Thank you for joining us on Maundy Thursday
Here you can find resources for our liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are
Tonight, we recall the Washing of the Disciples’ Feet at the Last Supper, the Institution of the Eucharist and Christ’s Watch in the Garden of Gethsemane. We do so from our homes in prayer and meditation as the Liturgy of Maundy Thursday is offered at Holy Trinity in private.
A mixture of written resources and audio recordings is available to aid us in our communion with God and one another.
Please do join in the Watch any time between 8 p.m. and midnight in order to pray together as a worshipping community.
Preparation
Organ Prelude – Charles Camilleri: Wine of Peace
Opening
In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Collect for Purity
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.
Gloria Reflection – JG Walther: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
Collect
O God,
your Son Jesus Christ has left us this meal of bread and wine
in which we share his body and his blood.
May we who celebrate this sign of his great love
show in our lives the fruits of his redemption;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
You can find the texts of the readings on the pew sheet
First reading: Exodus 12.1-14 (recorded by Rachel Campbell)
Psalm 116.1, 10-17
(please say the psalm, pausing shortly at the asterisk *)
Refrain: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ.
I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
How shall I repay the Lord *
for all the good things he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord *
is the death of his servants.
O Lord, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people.
In the courts of the Lord’s house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Refrain: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ.
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26 (recorded by Rachel Campbell)
Gospel reading John 13.1-17, 31b-35 (The Rector)
Reflection on the Washing of the Disciples’ Feet
Tonight we cannot wash the feet of our friends in Christ nor receive that washing. How then shall we respond to that love which continues to the end, that accepts betrayal, human pride and lack of understanding, and then overcomes these things through humble service freely given.
Offered here for contemplation is a story, full of truth, from a church community in recent times.
A sacramental enacting of the Gospel, which brings transformation and quietly, humbly, opens the path to healing and freedom to love and serve the Lord.
A Maundy Thursday Story – William Seth Adams (from “Honouring the Body,” 2000, unpublished)
The Intercessions
Intercessions (The Rector)
Let us pray to the Father, as Christ prayed for his disciples.
Holy Father, as you are one, may we who are Christ’s Body also be one.
Let the Church in this place reflect your glory to the world.
Silence
May we and all Christian people be united in your love.
Let us recognise in each other, and in all people, your image in which we are made.
Silence
May your name be manifested in us.
May we be sanctified in your truth.
May your love be in us.
Silence
May we be united with those who suffer for their faith in your Son.
Let us be ready to meet the cost of following him.
Silence
Bring us all,
through the death and burial of your only-begotten Son,
to the joy of his resurrection.
Silence
Send us out into the world in Christ’s name.
Let us follow his example, serving others as we would serve you.
Silence
Father,
accept the prayer of your Church on this day
when Christ, our high priest, gave himself to us (in the Eucharist);
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Rector will celebrate the Eucharist at Holy Trinity
The Lord's Prayer
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
We cannot receive the bread and wine of Holy Communion tonight, but communion means being one
– with God and one another.
We might not be eating together tonight, but we are worthy to sit down with God and be fed
– in body, mind and soul.
We are always invited to the table.
Love bade me welcome (Revd Val Nellist)
Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked anything.
‘A guest’, I answered, ‘worthy to be here.’
Love said, ‘You shall be he.’
‘I, the unkind, the ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.’
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
‘Who made the eyes but I?’
‘Truth, Lord, but I have marred them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.’
‘And know you not’, says Love, ‘who bore the blame?’
‘My dear, then I will serve.’
‘You must sit down’, says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’
So I did sit and eat.
George Herbert 1593-1633
An upper room did our Lord prepare
The Watch
The Watch is part of the Liturgy of Maundy Thursday, as we recall Jesus’ time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.
In your Worship Pack. you will have found a laminated card with the image of an Olive Tree as a prayer aid and visual focus.
Do sit with Christ for a while.
What does Christ say to you as you listen in silence?
Who might need your prayer vigil tonight?
Songs for Reflection during the Watch
Taizé Community: Stay with me
Taizé Community: My heart is breaking with grief
Taizé Community: Within our darkest night
Thank you for joining us at Holy Trinity Church, Stirling for Maundy Thursday
You might find it helpful to pray Compline (the Night Prayer of the Church)
THIS WEEK
- Good Friday 2 p.m.
The Liturgy of Good Friday with the Passion Gospel, the Sung Reproaches and Solemn Intercessions - Holy Saturday 9 p.m.
The Easter Vigil with the Blessing of the Paschal Candle, Readings and Renewal of our Baptismal Vows - Easter Day 10.30 a.m.
Holy Communion (said in private)
The church will be open for private prayer from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
BISHOP’S LENT APPEAL
One of the two charities that the Bishop is encouraging us to support this Lent is Start Up Stirling, a charity that is very familiar to Holy Trinity. We are used to collecting items to contribute to the designated box in the church porch. We can’t do that at present. However we can make a donation. £10 pays for the Start Up van to make a Foodbank delivery.
Start Up welcomes donations and it is straightforward to give
+ online at: https://www.startupstirling.org.uk
+ or you can send a cheque to
Start Up Stirling, 16B Whitehouse Road, Stirling FK7 7SP
In addition we can buy an item on Start Up’s Amazon wish-list page.
If you can, do take a look at it as there is a good range of items and prices.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2CT04HHWBMXV8?ref_=wl_share
