It is only when we have walked with Jesus through the last week of his life, that we can come to a place of overwhelming gratitude of His love and sacrifice for us. This is why we must never just celebrate on Sunday without touching the broken places, too.
[Supplies: Candle, Spotify Playlist ]

This Maundy Thursday is like no other. We cannot gather together in one room as Jesus did with his disciples. There is a darkness in our world right now; a global pandemic, that keeps us apart.

  • Darkness calls out to our deepest fears with a taunting narrative that we are helpless or hopeless or alone. 

  • Fear says this darkness is our story. Faith lights a candle and says, “I beg to differ.” 

Please light a candle and keep it in front of you. Though each of us lights our candle separately, our light as followers of Jesus and as the family of First Baptist Church shines brightly together. We have created a playlist for you to listen to during your time of remembrance.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  – John 13:34-35
Maundy Thursday is observed on the Thursday before Easter. It is a time set aside to remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples in the Upper Room.

The word ‘maundy’ means commandment and refers to the new commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples, and to us, on that night as he washed their feet – Love one another.
Below are several prayer stations to guide you in your reflection and worship this Maundy Thursday. They are centered around the events of this night in the lives of Jesus and his disciples – the denial of Peter, the betrayal of Judas, and Jesus’ agonizing prayer in the garden. We pray that they will help you to encounter God and to grasp the depth of his love for you and for the world.
Remembrance - Reliving the Story
From the Upper Room to the Tomb  is a chronology of the events that Jesus faced during these last hours of his life written by one of our members, Nancy Efird.  If you would like to journey with Jesus during those hours, to understand and acknowledge the love and sacrifice that characterized his thoughts, words and actions in those days, find a quiet place to sit and read this beautiful account.
[Supplies: Bread/Cracker/Cookie, Juice/Wine/Water]

Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples in the Upper Room. It was the last time that they would be around the table together before Jesus’ death. Their last supper. 
 
At the conclusion of their meal, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and passed it among them.  “Take, eat, this is my body,” he said, “broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  

In a like manner Jesus took a cup of wine and blessed it and passed it among them saying, “This is my blood, the blood of a new covenant shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me.”

On this very night right after the meal, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, betrayed Jesus. As you prepare to receive the elements of communion, offer your confession to God. Sit before God in silence and receive God’s forgiveness.  
Take and eat the bread.
This do in remembrance of me.
Take and drink the cup.
This do in remembrance of me.
[Supplies:  Pitcher of water, Washcloth for each person, Bowl]

On the night before he was crucified, Jesus turned the tables on his disciples. For years he had been their Rabbi, their leader if you will, teaching them and showing them how to live. But on the night before he died, he wanted them to get one more lesson, but this time not from a leader. And so the master became the servant and washed their feet. And then he told them that from now on, that’s what it meant to be a disciple--to be washed and then to wash others. And so tonight, that’s the opportunity we're being given. 

To wash and be washed.   

If you are by yourself, sit in a chair and place your foot over the bowl. Imagine Jesus kneeling before you as you slowly pour water over your foot. Hear the water fall from your foot into the bowl. Imagine the sounds in the upper room as Jesus’ washed his disciples’ feet. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. As you are washed, receive anew your identity as a servant and pray that God would show you ways that he wants you to be a servant. If two or more are gathered, take turns washing one another’s feet. 
[Supplies: Candle, Matches]

After the meal with his disciples was over, Jesus, knowing the events that lay ahead of him, did what he always did. He found a solitary place in the garden to be with his Father. Jesus’ prayer was a prayer of surrender. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

What is your prayer of surrender? What is it that God is asking of you? Where in your life do you need to yield to God, ‘not my will, but yours be done’?

Light a candle as you offer your response to God.
[Paper, Pencil, Envelope]

I t is at the cross that we lay our burdens down. For Peter, it was the burden of denial.  For Mary, it was the heartbreak of devotion and loss. What do you need to leave at the cross? Be it confession or praise, question or thanksgiving – know that it will be received by the God who loves you.

Take your paper and pencil and write out whatever it is that you need to say to God. When you are ready, fold up your prayer and seal it in the envelope. Draw a cross on the front of the envelope. Place the envelope on a table or countertop with the cross facing up.

Slowly knock three times on the image of the cross, as if nailing your prayer to the cross itself.   
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen .
ONLINE GOOD FRIDAY
TENEBRAE SERVICE OF DARKNESS
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