Call to Worship
Leader: Praise the Lord, all nations.
People: Christ died for our sins.
Leader: Extol him, all peoples.
People: Christ was buried but was raised from the dead.
Leader: For great is his steadfast love toward us.
People: In love God gave his Son.
Leader: The faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
People: God's faithfulness has been shown to us In Christ.
All: Praise the Lord.

Prayer
(unison) Father God, we come together on this night to remember Jesus' celebration of the passover with his disciples. Through your written word and through your Spirit enable us to experience what happened on that night and what it means to us. Amen.

Hymn
Psalm 100 is to be sung antiphonally. If desired, a hymn suitable for Maundy Thursday may be substituted.

Litany: Philippians 2:5-7
Let the worship leader explain this passage of Scripture.

Philippians 2:5-11 is an early Christian hymn. It has been described as the "gospel in a nutshell." It tells of the incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This evening, only the parts telling of his incarnation and service are used. The other verses will be added on Good Friday and Easter Sunrise service. The response in the litany is 2 Corinthians 8:9 which tells of the humility and service of Jesus Christ.

Response to the Reading
Leader: Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus.
People: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Leader: Who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
People: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Leader: But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
People: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Leader: And being found in human form he humbled himself.
People: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 14:12a-22a
The readers necessary for this lesson are a narrator, Jesus, and disciple. (See instructions.)
Narrator: And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, (14:12a)
Disciple: "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?" (14:12b)
Narrator: And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, (14:13a)
Jesus: "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters say to the householder, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." (14:13b-15)
Narrator: And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were at table eating, Jesus said, (14:16-18a)
Jesus: "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." (14:18b)
Narrator: They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another, (14:19a)
Disciple: "Is it I?" (14:19a)
Narrator: He said to them, (14:20a)
Jesus: "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread in the same dish with me. For the Son of man goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." (14:20b-21)
Narrator: And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, (14:22a)
Jesus: "Take; this is my body." (14:22b)
Narrator: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, (14:23-24a)
Jesus: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." (14:24b-25)

The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper will be celebrated in simplicity and in a manner that the congregation can follow. It is suggested that the words from Mark's Gospel be used as the rubrics of celebration.

Hymn
Exodus 15:1b-3 is the oldest hymn of the Bible. It tells of Israel's escape from Egypt by the power of God. This deliverance followed the first passover. It is to be sung antiphonally. (See instructions in the introduction.) If desired, a hymn suitable for Maundy Thursday may be substituted.

Scripture: Mark 14:26-72
The readers necessary for this lesson are a narrator, Jesus, Peter, Judas, Accuser, High Priest, maid, bystander. (See instructions.)
Narrator: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (14:26)
Narrator: And Jesus said to them, (14:27a)
Jesus: "You will all fall away; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." (14:27b-28)
Narrator: Peter said to him, (14:29a)
Peter: "Even though they all fall away, I will not." (14:29b)
Narrator: And Jesus said to him, (14:30a)
Jesus: "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." (14:30b)
Narrator: But he said vehemently, (14:31a)
Peter: "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." (14:31b)
Narrator: And they all said the same. (14:31c)
Narrator: And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, (14:32a)
Jesus: "Sit here, while I pray." (14:32b)
Narrator: And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, (14:33-34a)
Jesus: My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch." (14:34b)
Narrator: And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, (14:35-36a)
Jesus: "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt." (14:36b)
Narrator: And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, (14:37a)
Jesus: "Simon, are you alseep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (14:37b-38)
Narrator: And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time, and said to them, (14:39-41a)
Jesus: "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." (14:41b-42)
Narrator: And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, (14:43-44a)
Judas: "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away safely." (14:44b)
Narrator: And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, (14:45a)
Judas: "Master." (14:45b)
Narrator: And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, (14:45c-48a)
Jesus: "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." (14:48b-49)
Narrator: And a young man followed him with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. And they led Jesus to the high priest; and all the high priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought testimony against Jesus, to put him to death; but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, and their witnesses did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, (14:51-57)
Accuser: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.' " (14:58)
Narrator: Yet not even so did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, (14:59-60a)
High Priest: "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" (14:60b)
Narrator: But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, (14:61a)
High Priest: "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" (14:61b)
Narrator: And Jesus said, (14:62a)
Jesus: "I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and comingwith the clouds of heaven." (14:62b)
Narrator: And the high priest tore his mantle, and said, (14:63a)
High Priest: "Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" (14:63b)
Narrator: And they all condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to strike him, saying to him, (14:64c)
Accuser: "Prophesy!" (14:65b)
Narrator: And the guards received him with blows. (14:65c)
Narrator: And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, (14:66-67a)
Maid: "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." (14:67b)
Narrator: But he denied it, saying, (14:68a)
Peter: "I neither know nor understand what you mean." (14:68b)
Narrator: And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began to say to bystanders, (14:68c-69a)
Maid: "This man is one of them." (14:69b)
Narrator: But again he denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, (14:70a)
Bystander: "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean." (14:70b)
Narrator: But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, (14:71a)
Peter: "I do not know this man of whom you speak." (14:71b)
Narrator: And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept. (14:72)

Prayer
(unison) Forgive us, O God, for the times in our lives when we too have been less than faithful to Jesus Christ. Hear us now as we individually confess these deeds: ______________ Forgive, O God, and through the Spirit equip us to be more faithful to Christ. Amen.

Hymn
2 Timothy 2:8, 11-13 is an early church creed. It is to be sung antiphonally. If desired, a hymn suitable for Maundy Thursday may be substituted.

Benediction