Maundy Thursday

Derived from the Latin word ‘mandatum’ meaning ‘commandment’, Maundy refers to the commands which Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember his sacrifice.

Instrumental Music

Opening Sentence – John 6:35

‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me
will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

We have come together in the name of Christ to offer our praise and thanksgiving, to hear and receive God’s holy word, to pray for the needs of the world, and to seek the forgiveness of our sins, that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may give ourselves to the service of God.

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Opening Responses

O Lord, open our lips:
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
O God make speed to save us:
O Lord make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen

Hymn 1

Confession

God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Let us then show our love for him by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

Silence is kept.

Let us return to the Lord our God and say to him:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.

Absolution

May Almighty God, who sent his Son into the world to save sinners, bring us his pardon and peace, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect

God our Father,
you have invited us to share in the supper
which your Son gave to his church
to proclaim his death until he comes:
may he nourish us by his presence
and unite us in his love;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Glory to God in the Highest (Gloria in Excelsis)

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

First Reading

Gospel Reading

Address

Hymn 2

Prayers

Let us pray in quiet for our own needs and for the needs of the world.
Lord, meet us in the quiet. And hear our prayer.

For the world (for peace, for all leaders, for those suffering or in need)
For the church (for our bishops, clergy, the diocese, local churches)
For our community (for leaders, groups, and those in need or distress)
For our friends and family (for those we love and those no longer with us)
For ourselves (we give thanks and we ask for help and guidance)

Lord Jesus Christ,
you have taught us that what we do for the
least of our brothers and sisters we do also for you:
give us the will to be the servant of others
as you were the servant of all,
and gave up your life and died for us,
but are alive and reign, now and for ever.
Amen.

Trusting in the compassion of God, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours now and for ever.
Amen.

Hymn 3

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord is here
His spirit is with us

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give him thanks and praise

We praise you, heavenly Father,
for your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks.
He broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way after supper,
he took the cup, and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying,
“Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.”

We praise and thank you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
As we obey your command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that this bread and wine may be for us
the body and blood of your precious Son.
Amen.

Dear Friends,
receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
with faith and thanksgiving.
Remember that he gave himself for you.
Remember that he died for you,
and allow him to feed and nourish
your body, mind, and spirit.

The Distribution

Hymn 4

Prayer after Communion

Let us give thanks to God:

Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us with the
body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our
souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work to your praise and glory.
Amen.

Saviour of the World

Jesus, Saviour of the world, come to us in your mercy:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you.
By your cross and your life laid down, you set your people free:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you.
When they were ready to perish, you saved your disciples:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you.
In the greatness of your mercy loose us from our chains:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you.
Make yourself known as our Saviour and mighty deliverer:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you.
Come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you.
And when you come in your glory, make us one with you: that we may share the life of your kingdom.

Prayer

God our Father,
your Son Jesus Christ was obedient
to the end and drank the cup prepared for him;
may we who share his table watch with him
through the night of suffering and be faithful.
Amen.

The Dismissal

When the disciples had sung a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus prayed to the Father, ‘if it is possible, take this cup of suffering from me’. He said to his disciples, ‘how is it that you were not able to keep watch with me for one hour? The hour has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to the power of sinners’.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Christ was obedient unto death. Go in peace.