“Last Supper” • Luke 22:7-13, 14-20 “Last Blessings” • John 13: 34; 14:1, 6, 16, 18, 23, 27 — Worship Service for In-Home or Remote Group Use

supperatemmuas liturgy: (c) Kathryn M Schreiber; artwork: (c) He Qi “The Last Supper”

PDF online: https://ncnc.dreamhosters.com/resources-and-information-to-respond-to-covid-19/

Worship Note

Instead of observing a traditional Palm Sunday-Holy Week-Easter this year, some communities are delaying Easter celebrations until they can physically reunite as the Body of Christ. This service focuses upon Jesus’ Last Supper and final blessings upon His beloved disciples. It is specially designed for remote worship and can be used anytime Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday 4/5-11/2020.

Preparations

You may wish to arrange to worship distantly with others at the same time.
If observing a remote Holy Communion, please alert participants ahead of time.
Read through this service before beginning, especially for Holy Communion items.
A “Christ Candle” can be any sort of candle or object which represents Christ’s presence.
Choose songs to sing (our suggestions or your favorites). Assemble what you’ll need to sing.
Ensure an uninterrupted place to worship.
Decorate the space to welcome God’s presence, as we do at church.

Time for Children

“Out of the Bag: Ritual” on YouTube channel: Kathryn Schreiber

Worship Service

Please adapt to make this worship service your own. Your intention is what is important.

We Gather

Call to Worship (unison)

We have not made all the arrangements

We normally would have made,

But God will provide.

We can’t do all the things

We usually do this time of year,

But God will make a way.

We aren’t sure how to do this;

We have never done anything like this before,

But God will show us how.

As we begin this Holy Week

which is a very different Holy Week,

may we set our attention

not upon what we have done in the past,

but upon what God is doing right now. Amen.

Light the Christ Candle

Song for Welcoming Christ

Suggestion: “Kum ba Yah” – by Marvin Frey (#590 Chalice)

We Unburden

Naming Our New Reality

If you are with others in person or via devices please discuss the past week as well as the coming week. If you are alone, speak out loud to God. How are you dealing with sheltering in place and changes to this year’s Holy Week and Easter? What has been hardest? What has been most surprising? What has been most uplifting? What is bringing hope? Be honest. Name your truth no matter what it is. God is listening.

Silent Prayer

In the quietude of your soul simply be in God’s presence, just as you are. Your mind will wander. Thoughts will come up. Be kind to yourself. Temporarily let go of following your thoughts. Sit in God’s presence, possibly repeating “Messiah” or “Teacher” or “Jesus.”

Act of Unburdening

Place pebbles or small items at the base of the Christ Candle thinking or speaking whatever you wish to offer to God for release. These “releases” need not be named. The soul knows what to give to God and God knows what to receive.

Blessing of Grace (unison)

Let us pray:

Before we uttered a word,

before we put a label on our discomfort

You, O Lord, knew what we were carrying

and called us forward to release

awaiting this moment

when You could fully unburden us.

Merciful One, Thank You. Thank You. Amen.

We Prepare

Gospel Reading: St Luke 22:7-13

Note: Scripture readings are set up for multiple voices, but can be used however is best for your household. Anyone can lead the celebration of Holy Communion. Ordained status is not required.

The first scripture reading, from the Gospel of St Luke 22:7-13 (NRSV), has Jesus preparing for the Passover meal in Jerusalem. (This narrative is also found in Matthew 26:17-19 and Mark 14:12-16. In the Gospel of St John the Last Supper is not set during Passover.)

Storyteller:

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread,

on which the Passover Lamb had to be sacrificed.

So Jesus sent Peter and John.

Jesus:

“Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.”

Disciples Peter and John:

“Where do you want us to make preparations for it?”

Jesus:

“Listen: When you have entered Jerusalem,

a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.

Follow him into the house he enters

and say to the owner of the house:

‘The Teacher asks you: “Where is the guest room,

where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’

The owner of the house will show you a large room upstairs,

already furnished.

Make preparations for us there.”

Storyteller:

So Peter and John went

and found everything as Jesus had told them;

and they prepared the Passover meal.

Storyteller:

The very first observance of the Last Supper

was filled with mystery, faith, and household generosity.

This year, as we shelter in place,

we, too, have an opportunity to embody the Last Supper

with mystery, faith, and household generosity.

Notes: If you have not already, prepare for your in-home observance of Holy Communion. For health safety, please use individual servings (one cup, one plate) for each person. An additional set may be put out to represent those not physically present. Place cups and plates in the center of the table in reach of all participating. Any beverage and food can be used, though juice/wine and bread/cracker are traditional.

Holy Communion is always a gathering of souls, not just bodies. Who would you like to invite to share this meal? Maybe, you’d like to extend a general invitation to gentle souls who would like to gather with you? Before proceeding, please call their names or offer a spoken word of invitation. We never celebrate this blessed meal alone.

We Share

Song for Sharing the Last Supper

Suggestion: “Be Known to Us in the Breaking of Bread”

– J Montgomery, JB Dykes (#398 Chalice)

Be known to us in breaking bread, but do not then depart;

Savior, abide with us, and spread thy table in our heart.

There sup with us in love divine; thy body and thy blood,

That living bread, that heavenly wine, be our immortal food.

Second Gospel Reading: St Luke 22:14-20

Notes: Continuing with the Gospel of St Luke 22:14-20 (NRSV) we join Jesus and the disciples in partaking of the Last Supper. Jesus reinterprets the Jewish Passover recalling God’s faithful liberation of the Hebrew slaves from bondage in Egypt by offering himself for the liberation of all peoples. (Also found in Matthew 26:26-29 and Mark 14:22-25. In the Gospel of St John the Last Supper is not set during Passover.)

Storyteller:

When the hour came,

Jesus took his place at the table,

and the apostles with him.

Jesus:

“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you

before I suffer;

for I tell you, I will not eat it

until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Storyteller:

Then Jesus took a cup, and after giving thanks he said:

Jesus:

“Take this and divide it among yourselves;

for I tell you that from now on

I will not drink of the fruit of the vine

until the kingdom of God comes.”

Everyone takes a cup. Do not drink.

Thank God for this cup, this observation of the Last Supper.

Storyteller:

Then Jesus took a loaf of bread,

and when he had given thanks,

he broke it and gave it to them.

Everyone takes a plate with food on it. Do not eat.

Thank God for this food, these eternal gifts from Jesus Christ.

Jesus:

“This is my body, which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

Everyone eats from their plates.

Storyteller:

And Jesus did the same with the cup after supper, saying:

Jesus:

“This cup that is poured out for you

is the new covenant in my blood.”

Everyone drinks from their cups.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Holy God Who Always Provides,

We are not in our beloved Sanctuary, yet You are here.

We are not physically assembled with our dear friends, yet You are here.

We have not shared a common loaf and cup, yet You are here.

May the deep blessing of this different Holy Communion

recalibrate our souls to You,

reminding us that it is Your eternal love

which casts the bonds of faith

between this world and the next. Amen.

We Pray

Prayers of Petition

Lift up your joys and concerns in prayer. If your community shares prayer requests or a Pastoral Prayer, include them at this time.

Song for Prayer or Special Music

Suggestion: “In Remembrance of Me” – R Courtney, B Red

verse 2 — change “open the door” to “open your heart” (Chalice #403)

The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

Imagine the sanctuary where you usually worship. Let the memory of your Beloved Community fill your soul and let us pray together the prayer Jesus taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We Give Thanks

Gratitude Offering

Whether with others or alone, use this time to name the blessings experienced this past week and those encountered this very day.

Song of Gratitude

Suggestions: “Thank You, Lord” – African American (#531 Chalice)

We Continue in Hope

Gospel Readings: St John 13: 34; 14:1, 6, 16, 18, 23, 27

In the Gospel of St John Jesus’ last meal with the Disciples is not set at Passover. It is part of a series of physical and spiritual blessings, including the beautiful quotes below. If you are alone, please image your soul fiends with you as you read the “ALL” parts.

Storyteller:

After Jesus had washed the feet of his Disciples

and shared a meal with them,

He offered beloved words of instruction and blessing,

included these comforting affirmations: