Maundy Thursday Service ...

Tonight we gathered in the Chapel of Minnedosa Funeral Services to celebrate our Maundy Thursday service ... The Chapel is in the former Museum building across from the CPR station. I would like to say thank you to Perry, Dean and Jennifer from MFS for all their help in making the location of the service possible, and thanks to Lois and Donna for all their helping in organizing and co-ordinating the service and the coffee to follow. And of course - I MUST say a hearty thank you (again and again and again) to Eleanor Taylor for her unwavering and astonishing music leadership. I've often said that my job is so much easier with competent, and capable musical leadership behind you ... and I have that here - thanks Eleanor !!!

Anyway - below is the bulletin of our service ... There is NO Good Friday bulletin to post. Tomorrow we will join with the community Good Friday service in the Community Conference Centre. The offering that is collected will be donated to our Rebuilding Effort. So this year we join with our protestant sisters and brothers in a community worship service. Next year remains to be determined ...

Tonight the Covenant Church held a Seder Meal, and the proceeds from it will be donated to our Rebuilding Fund ... even on this journey, we are being cared for, cared about and supported by our sisters and brothers both locally and around the world - it is truly awesome. The darkness will not prevail ... The resurrection will come.

But first - the bulletin for tonight's service:

CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Holy God, we come to worship….
ALL: IN THE GATHERING DARKNESS WE DARE TO COME
One: Companion God, we come with his friends
ALL: WE ARE HIS FOLLOWERS,
MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE FOLLOWED HIM,
IN EVERY PLACE AND EVERY GENERATION
One: Servant God, we come to again live the story
ALL: A STORY OF SERVICE AND BETRAYAL
A STORY OF WEAKNESS AND COURAGE
One: Eternal God, we come to worship
ALL: TO WITNESS YOUR LOVE IN ACTION,
BE WITH US IN JESUS’ NAME. AMEN.

HYMN # 382 Breathe on Me, Breath of God
SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 12:1-14
PRAYER FOR WHOLENESS:
One: If we have used your house for our purposes as if you did not mind or it did not matter,
ALL: LORD, FORGIVE US.
One: If we have cosseted your house in tradition,
rather than hallowed it by prayer,
ALL: LORD, FORGIVE US.
One: If we have made it a house for one nation,
or part of a nation,
or for part of the Church,
ALL: LORD, FORGIVE US.
One: And if we can see clearly
the misuse others make of your house
and are blind to our own malpractices,
ALL: LORD, FORGIVE US.
One: Kindle in us and in all your people
the desire to make all your sanctuaries
the shop windows of heaven
rather than religious theme parks of earth.
We ask this for your own name’s sake.
ALL: AMEN.

HYMN #494 Those Hearts That We Have Treasured

SCRIPTURE READING: John 13:1-17

BREAKING THE BREAD AND SHARING THE CUP:
One: Blessed are You, O Creator of the Universe.
ALL: YOU GIVE US BREAD AND WINE
FRUIT OF THE EARTH, AND HUMAN LABOUR.
MAY THEY BECOME FOR US
THE BANQUET OF ETERNAL LIFE.

One: Thanks and Praise be to you, O God,
You have created life from the dust,
You sustain us, even in the harshest desert.
ALL: WE THANK YOU THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF TEMPTATION AND TRIAL,
YOU ARE PRESENT
One: You direct and guide us
ALL: YOU RENEW AND REVIVE US
One: From the journey in the desert to the modern era,
we are your people
ALL: WE PRAISE YOU FOR SENDING JESUS AS
YOUR SUFFERING SERVANT TO WALK BEFORE US THE WAY…

HOLY COMMUNION by Ann Weems
One: Eat. Drink. Remember who I am.

Eat. Drink.
Remember who I amso you can remember who you are.

Eat. Drink. Remember who I am
so you can remember who you are
and tell the others.

Eat. Drink.
Remember who I am
so you can remember who you are
and tell the others
so that all God’s people
can live in communion…
In holy communion.

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke’s Version of the The Last Supper

HYMN #480 Let Us Break Bread Together

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP:

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION:
One: We will remember the soothing,
ALL: AND NOT FORGET THE JARRING.
One: We will remember the sweetness,
ALL: AND NOT FORGET THE SOUR.
One: We will remember the jagged desperateness of Judas,
ALL: AND OWN IT;
IT IS OUR STORY TOO.

One: We will remember
Women: the passion of love,
Men: the smell of perfume,
Women: the pain of rejection,
Men: the stench of blood money.

One: And to help us on the journey,
to help us hold the tensions,
to help us face both the delight and difficulty,
ALL: WE WILL SAY YES
TO GOD’S GENEROSITY IN CREATION,
WE WILL SAY YES
TO GOD’S JUDGMENT POURED OUT
ON HUMANKIND,
WE WILL SAY YES
TO GOD’S JUSTICE IN JESUS,
One: Jesus, who taught us to pray saying together the words,
ALL: “OUR FATHER……”

SCRIPTURE READING: John 18 & 19
HYMN #182 Stay with Us through the Night

LITURGY FOR DARK DAYS:
One: My god, my God, why have you forsaken me?
I have cried desperately for help,
but still it does not come.
ALL: DURING THE DAY, I CALL TO YOU, O GOD,
BUT YOU DO NOT ANSWER.
I CALL AT NIGHT, BUT GET NO REST.
One: Yet you are the one enthroned as the Holy One,
You are the one whom Israel praises.
ALL: OUR ANCESTORS PUT THEIR TURST IN YOU;
THEY TRUSTED YOU AND YOU SAVED THEM.
One: They called to you and escaped from danger;
They trusted you and were not disappointed.
ALL: BUT I AM NO LONGER A MAN: I AM A WORM;
I AM DESPISED AND SCORNED BY EVERYONE.
One: All who see me, jeer at me;
They stick out their tongues and shake their heads.
ALL: “YOU RELIED ON THE LORD, WHY DOESN’T HE SAVE YOU?
IF THE LORD LIKES YOU, WHY DOESN’T HE HELP YOU?”
One: It was you who brought me safely through birth,
And when I was a baby, you kept me safe.
ALL: I HAVE RELIED ON YOU SINCE THE DAY I WAS BORN,
AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY GOD.
One: Do not stay away from me!
Trouble is near and there is no one to help.
ALL: MANY ENEMIES SURROUND ME LIKE BULLS,
LIKE FIERCE BULLS FROM THE LAND OF BASHAN.
One: They open their mouths like lions,
roaring and tearing at me.
ALL: MY STRENGTH IS GONE
LIKE WATER SPILT ON THE GROUND.
MY BONES ARE OUT OF JOINT,
MY HEART IS LIKE MELTED WAX.
One: My throat is dry as dust, my tongues sticks to my mouth.
You have left me for dead in the dust.
ALL: A GANG OF EVIL MEN SURROUNDS ME.
LIKE DOGS, THEY CLOSE IN ON ME,
TEARING MY HANDS AND FEET.
One: O Lord, don’t stay away from me!
Come quickly to my rescue.
ALL: SAVE ME FROM THE SWORD;
SAVE MY LIFE FROM THESE DOGS.
One: Rescue me from these lions.
I am helpless before these wild bulls.
ALL: I WILL TELL MY PEOPLE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
I WILL PRAISE YOU IN THE ASSEMBLY.
One: Praise him, you descendants of Jacob!
Worship him you people of Israel!
ALL: HE DOES NOT NEGLECT THE POOR;
HE ANSWERS WHEN THEY CALL FOR HELP.
One: Future generations will serve him;
and will speak of the Lord to those following them.
ALL: PEOPLE NOT YET BORN WILL BE TOLD:
“THE LORD SAVES HIS PEOPLE.”
One: ….I will strike the shepherd
And the sheep will be scattered…

COMMISSIONING/BENEDICTION:

A time of fellowship shall follow,
Please feel free to stay….
Go in peace.