Holy Thursday Eucharist
- Re-membrance: A Living Presence - 2019
Receiving the Stole - A member of the community places a stole on each presider with a blessing prayer.
Welcome and Theme
Presider 1:
Welcome to our Holy Thursday Liturgy – a time when we remember the final earthy
days of our Brother Jesus. Tonight, we remember when Jesus took bread and wine
and used them as symbols of his essence, his body and his blood. As we pray
together, we recall those precious moments in our faith story and our commitment
to follow our Brother, Jesus.
Opening Prayer
Presider 2: O Holy One, throughout his life,
Jesus revealed that nothing can separate us from Your infinite love. He lived a
life of apparent joy in sharing meals with the people of the Galilean
countryside. The open table of his public life challenged the discriminatory
social code of his time and taught us that all people are to be included as
equals in Your kin-dom. May we, like Jesus, continue to open our table, and our
lives to all, especially those in need.
Amen.
Presider 1:
Please join in singing our Opening Song:
We Come to Your Feast by Michael Joncas
LITURGY
OF THE WORD
First Reading: Commitment by Michael
Morwood
Jesus took bread, broke it, and
identified the gesture with himself. The point of the gesture was not to raise
questions about how the bread was Jesus or became Jesus. Rather, it was Jesus'
powerful way of expressing symbolically, this is what it is like to be me. What
Jesus wanted his friends to see in the gesture was his willingness to give his
all for what he believed, someone blessed and broken and given. Jesus wanted
his friends to remember him this way. But, more than that, he asked them to eat
the bread. The point of eating the bread was not to raise questions about what
they were actually eating. That question would not have risen in the minds of
Jews sharing a Passover meal that was permeated with the power of symbol. No, the obvious question here is: To what
were those present committing themselves if they took the bread from Jesus and
ate it? They would have realized that Jesus was symbolically asking for their
commitment to carry on his ministry. He was asking if they, too, were willing
to be blessed, broken and given.
These are the inspired words of
Michael Morwood, theologian, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Psalm 116
Response:
Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you. (2x)
Receive my
love, O Beloved,
You who
hear my voice and my supplication.
You incline
your ear to me,
and I call
upon You with trust both day and night.
Response:
Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you.
When the
snares of fear encompass me,
when the
pangs of loneliness envelop me,
I suffer
distress and anguish.
Then I call
upon you, my rock:
You come to
my aid, Your strength upholds me.
Response:
Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you.
Gracious
are You, just and true;
Heart of
all hearts,
You are
Merciful and forgiving.
You
preserve the simple;
When I am
humbled, You lift me up.
Response:
Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you.
What shall
I render to You for all Your goodness to me?
I will
drink the chalice of Love and praise
You, who
have done wondrous things;
I will bear
witness to You, O Bread of Life,
In the
presence of all the people.
Response:
Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you.
A Reading from the Gospel according to
John
JN 13:1-15
to pass from this world to his beloved, the Holy One.
So, during
supper, he rose and took off his outer garments.
He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples' feet
and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
"Master, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later."
Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him,
"Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
Simon Peter said to him,
"Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well."
Jesus said to him,
"Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over;
so you are clean, but not all."
For he knew who would betray him;
for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean."
So when he had washed their feet
and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,
he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another's feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples' feet
and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
"Master, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later."
Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him,
"Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
Simon Peter said to him,
"Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well."
Jesus said to him,
"Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over;
so you are clean, but not all."
For he knew who would betray him;
for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean."
So when he had washed their feet
and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,
he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another's feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
These are
the inspired words of John, disciple of Jesus, and we affirm them by saying,
Amen.
Mary
Theresa’s Homily Reflection
Tonight is about remembering and about commitment.
When Jesus gathered with his friends and companions for Seders, they remembered their ancestor’s story of freedom from oppression.
And when they gathered together for the last time in Jerusalem in the Upper Room for a Passover meal, Jesus asked them to also remember all that he had taught them.
I wonder if he was thinking, “Will they remember the parables I told them?” “Did they even get their meaning?”
Throughout his ministry, Jesus modeled non-violent resistance to the crushing Roman occupation of their holy land and spoke searing words to the temple authorities, challenging their allegiance to Rome.
I wonder if he knew early on how much trouble he was getting himself into by challenging those two systems of oppression.
I wonder if he was thinking about his small band of companions and how they would fare in the dark days ahead.
I imagine that many thoughts were going through his mind as he looked around lovingly at all those who followed him to Jerusalem.
They must have known the risks. Other revolutionaries had been crucified by Pilate. I imagine they were all scared. Even Jesus.
And that night, during the meal in the Upper Room, Jesus wanted his companions to remember all that he taught them. And to help them remember, he washed their feet…a servant’s task - and a teachable moment.
I can hear Peter’s protests. And Jesus reminds all of them, not just Peter, that he has given them a model to follow. Do as I have done – care for others and work for a better world.
And in another teachable moment for his companions, Jesus took bread, broke it, gave it to them with the words, “Take and Eat, this is my very essence.”
In our first reading, Michael Morwood beautifully expresses the meaning of these words to Jesus’ companions.
When Jesus gathered with his friends and companions for Seders, they remembered their ancestor’s story of freedom from oppression.
And when they gathered together for the last time in Jerusalem in the Upper Room for a Passover meal, Jesus asked them to also remember all that he had taught them.
I wonder if he was thinking, “Will they remember the parables I told them?” “Did they even get their meaning?”
Throughout his ministry, Jesus modeled non-violent resistance to the crushing Roman occupation of their holy land and spoke searing words to the temple authorities, challenging their allegiance to Rome.
I wonder if he knew early on how much trouble he was getting himself into by challenging those two systems of oppression.
I wonder if he was thinking about his small band of companions and how they would fare in the dark days ahead.
I imagine that many thoughts were going through his mind as he looked around lovingly at all those who followed him to Jerusalem.
They must have known the risks. Other revolutionaries had been crucified by Pilate. I imagine they were all scared. Even Jesus.
And that night, during the meal in the Upper Room, Jesus wanted his companions to remember all that he taught them. And to help them remember, he washed their feet…a servant’s task - and a teachable moment.
I can hear Peter’s protests. And Jesus reminds all of them, not just Peter, that he has given them a model to follow. Do as I have done – care for others and work for a better world.
And in another teachable moment for his companions, Jesus took bread, broke it, gave it to them with the words, “Take and Eat, this is my very essence.”
In our first reading, Michael Morwood beautifully expresses the meaning of these words to Jesus’ companions.
“They would have realized that Jesus was symbolically asking for their commitment to carry on his ministry. He was asking if they, too, were willing to be blessed, broken and given.”
And it is that very same question we ask tonight, 2000 years later. If we eat this bread, are we willing to commit ourselves to the Gospel, to be blessed, broken and given?
Tonight, we are going to do something different. Instead of sharing now, we are moving the homily sharing during our meal.
Once everyone is seated, Mary will continue with a few words of reflection on the readings and then we will pass the mic to hear your inspired words.
Please turn now to page 4 in your program and we will pray together our Statement of faith.
Tonight, we are going to do something different. Instead of sharing now, we are moving the homily sharing during our meal.
Once everyone is seated, Mary will continue with a few words of reflection on the readings and then we will pass the mic to hear your inspired words.
Please turn now to page 4 in your program and we will pray together our Statement of faith.
Statement of Faith
Presider 1:
Please join in praying our Statement of Faith:
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
LITURGY
OF THE EUCHARIST
Presider 1:
As we prepare for the sacred meal, we lay our stoles upon the table as a sign
that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. And, we bring to this table our blessings,
cares, and concerns. Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the
words, “I bring to the table…”
(Presider - at conclusion) We pray for these and all unspoken concerns. Amen.
(Presider - at conclusion) We pray for these and all unspoken concerns. Amen.
Presider 2: O Holy One, you have been called by many names by
many people in the centuries of our planet’s life. Yet, no name truly defines
you or describes you. We celebrate you
as the marvelous, loving energy of life who caused us and our world to be. We
celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your
presence and all-ways care.
Presider
1: Please join in praying the
Eucharistic prayer together:
All:
Cosmic Birther of all that is, that was and that will be, we gather as a holy
people, called forth to celebrate as companions on the journey of faith. We come to the table of plenty as a community
of believers celebrating the dignity of all people and the call to be a voice for
our sisters and brothers who are oppressed and exploited.
We celebrate the example provided by
our brother, Jesus, who offered hope and new life to all those to whom he
ministered. Encouraged by his life and his ministry we sing a song of praise
with all of creation.
We are holy, holy holy…. (by Karen
Drucker)
All:
We thank you for Jesus, our way to the truth about living.
We recognize our call to continue the
ministry of Jesus and commit ourselves to work for justice and peace in the
world today. Grant us nourishment at this table providing strength and
perseverance as we stand up and speak truth to power.
Empower us with the grace of openness
to be accepting of all who join us at the table of blessing as we recall the
meals when Jesus gathered with people who hungered for acceptance and
sustenance. Let us live lives focused on your bountiful love.
We recall now one of those meals when
he had gathered with companions of the journey.
Jesus, hoping to lead by example, welcomed them to the table by first
washing their feet, a sign of servanthood to be emulated.
Washing of Hands
Presider 1:
We pause now to wash one another’s hands as a
gesture in imitation of what Jesus did in washing the disciples’ feet. It is a symbol of our willingness to serve
one another and meet one another’s needs.
Song during ritual: The Servant Song by
Richard Gillard
Presider 2:
Please join in praying the words of remembrance:
One person
from each table lifts the bread
All:
When he returned to his place at the table, he took the Passover Bread, spoke the grace,
broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and
eat of the Bread of Life
Given to
strengthen you
Whenever
you remember me like this
I am among
you.
Presider 1: Please
pass the bread with the words: You are the body of Christ.
One person
from each table lifts the cup
All:
Jesus then raised a cup of
blessing, spoke the grace saying:
Take and
drink of the covenant
Made new
again through my life in you.
Whenever
you remember me like this,
I am among
you.
Presider 2: Please
pass the cup with the words: You are the Lifeblood of God in the world.
Presider 1:
Our Communion Meditation is: I am the Bread of Life by John Michael Talbot
BLESSING BEFORE DINNER
Presider 2: Let us continue
our Eucharistic celebration with a meal together. Please join in praying a
blessing for the food and companionship we are about to share.
All: We give thanks for the many blessings we receive
and may we, like Jesus, continue to open our
table, and our lives to all, especially those in need.
Amen.
Presider 1: Please
join in singing our Closing Song: Room at the Table by
Carrie Newcomer and then offer each other a sign of peace as we proceed to the
food table.
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