ORDER OF WORSHIP
Maundy Thursday* – April 2, 2015
Call to Worship: Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder
Habakkuk 2:20; Hebrews 12:2
Pastor: The LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.
People: Our God and Father, we pray You would fix our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Prayer of Adoration:
Everlasting Creator and Father, have mercy on us, sinners. If ever we are saved it will be by goodness undeserved and astonishing, not by mercy alone but by abundant mercy, not by grace but by exceeding riches of grace; and such You have revealed, promised, exemplified in thoughts of peace, not of evil. You have devised means to rescue us from sin’s perdition, to restore us to happiness, honor, and safety. We bless You for the everlasting covenant, for the appointment of a Mediator. We rejoice that He failed not, nor was discouraged, but accomplished the work You gave Him to do; and said on the cross, “It is finished.” We exult in the thought that Your justice is satisfied, Your truth established, Your law magnified, and a foundation is laid for our hope. We look to Christ and say; surely He has borne our griefs, carried our sorrows, won our peace, and healed our souls. Justified by His blood we are saved by His life, glorying in His cross, we humbly bow before Him as our Savior and King. Amen.
Song of Adoration: Hark! The Voice of Love and Mercy CCLI# 2793362
Hark, the voice of love and mercy, sounds aloud from Calvary!
See it rends the rocks asunder; shakes the earth and veils the sky!
“It is finished, it is finished,” hear the dying Savior cry.
“It is finished, it is finished,” hear the dying Savior cry.
“It is finished,” o what pleasure do these charming words afford.
Heavenly blessings without measure flow to us from Christ the Lord.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints the dying words record.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints the dying words record.
Finished all the types and shadows of the ceremonial law.
Finished all that God had promised, death and hell no more shall awe.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints from hence your comfort draw.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints from hence your comfort draw.
Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs, join to sing the pleasing theme
Saints of earth and all in heaven join to praise Immanuel’s name.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding lamb!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding lamb!
Scripture Reading: Mark 14:32-42
Song: Man of Sorrows! What a Name Hymn 246 v.1-5
Scripture Reading: Mark 14:43-50
Confession of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy universal church: The communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins: The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Mark 14:66-72
Proclamation of the Word: Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder
John 13:34-35 “A New Commandment”
Song of Preparation: What Wondrous Love Is This? Hymn 261 v.1-3
Prayer of Confession:
We do not presume to come to this Thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy table. But Thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to partake of this sacrament of Thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may walk in newness of life, may grow into His likeness, and may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us.
Assurance of Pardon and Thanksgiving:
Pastor: This is a true saying, and worthy of all people to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Lift up your hearts!
People: We lift them up unto the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Pastor: It is right and good and a joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks unto You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.
People: Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious Name; evermore praising You, and saying:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High.
Words of Institution:
Communion**:
Tenebrae*** (The service of darkness):
Scripture Reading: Mark 15: 33-39
Hymn: Were You There? Hymn 260 v.1-4
* “Maundy Thursday” is a term that has a very rich meaning. “Maundy” is derived from the Latin phrase “Mandatum Novum,” referring to the “new commandment” Jesus gave at the Last Supper for His disciples to love one another. It is a service that historically has commemorated the events that happened in the Upper Room: the washing of the disciples’ feet, the new commandment, and the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
**Professing and baptized members in good standing of a Church in which Jesus Christ is proclaimed as Lord and Savior are warmly invited to join with us in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
***Tonight’s service ends with Tenebrae, or “the service of darkness.” Tenebrae signifies the three hours of darkness that covered the earth while Jesus hung on the cross, as well as the literal darkness of the tomb. Please depart the service in silence.