Streams of Mercy: A Maundy Thursday Service

This Maundy Thursday service is inspired by the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and a sermon series called Wandering Heart by A Sanctified Art.

Notes: There are three disciples, and five scripture readings. Choose one person to read scripture. The disciples are PETER (two monologues), JAMES, and JOHN. We will have them in costume, but it might also work if they wore something simple, like all black or an alb. The reader and the disciples sit at the table with the other worshippers- if you have multiple tables, have them spread out between the tables. They should stand when speaking. The pastor or worship leader should do the opening and closing words as well as leading the prayers.

OPENING WORDS

Tonight, we remember Jesus’ last acts before he was arrested and sentenced to death. He knew his death was coming, even if his disciples denied it. And he chose to spend that time in service, in fellowship, in prayer. We do the same tonight, as we listen to the story once more. We continue, as we have throughout Lent, to follow Peter’s point of view. “Peter is named ‘Cephas,’ which means ‘the rock.’ In this story, we imagine that God’s grace reshapes him in the way that water softens the rough edges of stone. When we, like Peter, are reluctant and resistant to receiving love, can we remember that streams of mercy are never ceasing? Will we be reshaped by grace?” (See A Sanctified Art’s Wandering Heart Infographic) Let us enter this story anew and see where it takes us.

PREPARING THE MEAL: Mark 14:12-16

PETER SPEAKS

I have always found it hard to sit still and wait. I think that’s what made me a good fisherman too. Sure, sometimes you need patience to fish, but sometimes you need to stay on the move, especially when the weather is bad or the fish aren’t biting. Following our teacher, there aren’t nets to mend or rowing to be done, so I have to stay on the move in other ways. When the other disciples started talking about making preparations for Passover, I volunteered to go. Go where? I must admit, I wasn’t listening to the instructions. I guess that’s why they always send one of the other disciples with me. [Shrugs]

Then I didn’t think it mattered so much where we were going; now, I’m starting to suspect it might. Because this passover has such a strange feel to it, don’t you think? It feels like the air does out on the water just before a storm. Especially after the parade with the palms and that woman’s extravagant anointing of our teacher. The air is charged. Even between us disciples things are strange. We need this Passover meal together. Meals with our teacher feel a little like…like mending nets. These meals stitch us back together.

Though sometimes I wonder. The depth of this world’s brokenness, the need we see on people’s faces daily as they seek healing, the fear I feel sneak into my own soul sometimes- it does make it hard to imagine how any of this can be mended. Maybe that’s why I can’t sit still. I just want to run with Jesus, our Messiah, to keep moving until people see he can mend this whole world.

(Inspired by a post about mending nets by Rev. Heidi Neumark.)

OPENING VERSE OF HYMN #400 “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

GRACE OVER OUR MEAL

O God, our Fount of every blessing, we come to worship tonight knowing how much we need Your grace. We, like Peter, are prone to wander sometimes closer to You but all too often farther away. Bless this food to nourish our bodies and our worship to nourish our souls for those times we do wander too far. May this evening be some of that goodness that binds us closer to You. Amen.

(Please eat and fellowship with one another.)

SPECIAL MUSIC

(As you listen to music, join us, and center yourself as we continue to worship.)

WASHING OUR FEET: John 13:3-14

JAMES SPEAKS

When our teacher got up from the table and tied that robe around himself, Simon- I mean, Peter- wasn’t the only one of us who thought such behavior was too strange. The looks we gave one another just now- you saw them, right? We were all too surprised to even pay attention to Simon and try to keep him from saying something. He always has to say something, doesn’t he?! Though I suppose we should be grateful. Si-…Peter saying what we were all thinking made our teacher explain a little. Afterwards, anyway.

Before the Lord told us what he was doing, I watched as he knelt before the others. I dreaded him looking so closely at my feet, but when I felt the water running off my calloused soles, I remembered when I was a boy just learning about fishing. I often would get pricked by the hooks or bruised or even burned by a rope. My father Zebedee was gruff, but he instructed me to dip my hands and feet in the salt water. Even though it stung, it would help with healing. Is that what our Lord was doing for us?

Simon interrupted without even  thinking. But when our Lord told him refusing his care was refusing fellowship, he backtracked quickly. But Peter’s little  outburst gave the rest of us a chance to think. This water running down just my feet, not my whole body, it still left my whole body feeling refreshed. A little goes a long way, something small can make a big difference. A little saltwater on a cut aids in healing. A little act of service for a weary traveler gives them comfort and strength. A little love in a hurting world- why, that might make a big change, too.

PRAYER FOR WASHING

Serving God,You kneel before us to show us how Your mercy never ceases. Forgive us for choosing to live shutting out that mercy. Forgive our striving for a greatness disconnected from service. Forgive us when we serve out of pride rather than love. Tune our hearts to sing of Your grace through the work of our hands and feet. Open our hearts to hear the song of Your grace through becoming vulnerable in community. Bless this water and our bodies to share Your steadfast and merciful love always. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC DURING FOOT WASHING

(You are invited to find a partner and wash one another's feet or hands.)

CONTINUING THE FEAST: Mark 14:22-24

COMMUNION PRAYER

Redeemer, Teacher, Friend, pour out Your Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us Your body and blood, that we might share You with the world through our love and service. In this broken world, mend us to be your disciples, sealed by your grace. We pray this in the name of the one who taught us to pray, saying:

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

BREAKING OF THE BREAD & GIVING OF THE CUP

(Please share the communion with one another.)

VERSE AFTER EATING

BECOMING DESERTERS: Mark 14:26-30

JOHN SPEAKS

We could never desert him. I know our teacher and Lord would never lie to us, but Peter, James, and I were with him on the mountain together. We saw him transfigured. We saw Elijah and Moses with him. We saw his power. Even if everyone else deserted him- surely we would not. It was always the four of us together- the other disciples don’t know him like we do.

We already left everything- fishing, our business, even my father, to walk with this teacher and healer. Normally, when I am with him, everything seems possible. When he told us he would have us fish for people, even that seemed possible. He believed in us, and that helped us believe in ourselves. I admit, though, tonight something feels wrong. Even here in this room with him, it’s as though there’s a hole in the net and the fish are escaping. Our teacher keeps talking about his death. That can’t be possible! How could the one who calms the storm not calm this one?

I don’t understand. But I’ve also never needed to understand before. I’ve just needed to notice him. Notice him in the boat with us as we brought in an abundant catch of fish. Notice his face as it began to shine on the mountain. Notice him walking on water. Notice him feeding and healing even us.

Our Lord has invited Peter, James, and I to leave behind the others and go to pray. Maybe prayer will mend everything. Maybe it will help us see those possibilities open up again. But even if not, I will try to notice the goodness and mercy of our teacher and Lord with us always.

FOLLOWING ME: Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Amen.

PETER SPEAKS AGAIN

Is this what it is to dwell in the house of the Lord? To have him wash your feet, and eat with you, and then- tell you the worst thing you will ever do? There was such goodness in our meal together at first, but that goodness is hard to remember with this harsh prediction ringing in my ears. The good memories, no matter how good, can be slippery as fish. I should easily remember stepping out of the boat and walking over the raging water or the feel of my new name washing over me, but they slip right out of my fingers and I find myself remembering my Lord calling me Satan. I remember babbling in front of him and the great prophets. I remember the undercurrents of fear from those in power every time my Lord performed a beautiful miracle.

I know that goodness and mercy are here….and …there’s something else here too.  Evil.  It is real and it is with us too.  

I know he was putting the world back together, healing it, mending it. And… things are breaking, tearing, disintegrating at an even faster pace.

Both things are true.  And I find myself afraid. 

But I feared the waves too. I feared even being near my Lord that day he came in my boat and helped us catch such abundance. Would the evil in me wash off on him? If he was afraid it would, he did not say. He just patiently called me by name. He challenged me when I needed to be challenged. He rescued me when I needed to be rescued. And all the while he has been healing my heart from the hurt I have received from others and the hurt I have caused others. He heals me still. So, even though I am afraid, I will stay close to that goodness as best I can. Won’t you come with me?

CLOSING VERSE

CLOSING WORDS

We, like Peter, might resist God’s grace. But grace seeks us out. We can’t escape the fact that God’s goodness and mercy will pursue us all the days of our lives- even on the days we can’t possibly perceive it. Even as the valley of the shadow of death threatens to trap us, our shepherd is with us. The question for Peter—and for each of us—is will we follow where our shepherd leads? (Adapted from Lisle Gwynn Garrity, Artist Statement, Wandering Heart, A Sanctified Art, 2024.)