Prelude - “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” - Jeff Perks Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema Call to Worship Leader: Welcome to you who call upon the name of Christ. We gather tonight to recall the story of the night Jesus was betrayed. Are you prepared to come to the feast of Jesus whose life was poured out for you? People: By the grace of God, we are. Leader: Are you able to watch with Jesus at prayer in the garden - indeed, to struggle yourselves to be in unity with God's will for you? People: By the grace of God, we are. Leader: Then let us praise God, even in this hour of darkness! People: God of all grace and steadfast love, greatly is your name to be praised in all the earth. Bring us to this feast of remembrance with open hearts! Hymn - “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” - #101 Prayer of Confession - Rev. Dana Seiler Forgive us, Lord, for forgetting your sacrifice and for thinking your grace is cheap. Forgive us, Lord, for using the cross as a trinket, forgetting the agony it represents. Forgive us, Lord, for taking our worship for granted, forgetting the struggle that has assured its freedom. Forgive us, Lord, for being calloused to human cruelty, forgetting that every victim is a creature of God. Forgive us, Lord, for being nonchalant about injustice, forgetting that it still nails innocence to the cross. Forgive us, Lord, for thinking that sacrifice is obsolete,forgetting that we still contend against the powers of darkness. Receive our prayers offered in all humility, as we remember and honor Christ our Lord who prays for us still, Amen. Assurance of Pardon Song - “Come As You Are” - Reed Conley Prayer for Illumination Old Testament Reading - Exodus 12:1-5, 11-14 Special Music - “The Lord’s Prayer” by Malotte - Ryan Harrison New Testament Reading - John 13:31-35 Meditation Anthem - “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” by Martin - Unity Choir Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper Hymn - “Ah Holy Jesus” - #93 Stripping of the Chancel The service for Maundy Thursday evening concludes with the stripping of the sanctuary. The practice dates from the seventh century and originally served the practical purpose of cleaning the sanctuary in preparation for Easter, when all things are made new. In time, however, the practice became ceremonial in its own right. In silence, communion vessels, tablecloths, pulpit and lectern hangings, and all other decorative and liturgical objects are sensitively removed, thus dramatizing the desolation, abandonment, and darkness of the passion and death of our Lord. The sanctuary remains bare, through Good Friday, until the beginning of the Easter celebration. Ordinarily there is neither a blessing nor a postlude at the conclusion of the service. The church remains in semi-darkness and all worshippers exit in silence. Symbolically, Christ, stripped of his power and glory, is now in the hands of his captors. (From the “Book of Common Worship” of the PCUSA.) Depart in silence.