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).

 

* If you plan to join us Online Worship, Please prepare a piece of bread (or a Cracker) and a small cup of juice (or Water) for the Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday Worship Service!

 

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

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzxLc7UQjeMNprjm9u8gtQ/

 

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

• Maundy Thursday Service at 7 pm on April 6, Thursday 

• Good Friday Service at 7 pm on April 7, Friday

• Easter Sunrise Service at 6 am on April 9, Sunday at the front yard

• Easter Sunday Worship at 10 am on April 9, 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             Love & Serve                  Rev. Jin Kook Kim

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On the night two thousand years ago, Jesus and the disciples sat at the table for the Passover supper. Passover is the Jewish holiday to commemorate that God saved Israel from Egypt. The night was special. Jesus knew that his time almost came. He knew that his time with his disciples was almost done. So, he wanted to teach them the most important lessons before the time was done.

 

First, Jesus wanted them to remember him. At the table, he taught them how to remember him when they would not be with Jesus in flesh. There was usual food, bread, and wine, on the table for their supper. 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, “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.” Jesus gave us all his being. Not leftover but all that he had, even his body and blood, his life. Disciples would not know the meaning of Jesus' words or the meaning of the Holy Communion at the table at that time. They would remember the table later and understand the meaning of the Holy Communion later after Jesus died. Jesus wanted them to remember how much he loved them and the people in the world. Jesus wanted them to remember what Jesus did for them to save them and give them the forgiveness of God. And the same Jesus wants us to remember his love and sacrifice by having the Holy Communion. This is why we have the Holy Communion every month and at the special service. Let us remember his love and let us remember his sacrifice for us. As Jesus wanted, let us remember Jesus who showed us the best love for us.

 

Second, Jesus wanted them to serve one another. People usually want to be great and take a high position. People usually want to be served rather than to serve. However, Jesus wanted disciples to serve others rather than be served. During the supper, he took a towel, a basin, and water and he washed the disciples’ feet. That was unimaginable when we consider the strong hierarchy at that time. Washing one’s feet was a servant's job, not a normal person's. Jesus was a teacher of disciples. He was ranked above disciples. This was the reason that Peter said, “No, Teacher, you will never wash my feet.” However, Jesus washed all disciples’ 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.” What do you think? What heart did Jesus have when he washed his disciples’ feet? I don’t think he washed their feet with the heart of doing a job that he didn’t want to do but had to do to teach them. I believe that Jesus had the heart that he really wanted them to learn from this and that he washed their feet with his love because he knew that this was the last time to be with them and teach them the last lesson before he suffered.

 

After all, Jesus said to them, “Love one another, this is the new commandment that I give you. Love one another.” 

 

Church Family, I hope we remember Jesus’s love and the last lesson that he gave the disciples and us before he died. Jesus wants us to love one another and serve one another. Rather than be served, Jesus wants us to serve others with love. Jesus wants us to love one another by serving one another. We are disciples of Jesus Christ. Let us love one another by serving one another. Let us serve one another by loving one another. This is the new commandment that Jesus gave us and reminds us of tonight. 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.

 

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.” Be in Peace! Amen!

 

* See you tomorrow night on April 7 at 7 pm for

Good Friday Tenebrae Service.  Have a good night!