With our worship service on Maundy Thursday, we remember the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist. That same night, Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The word maundy comes from the command (mandate) given by Christ at the Last Supper, that we should love one another.
"A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34
With this statement, Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet.
From A Song of Faith:
Carrying a vision of creation healed and restored,
we welcome all in the name of Christ.
Invited to the table where none shall go hungry,
we gather as Christ’s guests and friends.
In holy communion
we are commissioned to feed as we have been fed,
forgive as we have been forgiven,
love as we have been loved.
The open table speaks of the shining promise
of barriers broken and creation healed.
In the communion meal, wine poured out and bread broken,
we remember Jesus.
We remember not only the promise but also the price that he paid
for who he was,
for what he did and said,
and for the world’s brokenness.
We taste the mystery of God’s great love for us,
and are renewed in faith and hope.