WORSHIP SERVICES

Join us for a short service this Friday from 12:15-12:45 pm.
You may wish to gather 5 candles for the service.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Short prelude

Welcome and prayer

Scripture: John 19:13-22 (extinguish first candle)

Taize songbook #39: “We adore you Jesus Christ”

Scripture: John 19:23-30 (extinguish second candle)

Purple songbook #84:  “So much wrong” (refrain only)

Scripture: John 19:31-37 (extinguish third candle)

Taize songbook #25:  “When the night becomes dark”

Scripture: John 19:38-42 (extinguish fourth candle)

Taize songbook #8:  “Stay with me” (extinguish final candle)

Closing meditation: “Indodana”* (traditional Xhosa song)
*sung by the University of Praetoria Camerata (South Africa)

Words
Women: The Lord has taken his son who lived among us. The son of the Lord God was crucified.
Men: Hololo Father Jehovah. Zjem zja father. (crying and expressive sighs)

Worship Leader – Sheryl Dyck
Scripture reader – Pastor Michael
Song leader – Pastor Deb

Maundy Thursday focuses on Jesus’ deep love for his friends as he prepares for the difficult ordeal that is coming. He washes their feet, they eat together, and he asks them to pray with him. When we gather in person for Maundy Thursday, our service usually includes a simple meal, foot- or hand-washing, communion, and reflection on Jesus’ invitation to “stay with me” and “remain awake” during the time of trial.

This simple, self-guided service is designed to be done at home, alone or with others, over a meal. There is no need to prepare special food; have supper as you normally would and consider how Jesus shows up in the ordinary moments of life – eating and talking and resting at the close of the day.

If more than one of you is gathered, decide in advance who will read the prayers and scriptures. You may wish to divide them or read them responsively.

You will need:

– A Bible
– A candle and match or lighter
– A candle “shroud” (any small cloth will do)
– Water, large bowl or bin, and towel if you plan to do foot- or hand-washing
– Optional: discussion partners (see below)*

ORDER OF SERVICE

CANDLE-LIGHTING & OPENING PRAYER

Light a candle in the center of the table

Pray:

God of love, as we begin this time to eat and remember,
we thank you for our food and for Jesus, who is the light of the world.
Help us be a light to the world, too,
so that your love flows through us to all people.  Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING: John 13:1-9, 31b-35

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Eat dinner. As you eat, reflect on and/or discuss these questions:

– Where do you see people giving & receiving God’s love?
– In your experience, where is love most needed today?

*Optional: If you would like to share discussion with others while you eat, reach out ahead of time to another FMC person or household whom you can call by phone or video chat during this time.

SERVING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE:
FOOTWASHING & SPECIAL OFFERING

Play this recording of Andrea Welty Peachey singing “Jesus took a towel.”

While listening, do one or both of the following:

1. If you are with others who choose to do so, wash one another’s feet or hands.

2. As an act of love and service, give to the Maundy Thursday Special Offering, 100% of which will be directed to the New American Welcome Center’s (NAWC) Immigrant Relief Fund. Two ways to give:

Mail a check to First Mennonite Church, 902 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801. Write “Maundy Thursday / Immigrant Relief Fund” in the memo line.

Give online at tithe.ly. Select “To: Maundy Thursday / Immigrant Relief.”

Service & Outreach chose the Immigrant Relief Fund in response to acute local community needs during the COVID19 crisis. Immigrants in Champaign-Urbana, especially people without documentation, are at significant risk for lost income resulting in food and housing insecurity, among other things. They are also unlikely to be given access to most forms of public aid. From April 1, 2019 – February, 2020 the Immigrant Relief Fund distributed $2300 in aid to immigrants in Champaign County. Over the past two weeks, the NAWC has received applications for $24,000 in emergency assistance. For those interested, read more about the needs and how funds are distributed in the NAWC Immigrant Relief Fund Report.We cannot wash each other’s feet in person this year, but we can enact Christ’s call to serve each other by giving generously to support our neighbors in crisis.

Please make or mail your offering no later than April 15 (best: do it now while “Jesus took a towel” is playing!)

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 26:36-46

Time of silence

CLOSING PRAYER

Dear God, we pray for places and people in the shadows of hate, indifference, and sorrow.
We pray for your love and joy! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Extinguish the candle. Place the shroud over the candle and return to use it again on Good Friday and Easter morning.

NOTE: Selections of this service are adapted from the Holy Week Tenebrae Home-Based Devotional from SALT Project, provided through the generous donation of graphic designer Hilary Breeze Rhodes.

The worship service will stream live at First Mennonite’s youtube channel beginning at 9:15 on Sunday, April 5th.

ORDER OF SERVICE

CENTERING CHIMES

LIGHTING THE SOLIDARITY CANDLE
–Symbolic of our Sister Church relationship with El Divino Redentor

GATHERING
     Prelude
     Purple songbook #73   “Jesus is coming”
     Welcome & prayer (prayer by Bruce D. Prewer)
     Call to worship (by Sam Cox)

In sunshine and shadow, joy or grief,
this is the day which the Lord has made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Look ! Your Messiah  comes to you;
Humble and seated on an ass, he arrives.

Hosanna! Wonderful is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

If we should keep quiet the very stones would cry aloud!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

     Hymnal #238   “Hosanna, loud hosanna”
     Passing the peace (break-out groups for Zoom participants)

CHILDREN’S STORY
– The current children’s offering benefits Randolph Street Community Gardens
– All households are invited to set out a basket and gather an offering weekly
– Click to download this week’s Palm Sunday children’s pages.
– Click to download a Palm Sunday doodle page for older children and adults.

SCRIPTURE, POETRY & HYMNS: JESUS’ ENTRY TO JERUSALEM
     Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
     The Donkey’s Owner by Clive Samson
     What Kind of King (part 1) by Michael Gehrling
     Hymnal #237  “All glory, laud and honor”

SCRIPTURE, POETRY & HYMNS: OUR RESPONSE TO JESUS’ ENTRY
     What Have We Learned by Loyd C Taylor Sr.
     Coming to the City Nearest You by Carole Penner*
     Black binder #39  “Sanna, sannanina”

SCRIPTURE, POETRY & HYMNS: CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE & OUR RESPONSE
     Matthew 21:12-17 (NRSV)
     Cleansing of the Temple by Marianne Dorman
     Drama
     Cleansing the Temple by Malcolm Guite**

SCRIPTURE, POETRY & HYMNS: FORESHADOWING JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION & OUR RESPONSE
Hymnal # 239   “RIde on, ride on in majesty”
Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46
Confession & Assurance (based on Philippians 2:12-13)

Voice 1
“Therefore, my beloved…it is God who is at work in you,
enabling you both to will and to work for God’s good pleasure.”

Voice 2
Lord, we tenants in your vineyard want to produce your fruit of the  
kingdom of God. Yet in our inmost hearts we deceive ourselves that we 
are more than tenants, that we are due to be owners.

In your presence we confess our sinfulness and shortcomings,
our offenses against you. You alone know how often we have wandered  
from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love.

Voices 1 & 2
Merciful God, we return to you. Help us stand to follow your example – 
the example of the one who in love set his face steadfastly toward
Jerusalem, even though he knew it would bring pain and suffering.
You are the way and the truth and the life.   
You restore us and free us for joyful obedience.

     What Kind of King (part 2) by Michael Gehrling

OFFERING
– PALM SUNDAY SPECIAL OFFERING: FMC’s Mutual Aid Fund, a designated fund for assisting congregants with financial needs. If FMCers have unexpected needs related to the effects of coronavirus — like healthcare, income loss, etc. — Spiritual Leadership Team will draw on this fund. Give by mailing a check to FMC with “Mutual Aid Fund” in the memo line, or donate online and select “To: Mutual Aid.”

– In the absence of a weekly offering collection, reflect on how you are practicing and receiving generosity. Give your offerings to First Mennonite Church by mailing a check, giving through your bank, or giving online.

MEDITATIVE MUSIC (John Trimmer)

CONGREGATIONAL SHARING & PRAYER

WORK OF THE CHURCH

BENEDICTION (p. 143 from Eggs and Ashes by Burgess & Polhill)

*copyright by Carol Penner at www.leadinginworship.com
**Cleansing the Temple, from Sounding the Seasons, Canterbury Press