Celebrating Maundy Thursday at home
A simple liturgy for an evening meal
Maundy Thursday
Opening words:
This is the night when our Lord Jesus Christ shared a last supper with His friends.
This is the night when we shall remember Him and all that He has done for us,
bringing to mind our calling as His friends, committed to obeying His commands.
Stand around the table, light a flame
Jesus said, I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
Light the candle, turn lights back on/up
Hold a glass of water
Jesus said, I am the water of life. Whoever drinks of the water that I give shall never thirst.
Drink some water
Take a pinch of salt, or put some salt in your palm
Jesus said, You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Taste the salt. Any left is to be thrown over the left shoulder
Sit at the table
Reading: Exodus 12.1-11
Hold some bread (or plate of food)
Jesus said, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Taste the bread (or food)
Reading: Luke 22.7-17
Hold a glass of wine (or any other drink, eg diluted fruit juice, but not water!)
Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Taste the wine/drink
Eat meal
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26
Take a moment to remember - either privately or out loud - something about Jesus or what He means to you.
A closing prayer
God our Father,
your Son Jesus Christ was obedient to the end
and drank the cup prepared for Him:
may we who have remembered Him this night
carry that memory with us all our days
and receive the grace enabling us
to love one another as He has loved us.
Amen
Stand for a final toast,
holding the glass of wine/other drink
Next year in Jerusalem!