The Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing,
Agapé Meal, and Stripping of the Altar
Maundy Thursday
April 6, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Celebrant: The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda
Deacon and Preacher: The Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Hymn #331: Now, My Tongue, The Mystery Telling
1 Now, my tongue the mystery telling Of the glorious Body sing, And the Blood, all price excelling, Which the Gentiles' Lord and King, Once on earth among us dwelling, Shed for this world's ransoming. 2 Given for us and condescending To be born for us below, He with men in converse blending Dwelt, the seed of truth to sow, Till He closed with wondrous ending His most patient life of woe. 3 That last night at supper lying, Mid the Twelve, His chosen band, Jesus, with the Law complying, Keeps the Feast its rites demand; Then, more precious food supplying, Gives Himself with His own hand. 4 Word-made-flesh the bread He taketh By His word His Flesh to be; Wine His sacred Blood he maketh, Though the senses fail to see; Faith, alone the true heart waketh To behold the mystery. 5 Therefore we, before Him bending, This great Sacrament revere; Types and shadows have their ending, For the newer rite is here; Faith, our outward sense befriending, Makes our inward vision clear. 6 Glory let us give and blessing To the Father and the Son, Honour, thanks, and praise addressing, While eternal ages run; Ever too His love confessing Who from Both with Both is One.
Words: Att. Thomas Acquinas; ver. Hymnal 1940, rev. Copyright © 1985 Church Publishing Inc. Music: Grafton, melody from Chants ordinaires de l’Office Divin; harm. Songs of Praise. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #28055. All rights reserved.
The Penitential Order
[BCP, p. 351]
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
His mercy endures for ever.
The Decalogue (Ten Commandments)
[BCP, p. 350]
Hear the commandments of God to his people:
I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage. You shall have no other gods but me. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not make for yourself any idol. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God. Amen. Lord have mercy.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Amen. Lord have mercy.
Honor your father and your mother. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not commit murder. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not commit adultery. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not steal. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not be a false witness. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. Amen. Lord have mercy.
The Comfortable Words
[BCP, p. 351]
The Celebrant reads:
Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31
Confession of Sin
[BCP, p. 352]
The Deacon says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Deacon and People
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
LEV #235: Lord, Have Mercy
[See also BCP, p. 356]
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy
[Music: Lena McLin, Eucharist of the Soul, Copyright © 1972 General Words and Music Co. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #94576. All rights reserved.]
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 169]
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. [Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.] This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
[BCP, p. 759-760]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, * because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
10 How shall I repay the Lord * for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.
12 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the Lord *
is the death of his servants.
14 O Lord, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the Lord’s house, * in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
A Reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (11:23-26)
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn #577: God Is Love, and Where True Love Is (Verses 1-2)
REFRAIN
God is love and where true love is God himself is there.
1 Here is Christ we gather love of Christ our calling.
Christ our love is with us gladness be his greeting.
Let us fear and love him Holy God eternal.
Loving him let each love Christ in one another. [Refrain]
2 When we Christians gather members of one body.
Let there be in us no discord but one spirit.
Banish now be anger strife and every quarrel.
Christ our God be always present here among us. [Refrain]
[Words: Latin; tr. James Quinn, alt. Copyright © 1969 James Quinn, SJ, printed by permission of Geoffrey Chapman, a division of Cassell Ltd. Music: Ubi caritas (Murray), by permission by A. Gregory Murray. Copyright © The Trustees of Downside Abbey. Used with permission under One License #30137650]
The People stand, as they are able, for the reading of the Gospel.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (13:1-17, 31b-35)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, `Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Hymn #577: God Is Love, and Where True Love Is (Verse 3)
3 Grant us love's fulfillment joy with all the blessed.
When we see your face O Savior in its glory
Shine on us, O purest light of all creation.
Be our bliss while endless ages sing your praises. [Refrain]
REFRAIN
God is love and where true love is God himself is there.
[Words: Veni, Creator Spiritus; attr. Rabanus Maurus; tr. Edward Caswell, alt. Music: Lambillotte, LM; with repeat; Louis Lambillotte, SJ; harm. Richard Prouix. Harm. Copyright © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #106680. All rights reserved.]
The Sermon
by the Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis, Deacon
The Washing of Feet
[The Book of Occasional Services 2018, p. 82]
Fellow servants of our Lord Jesus Christ: On the night before his death, Jesus set an example for his disciples by washing their feet, an act of humble service. He taught that strength and growth in the life of the Kingdom of God come not by power, authority, or even miracle, but by such lowly service.
Therefore, I invite you who share in the royal priesthood of Christ, to come forward, that we may recall whose servant we are by following the example of our Master. Come remembering his admonition that what will be done for us is also to be done by us to others, for “a servant is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
The presider and assistants wash the feet of the first persons to come forward, and those whose feet are washed then, in turn, wash the feet of those who come after them, thereby giving all the opportunity to follow the example and command of Jesus.
AAHH #674: Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters
1 Wash, Wash O God, our sons and daughters, Where your cleansing waters flow. Number them among your people; Bless as Christ blessed long ago. Weave them garments bright and sparkling; Compass them with love and light. Fill, anoint them; send Your Spirit, Holy dove and heart’s delight. 2 We who bring them long for nurture; By your milk may we be fed. Let us join Your feast, partaking Cup of blessing, living bread. God, renew us, guide our footsteps; Free from sin and all its snares, One with Christ in living, dying, By Your Spirit, children, heirs. 3 Oh, how deep Your holy wisdom! Unimagined, all Your ways! To Your name be glory, honor! With our lives we worship, praise! We Your people stand before You, Water washed and Spirit-born. By Your grace, our lives we offer, Recreate us, God transform.
[Text: Ruth Duck, Copyright © 1989, The United Methodist Publishing House. Tune: Beach Spring, attr. To B.F. White; harm. By Ronald A Nelson, Copyright © 1978, Lutheran Book of Worship].
The Foot-Washing Anthem
[BCP, pp. 274-275]
The Lord Jesus, after he had supped with his disciples and had washed their feet, said to them, "Do you know what I, your Lord and Master, have done to you? I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done."
Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.
Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
By this shall the world know that you are my disciples: That you have love for one another.
Hymn S106: The Prayers of the People, Form I
[See also BCP, p. 383]
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."
For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our Frank our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For Joseph our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the City of Savannah, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel on land, on water, in the air, or through outer space, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our Parish Prayer List; let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Defend us, deliver us, and in your compassion protect us, O Lord, by your grace. Lord, have mercy.
In the communion of Blessed Matthew and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God. To you, O Lord our God.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
[Music: Copyright © 1985, Church Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #28267. All rights reserved.]
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Parish Announcements
Holy Week & Easter Schedule: Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, and ends with Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. See below for the complete worship schedule:
April 7, Good Friday: Stations of the Cross at 12:00 noon
April 7, Good Friday: Good Friday Worship with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament at 6:00 PM
April 8, Holy Saturday: Holy Saturday Worship at 9:30 AM; Decorating the Church for Easter to follow
April 9, Easter Day: Ecumenical Easter Sunrise at 6:00 AM in Butler Presbyterian Memorial Church, 603 W. Victory Dr, Savannah, GA 31405
April 9, Easter Day: Holy Communion with Choir at 9:30 AM
The Offertory
[BCP, p. 376]
Giving to St. Matthew's:
Mail us a check or money order at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1401 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415; OR
Make a secure online gift to St. Matthew’s and/or automate future gifts at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now; OR
Text “stmattsav” to 73256 to make a secure online donation through your phone.
NOTE: Donations made online (#2 or #3) through Realm incur a processing fee of about 2.5%. Please consider adding an additional 2.5% to your online gift to cover these costs.
“I appeal to you, sisters and brothers, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” [Romans 12:1]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
LEV #28: Down at the Cross
1 Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried;
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name.
REFRAIN:
Glory to His name. Glory to His name!
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name.
2 I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name. [Refrain]
3 O, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His name. [Refrain]
4 Come to this fountain so rich and sweet;
Cast your poor soul at the Savior’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His name. [Refrain]
[Words: Elisha A. Hoffman. Music: John H. Stockton. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #SSS167. All rights reserved].
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Circling through earth so all may grow
Vanquishing fear so all may give
Widening grace so all may live
Amen.
[Words: Eric H. F. Law, Copyright © 2015 Eric H. F. Law. Music: Old 100th, attributed to Louis Bourgeois, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission from Kaleidoscope Institute. All rights reserved.]
Eucharistic Prayer A
[BCP, p. 361]
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. For our sins he was lifted high upon the cross, that he might draw the whole world to himself; and, by his suffering and death, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who put their trust in him.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
LEV #255:
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
[Music: Grayson Warren Brown, A Mass for Soulful People, Copyright © 1979 North American Liturgy Resources, Published by OCP. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #83420. All rights reserved.]
The people stand or kneel.
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
LEV #258:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
[Music: Marjorie Gabriel-Burrow, Copyright © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc / Royal School of Church Music. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE#45465. All rights reserved.]
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
LEV #264: The Lord’s Prayer
[BCP, p. 364]
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to sing,
Our Father, which 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
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
[Music: Albert Hay Malotte, arr. Fred Bock, Copyright © 1934 (renewed) G. Schirmer, Inc. All rights reserved.]
The Fraction Anthems
[BCP, p. 364, 407]
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!
Therefore let us keep the feast!
LEV #270:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.
[Music: Marjorie Landmark-DeLewis, Copyright © 1990 Church Publishing, Inc., Marjorie Landsmark-DeLewis. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #21221. All rights reserved.]
Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
LEV#155: This Is My Body
This is my body given up for you, this is my blood poured out for you. This is my body given up for you, this is my blood poured out for you. Body of Christ. Amen. Blood of Christ. Amen. Body of Christ. Amen. Blood of Christ. Amen.
[Words: Mary, Cause of Our Joy. Copyright © 1985, Augsburg Fortress. Music: Edward V. Bonnemere. Copyright © Amity Music Corp. Copyright © 1985, Augsburg Fortress Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #53415. All rights reserved].
LEV#74: Jesu, Jesu
Refrain
Jesu, Jesu,
Fill us with Your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from You.
1 Kneels at the feet of His friends,
Silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them. [Refrain]
2 Neighbors are rich men and poor,
Neighbors are black men and white,
Neighbors are nearby and far away. [Refrain]
3 These are the ones we should serve,
These are the ones we should love.
All these are neighbors to us and You. [Refrain]
4 Loving puts us on our knees,
Serving as though we are slaves,
This is the way we should live with You. [Refrain]
5 Kneel at the feet of our friends,
Silently washing their feet,
This is the way we should live with you. [Refrain]
[Music: John 13:1-17, adapt. Tom Colvin. Music: Ghana Folk Song; adapt. Tom Colvin; harm. Charles H. Webb. Copyright 1969 Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Used with permission].
The Post-Communion Prayer
[BCP, p. 366; Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]
Let us pray.
For In-Person Worshippers:
Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Online Worshippers and Those Receiving Spiritual Communion:
Faithful God, in the wonder of your wisdom and love you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels, and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life. Though we cannot consume now these gifts of bread [and wine], we thank you that we have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence, the forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we embody your desire and be renewed for your service through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Hymn #164: Alone Thou Goest Forth
1 Alone thou goest forth, O Lord, In sacrifice to die; Is this Thy sorrow naught to us Who pass unheeding by? 2 Our sins, not thine, Thou bearest, Lord; Make us Thy sorrow feel, Till through our pity and our shame Love answers love’s appeal. 3 This is earth’s darkest hour, but Thou dost light and life restore; Then let all praise be given Thee Who livest ever more. 4 Grant us with thee to suffer pain that, As we share this hour, Thy Cross may bring us to Thy joy And resurrection power.
[Words: Peter Abelard; tr. F. Bland Tucker. Music: Bangor, from A complete melody or harmony of Zion. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #05178. All rights reserved].
The Agapé Meal
The following blessings are recited by the Presider at the beginning of the meal, all standing.
Over Wine
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe. You create the fruit of the vine; and on this night you have refreshed us with the cup of salvation in the Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.
Over Bread
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe. You bring forth bread from the earth; and on this night you have given us the bread of life in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ. As grain scattered upon the earth is gathered into one loaf, so gather your Church in every place into the kingdom of your Son. To you be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Over the Other Foods
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe. You have blessed the earth to bring forth food to satisfy our hunger. Let this food strengthen us in the fast that is before us, that following our Savior in the way of the cross, we may come to the joy of his resurrection. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.
During the meal or toward its close, a person appointed reads the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel according to John. The agapé concludes with a blessing or dismissal.
A Reading from the Gospel According to John (17:1-26)
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
“I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”
The Solemn Prayer over the People
[Adapted from The Book of Occasional Services 2018, pp. 10-11]
The Deacon says
Let us bow down before the Lord.
The Celebrant prays
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Let us go forth in the name of Christ!
Thanks be to God!
Reserving the Sacrament and Stripping the Altar
After the meal, the Altar Party processes to the Sanctuary reverently carrying the sacrament to the Tabernacle immediately before the Stripping of the Altar.
The People are invited to join the Altar Party and the Altar Guild in Stripping the Altar to prepare for Good Friday. These actions will be done in silence, at the direction of the Rector.
The Parish Prayer List
PRAYER LIST: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Delois Groover, Marva Harris, Tracy Outing Hundley, David Jones, Della Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Jeannette Outing, Jewel Wheeler, Alfreda Wright, Alton Wright, and Jewel Wheeler
BIRTHDAYS: Rashad Taylor, Sr. (4/3), Charlotte Blue (4/6), and Duane Johnson (4/7)
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: The Rev. Charles & Evalena Hoskins (4/1) and Jonathan & Jackie Newton (4/6)
RECENT DEATHS: Cassandra Grant Brown (4/1/23)
May the souls of all the departed rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.
Permissions and Credits: This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), Enriching Our Worship 1 (EOW1), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), and other sources cited. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.
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