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Forgiveness

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Crossroads

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Leader’s guide

a serviCe For Maundy thursday

at the

Crossroads

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By Ted Schroeder. Art and design: Lindsay Galvin. © 2016 Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

Maundy thursday: Forgiveness index

Notes/Ordering Information ...................................................................................................... 5-8

Newsletter/Bulletin Notices ............................................................................................................ 9

Order of Service .......................................................................................................................... 10-13

Complete Script for Worship Leaders ................................................................................... 14-22

Scripture Readings .....................................................................................................................23-24

Children’s Message .......................................................................................................................... 25

Sermon Dialog with David ......................................................................................................26-29

Prayers ..........................................................................................................................................30-32

Music Guide ................................................................................................................................33-40

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about “at the Crossroads”Many of those involved in the story of the Passion of Christ came to a crossroads and had to decide which

way to go. Some chose well, some did not, and the stories of each of these experiences at various crossroads help us to know what to do and what not to do when we encounter similar crossroads in our own lives. In the end, each service in the series reveals in some way how Christ and his cross lead us to decide the path of God’s will

for us.

For each service the kit contains: sample bulletins with complete orders of service • sermons dialogs for two readers • prayers • music for the accompanist and contemporary music song suggestions.

ordering inForMation

Additional resources are available from Creative Communications for the Parish. Contact us for current pricing and availability. Call us at 1-800-325-9414. Or visit our website:

www.creativecommunications.com.

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Bulletins For Maundy Thursday Kit:

Code CRDC (printed) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDG (blank) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDM (blank) • 8.5” x 14” bulletins

A Complete Series For The Weeks Of Lent Is Available:

Those who desire may supplement this service with other services for all of Lent. They are available as a kit and include all the Leader’s Guide features described above. The kit includes a CD-ROM (Mac/

PC) in RTF format with text of services and of bulletins, plus PDF files of the kit, and PowerPoint documents for use on screens. Kit Code CRDU

Ash Wednesday

Confession • Psalm 32:1-5 As a model for us, the psalmist David reaches the crossroads of confession and confesses his sins to the

Lord. We are called to confess our sins to the Son of David and find forgiveness in him.

Week 1

Betrayal • John 13:21-30 When Judas Iscariot comes to the point where he must either listen to Jesus or listen to the devil, he

chooses to betray Jesus. When we are tempted by Satan to betray our Lord, we gain strength from our Savior to say, “No” to the devil.

Week 2

Judgment • Matthew 27:11-26 When Pontius Pilate is called upon by the crowds to make a judgment call about Jesus, his decision not to decide results in the death of Christ. We look to the cross of Christ to make definitive judgment calls

in our lives.

Week 3

Compassion • Luke 22:47-51 When Jesus is taken into custody, he chooses to show compassion to a wounded participant in the arrest.

We are called to show compassion, not anger, even to those in our midst whom we might consider our enemies.

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Week 4

Declaration • Luke 22:54-62 When Peter is asked to declare whether or not he knows Jesus, he decides to deny his Savior. When

questioned about our Lord, we are called to boldly declare our faith in Christ.

Week 5

Obedience • Matthew 26:36-46 When Jesus nears the time when he must die for our sins, he asks his Father if the cup might pass from

him. But when the time comes, he obeys his Father’s will. When we are called upon to follow God’s will, we must obey.

Bulletins For The Six-Week Kit:

Code CRDP • Pre-printed bulletins • 8.5” x 11”

Code CRD2 • Blank bulletins • 8.5” x 11”

Code CRDR • Blank bulletins • 8.5” x 14”

Palm Sunday

Suffering • John 12:12-36 When Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, he knows the suffering that awaits him there, yet he does

not turn back. Though we know suffering is part of being a follower of Christ, we must carry on for him.

Code CRDZ • Kit

Code CRDT (printed) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDW (blank) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDX (blank) • 8.5” x 14” bulletins

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Good Friday

Death • John 19:17-30 When Jesus is on the cross, he accepts the power of death upon himself and does not turn away from it. We must face death when it comes and not turn away from it, knowing that his salvation awaits us on

the other side.

Code CRD5 • Kit

Code CRDD (printed) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDH (blank) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDN (blank) • 8.5” x 14” bulletins

Easter Sunday

Life • John 20:1-18 After the risen Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, she responds by telling the disciples, “I have seen the

Lord!” We who know that our Redeemer lives must share that news with others.

Code CRD6 • Kit

Code CRDE (printed) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDJ (blank) • 8.5” x 11” bulletins

Code CRDO (blank) • 8.5” x 14” bulletins

Other Resources:

Code CRD1 • Bookmark • 7” x 2 1/2”

Code CRD7 • Promotional Bulletin Insert

Code CRD8 • Display Posters • 11” x 17”

Code PHCRD • Cloth Banner Suitable For Worship

Bible Study Resources:

Code CRDS • At the Crossroads Student Guide

Code CRDL • At the Crossroads Leader’s Guide

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Maundy thursday: Forgiveness

CoMpLete sCript For Worship Leaders

• If desired, an Environmental Projection of bread and a chalice (purchased by you from shutterstock.com) to symbolize the Lord’s Supper is shown on a screen or on the walls of your worship space to set the tone for the service before the service begins or throughout the service at various points:

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-222455539/stock-photo--chalice-and-bread-on-the-textile-tablecloth.html?src=uOxGzvlQH6mCnMxjLI7BLw-1-1

• The Opening Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Herr Jesu Christ, Dich Zu Uns Wend LM, or a selection from the contemporary music song suggestions list at the end of the music guide for this service can be sung instead:

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray That we may feast on you today;

Beneath these forms of bread and wine Enrich us with your grace divine.

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One bread, one cup, one body, we, Rejoicing in our unity,

Proclaim your love until you come To bring your scattered loved ones home.

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray: O keep us steadfast till that day

When each will be your welcomed guest In heaven’s high and holy feast.

• This Opening Response is spoken responsively by the pastor and the congregation:

P In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

P The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

C Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.

P As far as the east is from the west,

C So far does he remove our transgressions from us.

P If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

C And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

P For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

C Therefore we give glory to God who raised him up and gave us the promise of salvation. Amen.

• The Confession and Absolution is spoken responsively by the congregation and the pastor:

P Jesus said, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

C Forgiving Lord, we confess that we find ourselves cherishing your forgiveness yet, we seek to avoid forgiving those who sin against us. Forgive our need to carry grudges, to count the injuries done to us while failing to see and confess the failings in ourselves. Forgive blindness to the hurts and needs of others while we tend to our own broken promises and broken intentions. Fill us with your heart of compassionate forgiveness and make us those who heal and encourage our loved ones. Fill us with the Spirit so that we might overflow with the serving that proclaims your very presence with us.

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P I have the honor and privilege, by the grace of God, of announcing to you the entire forgiveness of your sins. In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and free—free to share the steadfast love of God with all.

• A Hymn of Response is sung by the congregation to the tune Aberystwyth 77 77 D, or a selection from the contemporary music song suggestions list at the end of the music guide for this service can be sung instead:

Savior, when in dust to you low we bow in homage due; When, repentant, to the skies scarce we lift our weeping eyes;

Oh, by all your pains and woe suffered once for us below, Bending from your throne on high, hear our penitential cry!

By your helpless infant years, by your life of want and tears, By your days of deep distress in the savage wilderness,

By the dread, mysterious hour of the insulting tempter’s pow’r, Turn, oh, turn a favoring eye; hear our penitential cry!

By your hour of dire despair, by your agony of prayer, By the cross, the nail, the thorn, piercing spear, and torturing scorn,

By the gloom that veiled the skies o’er the dreadful sacrifice, Listen to our humble sigh; hear our penitential cry!

By your deep expiring groan, by the sad sepulchral stone, By the vault whose dark abode held in vain the rising God,

Oh, from earth to heav’n restored, mighty, reascended Lord, Bending from your throne on high, hear our penitential cry!

• The Old Testament Reading, Psalm 116:1-9 is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader:

P I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

• The Epistle Reading, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader:

P For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying,

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“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 Gospel Reading, Matthew 26:26-29, is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader:

P Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

• The Children’s Message is delivered by the pastor or other worship leader:

P (Use this story or a similar one from your own experience.) One Sunday a young boy, maybe the age of some of you, was getting ready to go with his family to visit some friends. He had put on his good clothes and new shoes. His dad said not to get dirty, but when some of his friends said they were going to play by the creek, he could not resist. “I can be careful,” he thought. Of course, something went wrong and he fell in the creek. His new shoes were ruined. He knew his dad would be angry and disappointed in him. He had to confess to his dad what he had done. His dad told him that his allowance for the next many weeks would be needed to pay for new shoes. His dad forgave him, but his allowance was gone. God is differnt. He has told us not to dirty ourselves with sins. He does not want us to lie, to hurt other people, to take things that are not ours, to use his name thoughtlessly. But when we mess up and do one of those wrong things, he is sad and disappointed in us. We want to confess to God when we sin. He forgives us, but he doesn’t ask us to pay anything for what we have done. The good news is that Jesus has already paid the punishment for our sins. God’s forgiveness is free because of Jesus. And that means that we can come to him with all of our faults and sins and he will forgive us, just like we did at the beginning of this worship service. We can joyfully do what God wants us to do, because we are freely forgiven. (Close with an echo prayer thanking God for his forgiveness or ask one of the children to pray.)

• A Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Naar Mit Öie 87 87 77, or a selection from the contemporary music song suggestions list at the end of the music guide for this service can be sung instead:

Come to Calv’ry’s holy mountain, sinners, ruined by the fall; Here a pure and healing fountain flows for you, for me, for all,

In a full perpetual tide, opened when our Savior died.

Come in sorrow and contrition, wounded, impotent, and blind; Here the guilty, free remission, here the troubled, peace may find. Your true health it will restore, so that you need thirst no more.

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Come with hurts and guilt and meanness, come, however soiled within; From the most ingrained uncleanness, from pollution by your sin,

Wash your robes and make them white; you shall walk with God in light.

Take the life that lasts forever; trust this soul-renewing flood. God is faithful; God will never break his covenant of blood,

Signed when our Redeemer died, sealed when he was glorified.

• If desired, this Mini Movie (purchased by you from Worship House Media: worshiphousemedia.com) is presented on a screen at this time to highlight the forgiveness theme:

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/38258/forgiveness

• The Sermon Dialog with Marie and Tom is delivered by the pastor (P) and two readers, one in role of Marie (1) and one in the role of Tom (2):

P Crossroads. They are there for all of us. We may move along from day to day easily, walking in the sunshine, enjoying the view, feeling at peace. And then it comes. A crossroad. A choice point. There we stand, frozen to the spot. Which way now? Right? Left? Straight? What waits down each of those choices? Which way does our heart call us to go? Which makes sense? Which is God’s way?

The answers aren’t easy. A crossroad can bring daunting spiritual pain. And it can bring us to our knees. It can even bring us to destruction. Or it can bring freedom.

(Note: This story can be done as a chancel drama. The pastor sets the scene with the first paragraph and two characters—Marie who in a wheelchair, and Tom who is holding a bouquet of flowers—speak the parts.

Simple props might include an end table and a chair.)

A story for Maundy Thursday: Clutching the bouquet of wilted Easter flowers, Tom watched Marie for a while across the darkened nursing home room. He had not seen her since the accident. Not seen her except every time he closed his eyes. Then he saw her face, right there in front of his car—and he could not stop. She turned her wheelchair toward him.

1 Tom? Is that you?

P Tom moved into the light.

2 Marie. How did you know it was me? It’s been a long time ...

1 Oh, I knew you’ d come.

2 I tried to get to the hospital and then I heard they had moved you here. I would have come sooner, but I’ve been busy. You know how it is ...

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1 I’ve missed you, Tom. You were such a good neighbor. Mostly I’ve missed our Saturday morning walks to the store when we’ d meet there on the sidewalk. They were so much fun. Do you remember?

2 I remember. ‘You’re pretty fast, for an old dame,’ I used to say when you’d try to keep up with me. You were very quick when you stepped out between those cars that morning I decided to drive to the store ...

1 Oh, I know. I don’t know what I was thinking ...

2 It wasn’t my fault, you know. The police said it wasn’t my fault.

1 No. It was mine. I wasn’t looking. Silly old me. And I’m so sorry.

2 You? Sorry?

1 I know I hurt you. And I knew you could not just forget.

(Tom puts the flowers on the end table and moves closer. Suddenly he falls on his knees.)

2 Marie! Oh God, what have I done? How can God forgive me? How can you forgive me?

1 Oh, Tom, God has already forgiven you and so have I.

2 If only I could believe that. I can’t sleep. I can’t close my eyes. When I do, I see you lying there on the street, and I feel so helpless.

1 Tom, do you know what day it is?

2 It’s the Thursday before Easter, isn’t it? I wanted to see you before Easter.

1 That’s right. It’s Maundy Thursday. Listen, Tom. Listen! Do you hear it? Do you hear the sound of this day?

2 What sound? I don’t hear anything.

1 Yes, it’s there. So plain. It’s the sound of the broken hearts being healed. The hearts are still healing, Tom. Jesus’ gift of himself reaches all broken hearts. Even hearts broken by guilt. God has touched your heart, too. You can come out of the darkness you have made for yourself. You can know that on this special day, because Jesus chooses to forgive you. You are forgiven and free.

(There is a pause. Tom puts his hand in Marie’s and then stands again.)

2 I’m glad I came.

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• The Opening Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Herr Jesu Christ, Dich Zu Uns Wend LM, or a selection from the contemporary music song suggestions list at the end of the music guide for this service can be sung instead:

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray That we may feast on you today;

Beneath these forms of bread and wine Enrich us with your grace divine.

One bread, one cup, one body, we, Rejoicing in our unity,

Proclaim your love until you come To bring your scattered loved ones home.

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray: O keep us steadfast till that day

When each will be your welcomed guest In heaven’s high and holy feast.

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Sample