Worship Video: https://youtu.be/rAG2mv5xHcE
NOTE: There is a portion of video without sound. Imagine what is going on based on tonight’s scripture.
Instructions for Getting Ready:
Gather a bowl of water and towel into your worship space. We will be washing feet tonight.
Prelude Miriam Enman
Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Holy One, all the lands!
Serve God with gladness!
Come into God’s presence with singing!
People: For the Holy One is good;
God’s steadfast love endures for ever,
And God’s faithfulness to all generations.
Hymn Jesus Paid It All
1) I hear the Savior say,
Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
2) Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
and melt the heart of stone.
3) For nothing good have I
Whereby thy grace to claim-
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvary’s lamb.
4) And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
Jesus died my soul to save,
my lips shall still repeat
Confession of Sin
Leader: If we say we have no sing, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Leader: Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us confess our sins in silence and ask God for the forgiveness we need.
Extended silence for reflection and prayer.
Leader: Let us pray.
People: Gracious God, we have denied your intentions for us. We have preferred our way to Christ’s way. We have served ourselves and things we have made. We have disobeyed your commandment to love others as we love ourselves. Forgive us, and awaken us to faith and to a life of service; through Jesus Christ who came not to be served, but to serve, and who served you even to death, for our redemption. Amen
Leader: While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
People: The love of God for us is show in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Telling The Story (Scripture) Through Drama
Hymn What Wondrous Love is This
What wondrous love is this O my soul O my soul
What wondrous love is this O my soul
What wondrous love is this that caused the King of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, my soul
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing
To God and to the Lamb I will sing
To God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing!
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing and joyful be
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on
And through eternity I’ll thing on!
Message
Foot Washing
Leader: Friends in Christ, we are reminded by the scriptures, in diverse words and symbols, of what God intends for us. The water of our baptism is a cleansing sign of our dying and rising with Christ.
The bread and wine of Holy Communion are saving food, announcing to us again Christ sacrifice and victory for our salvation.
Now, at Christ’s command, we share the water of humility, and stoop as once Christ stooped to wash the feet of others.
As you wash one another’s feet (or your own) say: “How happy we will be if we put into practice the truth of humility. With God’s help, may we each practice humility.”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Leader: Let us pray…
All: O God, we give you thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ, the only one begotten by you before all worlds. We thank you for the splendor of Christ’s life of service. We thank you for symbols of love and humility. We ask that you will strengthen us for the service to which you call us, that we may find in lowering ourselves, in washing, and in all other acts of mercy, the fullness of life that we see in Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives in exaltation, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Special Music “One Lonely Night” Kristine and Jeremiah Geer Accompanied by Miriam Enman
Portions of this service are reprinted from UCC Book of Worship ©1986 by permission of the United Church of Christ Office for Church Life and Leadership.