Holy Thursday Communion Service

Greeeting / Call to Worship:
L: If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
P: For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will save it.
L: Come, let us prepare our hearts to commune with our Lord!

Opening Hymn

Prayer of Confession:
L: God's love for the world has been revealed in Jesus Christ, who loved us to the uttermost. At the Last Supper with his disciples he gave us a new commandment: to love one another. And he said to them: "just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."   (John 13:34,35)

L: Merciful God, we confess that so often our discipleship has been weak . . .

• L When we have failed to serve as Jesus served;
  P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                        (silent prayer)
  
• L: When we have failed to love one another as Jesus loves us;
  P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                         (silent prayer)
  
• L: When we have been happy to proclaim our devotion to Jesus with our lips and then denied him by our actions;
• P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                          (silent prayer)
  
• L: Merciful God, empower us by your Spirit to be steady and true to you in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance and Pardon:
L: Jesus said: "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world "(John 12:47b) and "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end"( John 13: 1b)  The good news therefore is this: In Jesus Christ, we are loved and we are forgiven.

All: Thanks be to God!

Invitation:
L: Jesus says: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever  believes in me will never be thirsty....and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away."

Communion Hymn

Opening Communion Prayer:
Almighty God, at the Last Supper your Son Jesus Christ washed the disciples' feet and commanded them to love one another. As we partake in the celebration of our Lord's Supper, give us humility and obedience to be servants of others as he was the servant of all; who gave up his life and died for us, yet is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Word of Institution and Consecration:
Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come, and, having loved his own who were in the world he loved them to the end. He had supper with them, he washed their feet and gave them a new commandment: "... love one another as I have loved you."

Briefly raise the symbols of basin and towel (if available).

At the beginning of the Supper, Jesus took a loaf of bread (briefly raise the loaf) and when he had given thanks, he broke it (brake it apart), and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." After the Supper, he took the cup (briefly raise the cup), and again giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying  "Drink from this all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

Be present, Lord Jesus, by your Holy Spirit as you were in that upper room with your disciples when you shared this last supper with them; make yourself known to us as we share among us this bread and this cup - your life in us.  Amen.

Hymn

Partaking of the Bread and the Cup:
As you give the elements of bread and wine you may say: "this bread represents Christ's bodily presence among us.
This cup represents Christ's attitude of service and obedience--even unto death.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you that in a wonderful sacrament you have given us the memorial of your passion: grant us so to reverence the sacred mysteries of your body and blood that we may know within ourselves and show forth in our lives the fruit of your redemption, for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hymn

Passing of the Peace:
L: After Jesus had shared the meal with his disciples and washed their feet, he said to them,  "I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you...Love one another,  as I have loved you"... He also said "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you."

L: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
P: And also with you.

Closing Hymn

The Blessing:
Christ draw you to himself and grant that you find in his cross a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven.