Maundy Thursday Resources

Call to Worship [responsive]:

Females: How long ago was it

that Jesus entered Jerusalem

in a carnival atmosphere;

the crowds shouting his praises

and waving royal palm branches?

Males: That was barely more

than four days ago,

on the first day of the week.

Females: So much has happened since then;

so much that we did not expect

and could not control.

Males: Expectation has indeed been shattered,

and control lost. 

Where do we go from here?

Females: Rumor has it that those closest to him

are gathered in an upper room;

gathered to celebrate the Passover,

and perhaps more.

Males: Should we join them? 

Dare we risk setting aside our own expectations,

and giving up our control?

All: Let us dare! 

Let us abandon our lives to

the power of the God whose

love conquers all.

Prayer of Confession:

We confess, O God of exodus promise,

that we have found a certain level of comfort

in our own enslavements. 

We have chosen some bondages for ourselves;

others have been forced upon us;

and the evils we know

seem more comforting than

possibility and promise that we don’t know. 

In the quiet solitude of this hour,

give us the hope of Gethsemane’s garden,

that we might also have the courage

to let go of our own desires

and open ourselves to your will;

through Jesus Christ

the bread of life and cup of salvation.  Amen.

Photo by Todd Jenkins

© 2014 Todd Jenkins