(This is the Thursday prior to Easter.)
GREETING
Today, Jesus,
we bare our feet for washing,
we bare our minds for washing,
we bare our hearts for washing.
Wash away
the dirt you find in our pride,
the dirt you find in our service,
the dirt you find in our loving.
To you, Jesus,
we uncover not just our feet,
but also our attitudes and wills,
and our openness to serving.
Wash us, Jesus.
HYMN 432 “Jesu, Jesu”
PSALM 116:15-19
PRAYER
(Consider some of the following concerns of people for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
That Jesus’ strength was revealed in his love For Christ’s welcoming us to his table
That our Savior and Sovereign was so humble For family and friends welcomed to his table
For Christ’s humility in washing our feet For the different people he welcomes
For Christ’s call for us to be humble For society’s rejects at his table
For Christ’s humility to be reflected in us For society’s elite at his table
For all it means to wash another’s feet For the enemies at his table
For all it means to allow another to wash my feet For the common people at his table
That our Savior and Sovereign came as a servant That we can accept all whom he invites
For Christ’s call to us to serve others That we can be open to new people
That Jesus provide us with opportunities to serve That we can be open to difficult people
That he give us the skills, talents and gifts to serve That we can wash difficult peoples’ feet
That we answer Christ’s call to serving others For Jesus calling us his friends
That we can set aside our pride That we can truly be friends to Christ
That we can develop skills in serving others That we can truly be friends to his friends
That we can become sensitive to others’ needs ____________________________
That we have a heart for others’ needs ____________________________
That our service to others brings glory to Christ ____________________________
THE LORD'S PRAYER
SCRIPTURE LESSON
(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)
Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.
Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.
Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.
Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we have an invitation,
written in the life and love
of your beloved Son, Jesus.
He calls us to gather for a holy meal,
at a heavenly table he set,
a table founded in eternity.
But we are unworthy. We are sinners.
Surely, he made a mistake.
Dare we sit at Jesus’ table?
And, God, Jesus is down on his knees!
He is washing guests’ feet,
but ours are too, too dirty!
Even worse, we see strangers there!
Different races, one table!
Different minds, but unity!
God forbid! See what Jesus serves!
He offers his flesh to eat,
his own blood to drink!
Who has ever heard of such a meal?
To eat changes everything.
It will change us, Father.
Yet, it is your Son who is inviting us.
He loves like no one else,
and love spreads the feast.
Father, we do want to dine with Jesus.
Let us sit at the table’s foot,
and break bread with Christ.
Unite us with his communion of saints.
We humbly take our seats,
and dine on Jesus’ love.
Amen.
SILENCE AND COMMITMENT
(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)
HYMN 630 “Become to Us the Living Bread”
CLOSING PRAYER
Today, Father,
let our feet carry us to Jesus’ table.
Open our minds to Jesus’ grace;
and our hearts to accept his love.
Open our eyes to see real food;
and our mouths to taste real life.
Then receive our humble praise,
as we join in giving you thanks.
Amen.
GATHER WITH A CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIANS
TO ENJOY THE HOLY MEAL JESUS ORDAINED FOR US.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
