Maundy Thursday Service
Thursday, March 28th we will have a Maundy Thursday meal in the Fellowship Hall.
This is instead of Wednesday Night Dinner. All are welcome.
This is instead of Wednesday Night Dinner. All are welcome.
A Passover Meal (Luke 19:29 - 40) Reading
When people celebrate holidays, they often eat special meals together. When kinds of food do you eat at Christmas? At Easter? On your birthday? Jesus and the disciples ate a meal to celebrate the Passover when they were in Jerusalem.
When Jesus and the disciples went into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday, it was time for the Passover festival. Jewish people traveled from all over to Jerusalem. They came to remember how God sent Moses to lead them out of slavery into the Promised Land. An important part of this celebration was the Passover meal.
Jesus sent his friends Peter and John into the city. He said, "Find a place where we can eat the Passover meal together."
"Where do you want us to prepare the meal?" We don't live here," they asked.
"You will meet a man carrying a jar of water," answered Jesus. "He will show you an upstairs guestroom in his house."
Peter and John went to Jerusalem. They saw the man with the water jar. He showed them his upstairs room where the meal could be prepared, just like Jesus had said.
Later, Jesus and all the disciples came to the upstairs room. When the meal was ready, they gathered around the table to eat the Passover meal of lamb, vegetables, and herbs. Jesus looked around the table. He said, "I am glad to eat this Passover meal with you. It might be a long time until we eat together again."
Jesus picked up a cup. He said, "Thank you, God for this food."
Then Jesus picked up a loaf of bread and tore it into pieces. He gave the bread to his disciples. "This bread is like my body," he said. "Remember me when you eat bread with your friends and family."
When everyone had eaten, Jesus lifted the cup again. He said "This cup is like the blood that makes each human live. Remember me when you drink from this cup."
This was a new way to celebrate the Passover. The disciples were confused about some things that Jesus said. But tonight, they were happy to be together.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
When Jesus and the disciples went into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday, it was time for the Passover festival. Jewish people traveled from all over to Jerusalem. They came to remember how God sent Moses to lead them out of slavery into the Promised Land. An important part of this celebration was the Passover meal.
Jesus sent his friends Peter and John into the city. He said, "Find a place where we can eat the Passover meal together."
"Where do you want us to prepare the meal?" We don't live here," they asked.
"You will meet a man carrying a jar of water," answered Jesus. "He will show you an upstairs guestroom in his house."
Peter and John went to Jerusalem. They saw the man with the water jar. He showed them his upstairs room where the meal could be prepared, just like Jesus had said.
Later, Jesus and all the disciples came to the upstairs room. When the meal was ready, they gathered around the table to eat the Passover meal of lamb, vegetables, and herbs. Jesus looked around the table. He said, "I am glad to eat this Passover meal with you. It might be a long time until we eat together again."
Jesus picked up a cup. He said, "Thank you, God for this food."
Then Jesus picked up a loaf of bread and tore it into pieces. He gave the bread to his disciples. "This bread is like my body," he said. "Remember me when you eat bread with your friends and family."
When everyone had eaten, Jesus lifted the cup again. He said "This cup is like the blood that makes each human live. Remember me when you drink from this cup."
This was a new way to celebrate the Passover. The disciples were confused about some things that Jesus said. But tonight, they were happy to be together.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
How did Maundy Thursday get its name?
This video is 1:23 minutes long
Reflect
Jesus ate bread and wine with his friends and told them that this was a very special reminder of who he is. Bread is such an important part of the meal. Many different kinds. I wonder why Jesus said that the bread was his body when he was talking to the disciple. I wonder what that means.
Practice
Bake bread and smell the wonderful smell inside your home. If you don't have time to make an entire recipe, try making bread from a pre-made loaf that only needs to be heated, or baking rolls from a can that you can place on a cookie sheet. Choose a bread that fits your family culture and dietary restrictions and feel free to use an expansive definition of what bread means to you. Let the bread you choose be a symbol of the holy meal Jesus ate with his friends. You can share your bread with your friends and neighbors.
Prayer
When we smell the wonderful scent of baking bread or eat a freshly baked loaf, may we remember that special mea; Jesus had with his disciples. May we remember that, just as Jesus ate around a table with his disciples, he is near to us too. Amen.
Videos
Holy Moly
This video is 6:27 minutes long
Saddleback Kids
The Story of Easter (The Last Supper)
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Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
This video is 2:35 minutes long
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Jesus Forgives Peter
This video is 5:59 minutes long
Godly Play
Women Anoints Jesus for Burial
This video is 5:16 minutes long
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Maundy Thursday
This video is 5:34 minutes long
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Songs
Reflect, Practice, and Prayer Source
About the Book

How do you share the deep mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Resurrection with children? Parents, guardians, teachers, and ministers will find dozens of fun and easy practices for celebrating the Easter season with our kids. The practices and seasonal prayers are grouped into chapters titled Ash Wednesday, Symbols, Lenten Prayers, Lenten Refraining, Lenten Acts of Service, Holy Week, Easter Vigil and Easter Day, and the Season of Resurrection. Smith also offers theological notes guiding parents on addressing the violence of the crucifixion and the meaning of Jesus' death.
Author of Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection

Traci Smith is an ordained minister, mother of three, and author. Traci's passion is helping families find times for connection and spiritual nourishment amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. What began as a quest to help her own family has provided valuable insight for thousands of others. Traci believes faith practices should be fun, easy to fit into daily life, and accessible to all.