Holy Thursday Service  / Broad Street UMC / Statesville, NC (2008) 

 by Anna Murdock (script can be e-mailed to you by request to abmurdo1117@gmail.com)

The four participant "Voices" dressed in black choir robes or black pants/shirts.  All in the annex , off to the side or at the back of sanctuary.  Microphones / bookstands / booklights.  Dimly-lit sanctuary. Choir seated.  The gathering is a quiet time of reflection and prayer for congregation.   Two flower pedestals…. one with the lit Christ candle…. the other with nothing on it.   No organ music prior to beginning of the service.  A gathering in silence

Participant  “Voices”                               Additional Participants        

Voice 1 = male                                          Sr. Pastor

Voice 2 = female                                       Associate Pastor or Lay Leader

Voice 3 = male                                          Someone to carry purple robe with crown of thorns

Voice 4 = female

Instructions to participant “voices”:  Speak slowly and distinctly and when you think that you are speaking slowly enough, slow down a bit more!

Sr. Minister :       Prayers of Petition  (from pulpit)

Asso. Minister or Lay Leader:  Reads appropriate Scriptures (from the aisle)

Brief service begins when Associate/Lay Leader walks back to pulpit and sits down

(Part 1/Beginning of Service through the Receiving of Communion)

V1:    Jesus Christ.   (pause)    Messiah.

V2:    King of Kings

V3:    Righteous…. and having salvation

V4:    Gentle…and riding on a donkey.

V1:    Jesus Christ. (pause)    Provider.

V2:    He has brought us together in this room

V3:    He has prayed for each of us ….  

V4:    ….  His Followers and those who WILL believe.

V1:    Tonight is a night of reminders.   A night to listen….

V2:    …. And to pray…..

V3:    ….And to remember….

V4:    ….And to remain steadfast.

V1:    Tonight is a night prepared by our Lord.

V3:    (pause) ….  In the room of his choosing…

V2:    (pause) ….  On the night of his choosing…

V4:    Our Lord is NOT the guest.

V1:    He is the Host.

V3:    When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 

          And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will

          betray me.”

V2:    The disciples were very sad and began to say to him, one after another…

V1:    Surely not I, Lord. (pause) ….

V2:    Surely, not I.

V3:    Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me

          will betray me.”

V4:    Surely not I, Rabbi….

V3:    Yes… (pause) …. it is you.  

V2     Why?   Why did you do this, Judas?

V1:    (pause)…..Jesus Christ ….  Teacher …. Example.

V2:    Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that

          he had come from God and was returning to God….

V4:    … and so, Jesus got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and

          wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a

          basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel.

V1:    The Lord …. The Rabbi …The Obedient Servant.

V3:    He washed the feet of the Disciples…. The fishermen, the tax collector, the one who would later deny him…and, yes…even the feet of the one who would betray him.

V2:    No servant is greater than his master.

V4:    No messenger is greater than the one who sent him. 

PAUSE FOR MINISTERS TO COME TO THE COMMUNION TABLE

(The ministers participate in the breaking of the bread and lifting of chalice, silently, as the following words are read…)

V1:    While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it,

          and gave it to his disciples, saying….

V3:    “Take and eat…. This is my body.

V1:    Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying….

V3:    “Drink from it, all of you.  This is the blood of the covenant, which is

          poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Pause for minister(s) – The Consecration of Elements - (then resume)

V2:    The Lord… the Messiah… the very One who should be the honored guest

          has become the host.

V4:    He has set the table for us.  It is he who is the host.  It is he who says “Come….Eat….Drink.”

Communion is served at this point – no music –

1 station – by intinction

(begin again after Communion is served and ministers are seated)

V1:    Jesus Christ.   (pause)   Jesus Christ.

V2:    Alpha

V3:    Ancient of Days

V4:    Beginning ….. Beloved Son.

V3:    Sovereign…..God.

V1:    Immanuel, God with us …… King of Glory.

V2:    (Strong)   LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH !

V3:    (Quiet)     Lamb of God.

V2:    (Strong)   CORNERSTONE!

V3:    (Pause)    Sacrifice.    (Pause)

V2:    Thirty pieces of silver.  Why?   Betrayed by a kiss.  How could this be?

V1:    Denied three times…just as Jesus had said…. before the rooster crowed.  

V4:    (Pause)  …So they delivered him to be crucified to the place, Golgotha, which is translated, “the Place of the Skull.”

Choir Sings “God So Loved the World”

V3:    Slowly and deliberately … “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

V1:    Jesus …….. Redeemer.

V2:    Jesus …. Spotless …. Innocent …. Just

V3:    Christ …. Perfector of our faith.

V4:    Jesus Christ …. Our Savior.

Total Silence (no music)

1.)           Ministers strip the cross of purple cloth and replace it with black.

2.)           Ministers remove each others’ stole / Choir removes their purple scapulars

3.)           The table/altar is stripped .    All that is left is the Christ candle, still lit.

4.)           Assoc. Pastor or lay leader comes down from pulpit to stand beside of the Christ candle

5.)           After the altar has been stripped and black drape is in place on the cross, someone slowly walks down the left aisle (facing pulpit) with the purple “robe” and crown of thorns

6.)           The Assoc. Pastor or lay leader removes the Christ candle and walks ½ way up the aisle, pauses, turns and watches as the person continues with robe/crown.  He/she lays the robe/crown of thorns on the empty pedestal.

7.)           Then the Assoc. Pastor or lay leader turns and continues to walk up the aisle with the lit Christ candle

Dismissal (Sr. Pastor)

“Go in Silence”

(Note: The 4 participants preferred to be served Communion after the service was over)



Lenten Daily Reflections
"Thirty Pieces of Silver ... an offering of Love"

Muslin bags - http://www.papermart.com/
   3" width x 4" height      24/pkg.
   Item #09926200

Insert - (see below for wording)
  Printed on card stock
  Size of text box = 2.75" width x 4.75" height

The pouches are to be handed out 30 days before Holy/Maundy Thursday to everyone (adults as well as children) who want to journey through this Lenten reflection.  For families with children, all were encouraged to take a muslin pouch.  This is a wonderful way of asking parents and children to come together at the end of the day to talk of how each found opportunities to reflect the love of Jesus to others.  Each evening, there is time to place a silver coin in the bag only if you might see ways in which the love of Jesus was offered to others.  It isn't about the money.  If you choose to put a quarter in the pouch each day, it will only be $7.50     It is more about the awareness of how each of us shows God's love to another person.  At a given point in the Holy/Maundy Thursday worship service, allow for the placing of the filled bags on the altar or in a basket near the altar.  Make sure that it is known where the money will go...to a local food pantry, a homeless shelter, a battered women's shelter, etc.  The children especially loved this Lenten reflection.  It gave them a time of participating in their own Lenten journey in a way that they could understand.

(Wording of text insert)

       Thirty Pieces of Silver
(Betrayal Money or Offerings of Love?)

Our Lenten journey is a time of
rediscovery and renewal.  It's a time
to resolutely set our sights on
Jerusalem and walk with Jesus into
the Garden of Gethsemane and up to
his cross.  It is our time to draw
closer to our Lord, to reflect his
nature to others and to share his love
in some way.

Jesus was betrayed with 30 pieces of
silver and a kiss.  Do you think that it's
possible to turn 30 pieces of  betrayal
silver into an offering  Jesus' love?
YES!  This pouch can be filled with
30 pieces of silver ... nickels, dimes,
quarters.  At the end of your day,
"be still" and come before God.  Ask
yourself this question, "Have I
reflected the love of Christ to another
today?"  If so, place a piece of silver
in the pouch.  It isn't about the money.
It's about us becoming more like
Jesus Christ.  This truly is our Lenten
journey.

Lenten Nail Pocket Reminders

Pocket reminders given to congregation on the first Sunday of Lent. 

2" Hard Cut Masonry Nails. 
(Watch when you choose them.  There are 2 different types of heads to these nails.  Choose the flat heads). A 1 lb. box contains approximately 75 nails. Word of warning:  These nails have an oily coating on them that you won't notice until you've handled several of them (and your hands end up very blackened!).  Wash the nails in very hot, soapy water first (several times needed) and hand-dry them with paper towels before handing them to your congregation!

Some thoughts on the offering of this Lenten pocket reminder to members of the congregation:
1.)  If it is your custom to serve/receive Communion by intinction, coming forward to receive the elements, and Communion will be offered the first Sunday of Lent, you might want to have a third person at each Communion station.  One to serve the bread, one to offer the chalice and one to place this "remembrance" of Jesus' love (the nail) into the hands of each person.  The third person uses his/her thumb to make the sign of the cross into the palm of the recipient's hand, saying "Remember Jesus' love for you."  And then he/she places the nail into the person's hand to take with them as a constant reminder of this love during the Lenten season. 

2.)  If Communion isn't served on the first Sunday of Lent, or if your service is such that you don't come forward to receive Communion, then you might consider having people stationed at all of the exits of the sanctuary so that the congregation can receive the Lenten nail pocket reminders as they leave the worship service.  This would be a wonderful way of asking the Confirmands to be participants ... asking them to be the ones to offer the nails and the words of Jesus' love to those who have come to worship that day.

3.)  A third option might be to give an invitation to kneel at the altar in prayer as part of the worship service (and at the beginning of the Lenten journey).  The invitation could be extended at some point during or at the closing of the worship service at which time the nail and the words of remembrance be offered then. 

Words of remembrance as the nail is offered:  "Remember Jesus' love for you."
(And always look into a person's eyes when these words are offered.  The giving of these precious words is THAT important!)

In the Shadow of the Cross - Good Friday

The sanctuary is set up with banners of the 7 last "words" of Christ.  This is a guided, individual opportunity for silent reflection and prayer on Good Friday.  A person can come and go as they wished.

A prayer and reflection guide is made available at each entrance into the sanctuary.

IF YOU WISH TO HAVE A COPY OF THE PRAYER/REFLECTION GUIDE E-MAILED TO YOU, PLEASE SEND THE REQUEST TO abmurdo1117@gmail.com

Picture below is the worship visual/design for Good Friday meditations and prayers on the last words of Christ  (In the Shadow of the Cross)

Banners made of upholstery weight black fabric
(banners are 18” wide x 36” long with tabs/loops 12” long/used Velcro to loop the fabric around crossbar)

Words printed on card stock in approx. 150-200 font Times New Roman
 (Edges of card stock torn to look ragged.  Card stock fixed to fabric with glue stick.  Could also tack them on with white thread

Banner stands made of PVC pipe placed in a large square of wood with hole that fits pipe.
No need to paint the PVC pipe.   Black fabric was draped on the wooden base to conceal it.