Gathering in silence
Gathering Song: Bless the Lord (Songs and Prayers from Taize 9)
Bless the Lord my soul
And bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord my soul
who leads me into light.
© 1991, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agentContributors: Jacques Berthier, Taizé
Reading: Psalm 116: 1-2, 11-14 How Can I Repay Your Goodness Oh God? (Psalms Now, Leslie F. Brandt)
I know that God is here.
I know this because,
my soul bare and body naked before God,
God looked upon me with love
and responded to my cry for help.
I can never repay God for God’s ever-present love.
I can only dedicate my life to praising God
and to serving God wherever I may be.
I am God’s servant and God’s son; I shall love God forever.
I shall proclaim to all the world: “God is in our midst.”
Light the Christ Candle
As I light the Christ candle, I invite you to also light a candle, if you have one. It reminds us of the presence and the love of Christ. We are not alone.
Silence
Reading: Reading: John 13:1-17 Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
13 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. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 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? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[d] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Song: Be Still and Know that I am God (MV77)
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am God. (repeat)
Words: Psalm 46: 1, Music: John L. Bell. Music copyright 1989 & 1998 by WGRG, Iona Community, Scotland admin. GIA publications, Inc. excl N. America agent. All rights reserved
Silence
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
23 For 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, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for[a] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Song: Oh Lord Hear My Prayer (Songs and Prayers from Taize 20)
Oh Lord hear my prayer,
Oh Lord hear my prayer.
When I call
answer me.
Oh Lord hear my prayer,
Oh Lord hear my prayer
Come and listen to me
Tune: Jacques Berthier, © 1982, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent Text: Taizé Community, © 1982, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent
Silence
Reading: John 13:31b-35 The New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him,[a] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 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.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Prayer of the People
Loving, listening God, ever-attentive to the voices of those in need,
we call on your name so that we might live.
Now hear our prayer:
For the church that bears Christ’s name,
that the world may know we are his disciples
by the love that we have for one another.
For leaders of nations and all persons in positions of authority,
that their lives may be marked by Christ-like service and love.
For all who are oppressed and living in captivity,
that they may escape from evil and death
to find the land of freedom you have promised.
For those who are hungry and thirsty this day
and for those who have too much,
that we may learn to share your generous gifts, O God.
For those who are dealing with loss or facing death,
that the presence of Christ may bless and keep them.
We now offer prayers for people and situations, silently or aloud.
Answer us in the day of trouble, O God,
so that we may lift up the cup of salvation
in the presence of your people,
giving thanks for all your goodness to us;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
~ posted on the website of the Presbyterian Church USA.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father,
who 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 trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory
Forever and ever
Amen.
Silence
Reading: “Our Secret Entry,” Meister Eckhart
What is our secret entry
into Your heart?
We find it on the path of
letting go of what we
thought we knew, arriving
at the place where we
know nothing of knowing
beyond every notion of love,
and from light enter
the dark only to find
ourselves there, ever
one with You.
Blessing
May the blessing of the God who calls the people out of Egypt
call us out from our comfort and our safety
to embrace a journey of challenge and risk.
May the blessing of the Son who kneels and washes our feet
call us out from our comfort and our safety
to embrace and serve those we meet on the journey
May the blessing of the Spirit who weaves dreams of a new community
call us out from our comfort and our safety
to provide welcome and hospitality to strangers as well as friends.
~ written by Rev. Dr. Clare McBeath and Rev. Tim Presswood. Posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website
Song for Going Forth: Wait for the Lord (Songs and Prayers from Taize 12)
Wait for the Lord,
whose day is near.
Wait for the Lord:
be strong, take heart!
© 1984, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent Contributors: Jacques Berthier, Taizé
Going Forth in silence
Penticton United Church 