave when they wish. 

                                          DEPARTURE 

                   You are invited to leave in silence.





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