maundy thursday-the last gift

Group, Mar/Apr 2005 by Case, Steve

A YOUTH-LED WORSHIP SERVICE

Maundy (or "holy") Thursday is one of the oldest observances of Holy Week, and it's the birth of the communion service as we know it. This worship service is all about mood-your teenagers will serve a meal to your congregation in silence, then lead them in a celebration of communion. They'll literally play the role of servants in this service. Some of them will say things and read things, and there will be music playing in the background, but the goal is for them to be as silent and unobtrusive as possible.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

* For the meal, you'll need to serve a thick soup and bread of various types for all in your congregation. You'll need paper bowls, plastic spoons, and cups for water.

* Set up for this service by placing tables throughout your chosen meeting room.

* For the service, you'll need a boombox or sound system, many candles, a small dish of olive oil for each table, wine or grape juice (depending on your denomination), and a place card for each table that reads "Silence Please."

Special Note: You'll be asking your congregation to stay silent throughout the mealtime during this service. The meal will go fast when no one can talk, so don't plan a lot of time for it. Be aware that no matter how well you communicate the "silence please" rule, some will still want to chat during the entire service.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

Since there's no speaking during the meal, use music to help set the mood.

* If you like, put on a John Michael Talbot CD and just let it play. The John Michael Talbot Collect/on (Sparrow) is a two-CD set that would work perfectly.

If you'd like to try some newer music, I suggest:

* "Control," "Peculiar People," and "OK" by Mute Math, from this new band's debut EP titled Reset (Word).

* Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel" by Lost and Found, from the CD The Lost and Found Christmas Album, "Your Memory" (the acoustic version) from the Something Different album, and "Fruit We Bear" from the Something album (all on Limb Records).

* Obsession" and "You're Everything" by the David Crowder Band, from the Can You Hear Us? album, "Deliver Me" from the Illuminate album, and "All I Can Say" from the All I Can Say album (all on Sparrow).

THE SERVICE

Do this service at night or in an enclosed room you can darken. It's most effective if you use candles as the only light in the room.

Play your music selections quietly during the meal. Have your students dress in black and prepare them to serve the needs of those attending the service. At the end of the meal, have your kids bring out several large cups of juice or wine (depending on your denomination) and place them on the various tables. Then they should scatter and sit at the tables (at least one per table). Have student leaders lead the communion service.

Student Leader #1 should say something like: Let's pray. Father God, on the night before your son offered himself up as a sacrifice for us all, he gathered with his friends in a dark room and shared one last meal with them. We thank you that we may gather here...now...in this place, and share that same meal in remembrance of your son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Student Leader #2 should say something like: As you hear these words from the book of Exodus, understand that they were part of the service that Jesus led on the night before he died. Understand that, to Jesus and his friends, the service was a celebration. Jesus knew it was the last time he would ever hear these words. Listen now to Exodus 12:1-14. (Read the passage from your favorite translation.)

Student Leader #3 should say something like: As you hear the words of the psalmist, understand that this psalm was most likely not written as a song or poem like many of David's psalms. This one was more of a lesson, passed down from generation to generation. Listen now to Psalm 78. (Read the paraphrase of the psalm below, or use your favorite translation.)

Psalm 78

Think of these lessons as the good stuff.

Like the Ben & Jerry's hidden in the back of the freezer.

Like warm cookies instead of the store brand.

Enjoy these lessons the same way.

We hear stories about God from our parents, our vacation Bible school teachers, and our youth ministers.

They learned these lessons from their parents, their vacation Bible school teachers, and their youth ministers.

Someday you'll be parents, teachers, and ministers, and you'll need to teach these lessons to your children and students.

That's how God works.

One generation to the next.

Maybe we'll get lucky and one of these generations will get the idea.

God is tired of dealing with the ungrateful.

He provides bread and they ask, "Where's the butter?"

He provides water and they ask for ice.

We seem to have a history of that problem.

Generations ago God sent preacher after preacher.

Prophet after prophet.

And no one listened.

So God got angry and took his presents back.

They complained.

He forgave.

They screwed up.

He gave them a second chance.

And so it went, day after day for millennia.

Somewhere in there God called on David.

David the giant killer.