The service booklets in ODT format Manudy Thursday – Footwashing – A4 Booklet and PDF format Manudy Thursday – Footwashing – A4 Booklet.

We do this service in the dark, with black-light (UV Lights) and we wash feet with tonic water (the quinine makes it glow). We use white writing on a black background in the service sheet so that it glows. It takes 3 of the 2400watt UV lights, or 3 of the newer stage LED UV Lights to light up an area of about 5 x 7m.

Welcome

Welcome everyone to this special service. Today we are going to be worshipping God through music, by washing each others feet and through remembering Jesus’ last meal with his disciples through the sharing of bread and grape juice. We call this communion, and Jesus did it after sharing a meal with his disciples, as we have just done.

Song – I Have decided to follow Jesus

Foot washing

On that night before he died Jesus took a towel and some water
and washed his disciple’s feet.

In those days the roadways were dusty and it
was a mark of respect to have a servant wash
the guest’s feet, so in doing this for his friends,
Jesus was acting as a servant.

In remembrance of that, we now wash each others feet.

Confession and Absolution

In the Lord’s Supper, Christ is with us. The bread will remind us of the body of Christ. The cups will remind us of the blood of Christ. As we prepare to receive this great gift, let us pray and admit to God that we have not always done what He wanted us to do.

Prayer of Confession

God of love,
we confess that we have sinned against you.

We have not always loved others as you wanted us to.

We have not always obeyed your Ten Commandments.

There have been times when we have been selfish.

There have been times when we have thought mean and angry things.

Forgive us, dear Lord.

Forgive us and help us to live the lives you want us to live.

In your name we pray, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

The Bible reminds us that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that who ever believes in Him would have eternal life.

This is the Good News of the Gospel – God loves us and forgives us.

INTERCESSIONS

Families to lead us in informal prayer…

After our prayers..

Together we pray as Jesus taught us:

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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

COMMUNION

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

This is called the Lord’s Supper.
It is also called Communion.

In a moment I will offer you a piece of bread,
you may take that bread and eat it.

We do this because Jesus asked us to remember him,
As we eat it, we remember that Jesus is with us and that we are not alone.

We remember God’s presence with us through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Then I will give you a sip of a cup of grape juice.
Jesus first gave his friends wine because they did not have grape juice then.

This grape juice is a reminder that Jesus died to forgive and free us to be with God.

Taize Chant

Jesus, remember me, when you come into your Kingdom.

Great Thanksgiving

Holy God, with thanksgiving we take this bread and this cup.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us that this Bread and Cup,
that reminds us of your presence and love,
may draw us together here as your body today.

Unite us in faith,
encourage us with hope,
inspire us to love,
that we may serve as your faithful disciples. Amen.

On that night, Jesus took some bread in his hands
and gave thanks for it.

Bless the bread

He broke the bread and handed it to his disciples.

Then he said, “This is my body, which is given for you.
Eat this as a way of remembering me!”

After the meal he took a cup of wine in his hands.

Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you,
and with it God makes his new agreement,
so that all people will have their sins forgiven.

Bless the grape juice

Here and now, with this bread and grape juice,
we celebrate your great acts to free us,
ever present and living in Jesus Christ,
crucified and risen,
who was and is and is to come.

Amen! Come Lord Jesus.

Therefore with this bread and grape juice we recall your great goodness to us.

Send your Holy Spirit, that we who receive Christ’s body may indeed be the body of Christ,
and we who share his cup draw strength from the one true vine.

Confront us with your justice, and make us one in the body of Christ
with all who share your gifts of love.

Through Christ,
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,
we worship you,
Creator God. Amen.

As the disciples recognised Jesus amongst them when bread was broken,
so we now remember Jesus’ presence with us.

Silence is kept

The bread is broken

Christ’s body was broken for us on the cross.

Christ is the bread of life.

His blood was shed for our forgiveness.

Christ is risen from the dead.

We will now give the bread and grape juice to each other as we pass them around the circle.

This bread is the body of Christ given for you.
This grape juice is Christ’s forgiveness poured out for you.

Prayer After Communion

Lord, we have come to your holy table and have eaten the bread and wine which reminds us of your love and sacrifice.

Help us to remember your promises and share them with the people we love. Amen.

This little light of mine

Blessing

May the Holy Spirit draw you closer to knowing Jesus, that you may follow him closer, and grow in your faith. Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace to be disciples of Jesus.

Amen. We go in the name of Christ.