On the Thursday before Easter, we hold a joint service with our home churches to celebrate Maundy Thursday.

 

Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday) [môn'dē]

Maundy Thursday is one of the lesser-known days of the Christian calendar and, were it not for the Maundy Ceremony, would probably have fallen into disuse altogether. It is the day before Good Friday.

Maundy Thursday is the traditional English name for Thursday during Holy Week, so named because it is considered the anniversary of the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus at the Last Supper (that is, the mandatum novum or “new commandment”).

The word "Maundy" is derived from the Latin mandatum meaning "command" - the same Latin root as mandatory and mandate. This is a reference to Christ's commandment to love one another, made at the Last Supper (the day before the crucifixion) when Jesus washed His disciples' feet. 

In some churches, Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet is symbolically reenacted. In our Grace Brethren tradition, we employ this reenactment as a normal part of our remembrance – the three-fold communion. Maundy Thursday has been celebrated since the earliest days of the Christian church, and the feet of pilgrims were washed by the clergy and nobility from at least the 4th century up until the mid 1700’s.

Similarly, the giving of alms (gifts of money) to the poor on Maundy Thursday goes back to at least the 12th century.  In Great Britain it has survived in its distribution, by the sovereign, of special “maundy money” to certain of the poor at Westminster Abbey, and from the 12th century onwards, the reigning sovereign has distributed these monetary gifts to the "deserving poor" on the Thursday of Holy Week in a ceremony known as the Royal Maundy. The sovereign also used to give food and clothing (later replaced by an allowance), and even washed the recipients' feet - this varied from sovereign to sovereign, the last monarch being James II.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Maundy Thursday is a general communion day; a single Mass is sung, in the evening, and a Host, consecrated for the morrow, is placed in a specially adorned chapel of restfulness. The altars are stripped bare until the Easter vigil mass.

We have incorporated along with our Maundy Service the tradition of remembrance - the Stations of the Cross; intentionally pausing to consider the reality of each “Station.”

From the earliest of days, the followers of Jesus told the story of his passion, death and resurrection.  When pilgrims would come to Jerusalem, they would visit the sites where Jesus walked – the way of sorrows.  These sites became important holy connections with Jesus for many – a dose of reality if you will.  Eventually, following in the footsteps of the Lord, along the way of the cross, became a part of the pilgrimage visit.  The stations, as we know them today, came about when it was no longer easy or even possible to visit these holy sites.  In the 1500's, villages all over Europe started creating "replicas" of the way of the cross, with small shrines commemorating the places along the route in Jerusalem.  Eventually, these shrines became the set of 14 stations we now know and were placed in almost every Catholic Church in the world.

 

The Stations are:

1)     Jesus is Condemned in Pilate’s court;

2)     Jesus carries his cross;

3)     Jesus falls;

4)     Jesus meets his mother;

5)     Simon helps carry the cross;

6)     Veronica wipes Jesus' face;

7)     Jesus falls the second time;

8)     Jesus meets the women;

9)     Jesus falls the third time;

10)    Jesus is stripped;

11)    Jesus is nailed to the cross;

12)    Jesus dies;

13)    Jesus is taken down from the cross; and

14)    Jesus is buried

 

Click the links below to view the guides that we created for our adults and children, to consider the way of sorrows as we would pray through each Station…

 

 

Afterward, we read of his promised hope, Christ rising, and we share communion.

A “station” is a place of transition – crossing over from the average, to the extraordinary; a place of transition from the mundane, to the Holy; meeting with God.

For weeks in advance of Resurrection Sunday, in our Churches, we have been exploring “Holiness,” giving attention to Holy thresholds, intentionally setting apart “time” to be with God. Slowing our hurried lives, to encounter God – just to be with Him.

Now I know that Christmas and Easter (the resurrection) get the most press as being the high points of the Christian calendar, but for me, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday (remembering our Lord’s suffering and death for us), hold the highest sentiment, and love.  So, combining Holy Thursday and Good Friday into one remembrance can be a very emotional thing.  They contain a reflection of our church values; employing many of the things that we hold dear.

First, with our western mindset of consumerism, personal comfort, and living a “have-it-all” lifestyle, we value intentionally stopping life and selfishness to set apart time to think about just what it cost God to set things right.  We gathered together to share our meal first (the fellowship, or laughter), working toward leaving our meeting hopeful, yet contemplative and somber as we intentionally carry the thoughts of Jesus’ pain and cost of loving us undeservedly.

The service is Holy; containing our Ordinances, but probably most importantly, the command to Love each other; being with the marginalized, the hurt, the economically disadvantaged – the poor.  After all, we are all poor – or at least called to it. 

“Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.” (Ro. 12:16)

We live certainly, in Laodicea, today in the US.  With all of our advantages economically to do good, we neglect the poor. Spending time and dollars on our own comforts both personally, and within the church walls.  Simply associating with (becoming true friends with), and taking care of the poor would make us rich in God’s eyes.

It was personally humbling for me to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for All of us in the room; those who have jobs; middle class; those who had no home – who were taken in, and befriended; friends who’s ministry has just begun, being released from jail Monday, Wednesday, helping to give hope to another who was about to give up, and crying with us as we sung “Child of God;” those who can never hold a “normal job,” and folks who find, and are grateful for God’s provision in a dumpster.  Within the context of this simple service, we have everything in common, observing the Stations of the Cross, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, loving each other, and blessing the least of these, in Jesus’ family.

I don’t mean to come off as scolding the church, but we certainly have lost our moorings when church is relegated to “how” we do church, rather than showing our religion by what we do. (Jas. 2:18) 

I was taught in seminary (and have heard many times) that when God mentions something more than once, he is trying drawing our attention to something very important to him.  There are more than 3000 references in the Bible about taking care of the poor and downtrodden.  I am certain that our Lord is pleased with us (the church) when we elevate “the least of these.”

Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto a mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness` sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. "Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, what will it be salted with? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. (Matt. 5:1-13)

** Certain portions above were obtained from, and used by permission of the Christian Resource Institute.

Copyright © 2004-2011 besidestillwaters.net. All rights reserved.