Responses: Melissa
Presider: Penny
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87935930592?pwd=qZlKA506MIS9okXQQxBkaKsyhsZJDV.1
Juanita: Welcome to our celebration of Holy Thursday, known traditionally as ‘Maundy Thursday’ because Maundy is Latin for mandate or commandment. The prescription Jesus gives to his beloved friends and followers during their Passover supper is to love each other as he has loved them. The tenderness and kindness of this love even in the face of danger for Jews in occupied Palestine is our inheritance straight from Jesus. It is a courageous love, a dedicated and insistent love, a love to last in our time and for all time.
Opening Song: At This Table by Idina Menzel; video by Denise Hackert-Stoner
https://youtu.be/n9Xf4cHOcwQ
Opening Prayer Penny
Source of mystery and love, you call us to humility and service, especially to the ‘least of these.’ Enliven our hearts with hope and trust that we can do hard things. We are not alone in walking the journey of our lives, right now, in this chaotic world. We are born for these times. Bless us as we join our hearts and our hands to walk together in courage and compassion. May we listen deeply, act justly, and love fiercely. In the face of fear, may we choose faith. In moments of doubt, may we cling to wonder. Let us be the light that kindles hope, the hands that offer healing, and the voices that speak truth. May our shared journey become a living prayer—one of grace, resilience, and transformation. Amen.
Gloria:
https://youtu.be/t6OsCKTdBQk?si=Biqo6iMG81f25XzL
First reading: Linda
Joan Chittister speaks of the Eucharist not as a passive act of receiving, but as an active call to transformation. Her insight centers on a simple yet demanding truth: when we say "Amen" to the Body of Christ, we are consenting not only to receive Christ, but to become Christ for others.
In this view, the Eucharist is not complete at the moment of reception. It reaches fulfillment only when it is lived. To take the bread that is broken and shared is to accept a life that is likewise willing to be broken open in compassion, shared in generosity, and given in love. The sacrament, then, is not an isolated sacred moment but a pattern for daily existence.
Chittister's perspective challenges any separation between liturgy and life. If we receive the Body of Christ but fail to recognize Christ in those who suffer, the meaning of the Eucharist remains unrealized. The "Amen" becomes authentic only when it extends beyond the church into acts of justice, mercy, and solidarity.
In this way, the Eucharist becomes both gift and task: a gift of Christ's presence, and a task to embody that presence in the world.
A reading from the inspired words of Joan Chittister, and we respond, R] Amen
Second Reading Pat
A reading from the second letter to the Corinthians
What I have passed on to you, I received from Christ—that on the night he was betrayed, our Savior Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, saying, “This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do it in remembrance of me.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim Jesus’ death until Christ comes.
The word of our God. R] Thanks be to God
Alleluia: Gospel acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
https://youtu.be/4cs8NDVM3Vk
Gospel: Penny
A reading from the Holy Gospel attributed to John.
It was the Feast of Passover, and Jesus realized that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to God. He had always loved his own in this world, but now he showed how perfect this love was. The Devil had already convinced Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. So, during supper, Jesus—knowing that God had put all things into his own hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God— rose from the table, took off his clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist. He then poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and dry them with the towel that was around his waist. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Rabbi, you’re not going to wash my feet, are you?” Jesus answered, “You don’t realize what I am doing right now, but later you’ll understand.” Peter replied, “You’ll never wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me. ”Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Then, Rabbi, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus said, “Any who have taken a bath are clean all over and only need to wash their feet—and you’re clean, though not every one of you.” For Jesus knew who was to betray him. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After washing their feet, Jesus put his clothes back on and returned to the table. he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me “Teacher,” and “Sovereign”—and rightly, for so I am. If i, then—your teacher and sovereign—have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
The Good News of Jesus, the Christ. R] Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Homily
Peace
Nick: Jesus the Christ, you said to your disciples, “My peace I leave you. My peace I give you.” We ask you to look on the faith of those gathered here. Give us your peace, and spread your peace throughout the world, always and forever.
May the peace of Christ be always with you. R] And also with you.
Washing and Serving
Margaret: Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knew his hour had come to pass from this world. During supper, he got up, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel, saying, “This example I leave to you… if I your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, then surely you must wash one another’s feet.
Patti: Just as the the Jewish ritual washing symbolizes the removal of impurity and renewed spiritual integrity, so our washing tonight symbolizes interior cleansing and a willingness to humbly serve others.
Jay Cee: As we wash, let us renew our commitment to God to have “clean hands and clean hearts.” Let us renew our commitment to serve others in the manner of the Christ. We invite you to step away to wash your hands or if you are with someone else, to wash each other’s hands.
https://youtu.be/b-Iqnq43KRA?si=oCZA3-MYnILeIbFa
Statement of Faith John
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.
Prayers of the Community
Melissa: As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware of our call to serve, and just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. Please state your intentions beginning with “I bring to the table…”
We bring these and all deeply held blessings, cares, and concerns to the table of friendship and peace.
Offering of Gifts
Janet: Blessed are you, God of all creation! Through your goodness we have this bread to offer. Fruit of the Earth, work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
R] Blessed be God forever
Galen: Blessed are you, God of all creation! Through your goodness we have this wine to offer. Fruit of the vine, work of human hands, it will become for us the cup of life.
R] Blessed be God forever
Nick: Pray sisters and brothers that our offering may be acceptable to our loving God.
R] May God accept this offering from our hands for the praise and glory of God’s name. For our good and the good of all God’s people.
Preface
Cathy W: Source of Love and Light, we come together in unity of heart, compassion, and shared purpose with people everywhere—those here and those we remember.
With all living beings across this Earth, we open our hearts to connection, understanding, and care. In your loving presence, we are freed from division, fear, conflict, pride, and injustice.
Linda: We are made whole through love and compassion. With gratitude, we offer ourselves to the work of healing, growing, and supporting one another. Together, we speak with one voice, honoring the beauty of life and our shared responsibility to nurture it, with these words of thanks and praise:
Holy Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here In This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Karla: Guiding Spirit, when opposing forces in us tug and pull and we are caught in the tension of choices, inspire us to make wise decisions toward what is good.
Nick: We thank you for our brother, Jesus, and for all our sisters and brothers who have modeled for us a way to live and love in challenging times. Inspired by them, we choose life over death, we choose to be light in dark times.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
Penny: We are ever aware of your Spirit in us and among us at this Eucharistic table and we are grateful for this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
Galen: On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
(Lift plate)
Penny: When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying:
All: Take and eat, go, share your love with one another.
(Lift cup)
Penny: Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
All: Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you.
Janet: We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. Please receive this bread with the words: We choose life in our doubt and faith.
Communion song: Blessings by Hollow Coves
Lucia: Holy One, your transforming energy is within us and we join our hearts with all who are working for a just world. We pray for wise leaders in our religious communities. We pray for courageous and compassionate leaders in our world communities.
Pat: We pray for all of us gathered here and like Jesus, we open ourselves up to your Spirit, for it is through living as he lived that we awaken to your Spirit within,
moving us to glorify you, at this time and all ways.
Amen.
Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Dave
Holy One, you are within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever, Amen.
Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter
Margaret: Loving source of our being, you call us to live the gospel of peace and justice. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity in your presence.
BLESSING
Please extend your hands in our final blessing.
Penny: May the Fire of Love ignite our hearts and radiate light through us.
May the Spirit of truth and justice burn within us. May we walk together as we support and tend to one another and all creation.
AMEN.
Closing: Stay with Me
https://youtu.be/-OHPoVhwgnM?si=tyeRzuV018elbN-y



