HOLY THURSDAY AND TENEBRAE SERVICE
March 28, 2013
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Jesus calls us to serve one another in love.
People: We come to glorify the Holy One.
Leader: Jesus invites us to eat and drink with him and remember him in all that we do.
People: We come to the feast with joy.
Leader: Jesus commands us to love one another and show the world that we are his disciples.
People: We come to be the body of Christ and know ourselves as his disciples.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Leader: Compassionate One, your ways lead to life. You call us to love one another and bear one another's burdens.
People: But when we disagree with one another, we want to be right more than we want to follow you.
Leader: You call us to serve one another and kneel at each other's feet in humility and grace.
People: But when we are hurt by another, we want to strike back more than we want to forgive.
Leader: You call us to pour out our lives for the healing of the world.
People: Forgive us for acting as if your gifts were for us alone, when you gave up everything, that all might be blessed through your sacrifice.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Leader: The God of Exodus and of Calvary loves us and nourishes us, feeding us with the bread of compassion and filling our cups with an endless stream of grace. In the name of Christ, we are forgiven.
People: The peace of Christ be with you always.
PRAYER
Holy Savior, my betrayal set Judas against you, my denial stabbed Peter's words into your heart, and my lies concealed your innocence. Because of my sinful thoughts, thorns pierced your scalp. Because I have lived according to the flesh, the flogger's cords tore into your muscles. The cross of my judgmeht was laid on you to carry. My refusal to believe and accept you hammered nails into your hands. My greed divided your clothing and gambled for your robe. My insults and mocking ways filled the mouths that taunted you. My sin tore you from God and drained your life, drop by precious drop. The spear thrust into your side aimed at ending my wickedness forever. You died my death, and my sin sealed your tomb. With one great act of love, you gathered all my shame and guilt and buried it in the depths of hell. Crucified Savior and risen Savior, I stand before you naked and new. I died in you. Now I pray you will live in me. Amen.
