On this night Christians commemorate the supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, when Jesus washed the disciples' feet (John 13:1 –17) and instituted the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

(Matthew 26:26 –29; Mark 14:22 –25; Luke 22:13 –20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 –25).

 

We will have Holy Communion during the Maundy Thursday Service!

 

Online Worship information is here: www.LittleFallsUMC.org/maundy

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@lfumc

 

Join in Online Worship Services during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday!

·      Maundy Thursday Service at 7 pm on March 28, Thursday 

·      Good Friday Service at 7 pm on March 29, Friday

·      Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 am on March 31, Sunday in the front yard

Easter Sunday Worship at 10 am on March 31, Sunday

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Prepare yourself for Worship! 

 

Call to Worship

Leader: We gather with the dirt of the day on our hands, our feet, and our hearts.
All: We come in need of a Savior. 

Leader: We gather with the disciples, preparing to come to the table, yet surprised once again by Jesus.
All: We come with our expectations only to be astonished by love.

Leader: We gather at the basin to be washed and at the table to be fed, in body and in spirit.
All: We come to receive a new commandment.

Leader: We gather in awe of the grace demonstrated in Jesus kneeling to serve.
All: We come seeking the grace to love one another as Christ loves us. Amen.

 

OPENING HYMN  What Wondrous Love is This          UMH 292 v 1-3

 

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this,

That caused the Lord of bliss,

To bear the dreadful curse, for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
 

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this,

That caused the Lord of life,

To lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

To lay aside his crown for my soul.
 

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing!

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing!

To God and to the Lamb, Who is the great "I AM, "

While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing!

While millions join the theme, I will sing.

 

CONFESSION AND PARDON

 

Leader: My sisters and brothers, Christ shows us his love by becoming a humble servant. Let us draw near to God and confess our sin in the truth of God’s Spirit.

 

All: Most merciful God, we your Church confess that often our spirit has not been that of Christ. Where we have failed to love one another as he loves us, where we have pledged loyalty to him with our lips and then betrayed, deserted, or denied him, forgive us, we pray; and by your Spirit make us faithful in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Leader: Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ. But Christ suffered and died for us, was raised from the dead and ascended on high for us and continues to intercede for us. Believe the good news: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

 

All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen.

 

THE LESSON FROM SCRIPTURE  

 

John 13:1-17, 31-35

 

Leader: Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

 

All: The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. 

 

Leader: And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.

 

All: Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

 

Leader: He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 

 

All: Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 

 

Leader: Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”

 

All: Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 

 

Leader: Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

 

 All: For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

 

Leader: After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

 

All: You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 

 

Leader: So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

 

All: For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 

 

Leader: Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 

 

All: If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

 

Leader: When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.

 

All: If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 

 

Leader: Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now, I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

 

All: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

MEDITATION                Nevertheless, Jesus Loves and Serves You

                                                                                                    Rev. Jin Kook Kim

It was Thursday night in Jesus’ passion week. On the night, Jesus and his disciples sat at the table to observe Passover. Passover is the Jewish holiday to commemorate that God saved Israel from Egypt. God ordered the Israelites to observe the day to remember God’s salvation for the Israelites from Egypt. Not only the first generation who experienced it but also all descendants should observe the day to remember God’s salvation. As descendants of Israel, Jesus and disciples had the table to observe Passover.

 

However, at the table, Jesus wanted them to remember another thing rather than Passover. It was his death for them and it was himself. He knew that his time had come, and he was going to be in suffering and death soon to save all people in the world. So at the table, he took the bread and gave thanks to him and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take. Eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he took the cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to the 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.” Although disciples would not understand what Jesus said, it was Jesus’ words, “I am giving out myself to you. my body will be broken to save you. my blood will be shed to save you. Having bread and wine, my body and blood, remember me; remember my love for you and my sacrifice for you.” Jesus' words were not only for the twelve disciples but also for us. Jesus is saying to us, “To save you, my body is broken and my blood is shed. Eat bread, my body, and drink wine, my blood to remember me, my love for you, my sacrifice for you.” Church family, let us remember Jesus, his love, and his sacrifice. Let us remember Jesus whenever we have Holy Communion. Let us remember Jesus when we have our usual food or drink. As food and drink strengthen us to live out our lives, Jesus’ love and sacrifice feed and strengthen us.

 

During the supper, he took a towel, a basin, and water and he washed the disciples’ feet. That was unimaginable when we considered the strong hierarchy at that time. Washing one’s feet was a servant's job, not a normal person's job. Jesus was a teacher of disciples so he should be served by disciples. However, he served his disciples by washing their feet. And said, “You ought to wash one another’s feet, as I, as your teacher, washed your feet. I showed the example. Serve one another.” Jesus wanted his disciples to serve one another as Jesus served them so he ordered them to serve one another. This Jesus’ teaching and order was not only for the disciples but also for all of us. Church family, let us serve one another as Jesus served his disciples and ordered them to serve one another. 

 

Do you know what else happened at the table? Jesus said to them, “One of you will betray me.” Yes, Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him. Jesus also said after supper that Peter was going to deny Jesus. Jesus knew all of these: one of the disciples would betray him, another one would deny him and others would flee, leaving from Jesus. What we can see from here is Jesus still loved them and gave them his body and blood and washed their feet although he knew everything that they were doing to do. That’s Jesus’ love that he gave his life to them although knew they were going to betray him and deny him. That’s Jesus’ service that he washed them although he knew what they were going to do. Jesus knew their future betrayal and denial already. Nevertheless, Jesus still loved them and served them. Likewise, Jesus loves us and serves us all the time although we are not perfect but commit sins in our lives over and over again.

 

Church family, let us remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us, Jesus’ love for us not only Tonight but every day, not only through the Holy Communion but through every food and drink. And let us love and serve Jesus more and more. Let us love and serve others more and more. This is how we can commemorate Jesus’ last supper and his love and sacrifice for us. Amen.

 

HYMN OF REFLECTION                 Broken for Me               TFWS 2263

 

 (Refrain)

Broken for me

Broken for you

The body of Jesus

Broken for you

 

He offered His body

He poured out His soul

Jesus was broken

That we might be whole

(Refrain) 

 

Come to My table

And with Me dine

Eat of My bread

And drink of My wine

(Refrain) 

 

This is My body

Given for you

Eat it remembering

I died for you

(Refrain) 

 

This is My blood

I shed for you

For your forgiveness

Making you new 

(Refrain)

 

The body of Jesus

Broken for you 

 

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION                  Rev. Jin Kook Kim

 

Response 1

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

 

Response 2

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

 

Response 3

Amen.

 

HANDWASHING by One Another

 

CLOSING HYMN       Go to Dark Gethsemane                  UMH 290 v 1-3
 

Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter's power.

Your Redeemer's conflict see, watch with Him one bitter hour,

Turn not from His griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

 

See Him at the judgment hall, beaten, bound, reviled, arraigned.

the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs His soul sustained!

Shun not suffering, shame, or loss; learn of Christ to bear the cross.

 

Calvary's mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at His feet,

Mark that miracle of time, God's own sacrifice complete.

"It is finished!" hear Him cry; learn of Jesus Christ to die.

 

BENEDICTION                                                                Rev. Jin Kook Kim

 

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.   Amen!

 

* See you tomorrow night at 7 pm for Good Friday Tenebrae Service. 

Have a good night!