ORDER OF WORSHIP
- Prelude – What Wondrous Love Is This, Pianissimo Brothers
- Welcome, Call to Worship, & Opening Prayer – Rev. Ohle
- Praise Song – All the Poor & Powerless, Sons & Daughters
- Video – Mara, Wife of Levi, The Skit Guys
- The Last Supper
- Introduction, Rev. Ohle
- Video – The Supper, Worship House Media
- Anthem – What Wondrous Love Is This, Fernando Ortega
- Prayer of Confession & Assurance, Rev. Ohle
- Service of Holy Communion, Rev. Ohle
with Special Music: Communion, feat. Matt & Micah Macauly with Common Hymnal
- Benediction – Rev. Ohle
- Postlude – Communion, feat. Matt & Micah Macauly with Common Hymnal, & Let Us Break Bread Together, Pianissimo Brothers
WELCOME, CALL TO WORSHIP, & OPENING PRAYER
Good evening! I’m Rev. Val Ohle, pastor of Union Grove United Methodist Church and it’s my privilege to welcome you to our Maundy Thursday or “Last Supper” communion service.
A couple of reminders:
- Join us online again tomorrow night, April 2nd, at 7:00 p.m. for our Good Friday “Service of Shadows”.
- We’ll be offline following the Service of Shadows until Easter morning to honor keeping vigil at the tomb. We encourage you to spend Saturday in quiet or silent prayer and meditation.
- Sunday, April 4, there will be a special musical video in lieu of a sunrise service. Our regular online worship will be available by 11:00 a.m.
Now let us begin with this meditation, call to worship, and prayer:
Marked!
The calendar contains special days we all look forward to, like birthdays, Christmas, or vacations. When our special day approaches, we get excited. But excitement over a “special” day is nothing compared to the excitement of a new beginning. God told Moses and Aaron to start a new calendar, to mark time from this point forward. Tear up the old calendars, marred with memories of an ugly past. Mark a new day and a new experience with a sacrificial lamb. Mark the new era with blood-painted doorposts. Mark the day with barbeque rubbed in bitter herbs and flatbread. Eat hurriedly – anticipating that God will move at any moment. Mark this day to remember when God restarted time for you. Mark this day just as God marked you to live freely as a child of God.
This evening’s call to worship is a responsive reading. Please say the words with me as they appear on the screen.
A table is set before us. A feast is prepared for us.
A meal of bread and wine, of meat and bitter herbs.
The Lord calls us to this supper of remembrance.
The Lord calls us to serve and to be served.
As we break the bread and share the cup,
our understanding may fail us.
But we will never forget Christ’s example.
We will never forget the full extent of his love.
We are Jesus’ disciples, following him even as he moves toward the cross.
Even as he wraps a towel around his waist.
Even as he kneels to wash the filth from the feet of his friends.
We are Jesus’ disciples, longing to be faithful even as the night grows dark.
Even as betrayers loom.
Even as the powers that oppose the way of Christ press in around us.
We are Jesus’ disciples, struggling to love others even as Jesus loved us.
We are Jesus’ disciples, gathered here to worship God:
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer.
Amen.
The Last Supper
Tonight’s service begins with a video of Mara, wife of Levi and concludes with the Service of Holy Communion. The service is adapted from a Maundy Thursday Liturgy written by Rev. Nancy C. Townley and is used by permission. Because it includes consecration of the elements as well as Rev. Townley’s works, we will not be posting a transcript. We encourage you to watch the video.
Credits:
- Mara, Wife of Levi Video – from Easter Upside Down, The Skit Guys
- “The Supper” – Worship House Media
Even though we can’t meet together in person, the church still has expenses that need to be met. If you are able, please consider making an offering or paying your tithes through the online service provided by Holston Conference. It’s safe. It’s free. It will help us continue ministry at Union Grove.
Just visit http://www.holston.org/churchoffering, and follow the instruction for making your offering. When asked, please choose Smoky Mountain District and Union Grove UMC Blount – Friendsville.
If you are not comfortable using a debit or credit card online, you can mail your offerings/tithes to:
Smoky Mountain District
Holston Conference
PO Box 905
Alcoa TN 37701-0905
Please be sure to make your checks payable to Smoky Mountain District and write “Union Grove UMC Friendsville” on the memo line!
