Prelude Music Welcome to the Upper Room, to the Table of the Lord. We gather in heart and mind, if not physically, to remember and connect with the loving presence of the Lord. We seek to remember the power of Jesus’ care for us – the love of the Father poured out in our midst – that we might be strengthened and empowered to be is people, following His way. Coming to this night was no accident, nor was it conceived in the spur of the moment. The Gospel of Luke reminds us that “Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.” He had already spoken of his passion yet to come. The journey from Galilee to Jerusalem seems minimal in miles – around 60 miles – yet it represents a monumental journey for all humankind. Now, as we come remember to this night, words and events would be a force to undergird his disciples – and us – giving what was needed to face the future. Hear the Gospel according to Luke – Chapter 22 verses 1-13 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the legal experts were looking for a way to kill Jesus, because they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4 He went out and discussed with the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard how he could hand Jesus over to them. 5 They were delighted and arranged payment for him. 6 He agreed and began looking for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them—a time when the crowds would be absent. Disciples prepare for the Passover 7 The Day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John with this task: “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.” 9 They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” 10 Jesus replied, “When you go into the city, a man carrying a water jar will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters. 11 Say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, “Where is the guestroom where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ 12 He will show you a large upstairs room, already furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They went and fou Against the backdrop of treachery, Jesus seeks to observe and transform the feast of Passover. Luke alone records that in this setting there broke out a disagreement amongst the disciples as to who would be greatest. Jesus pointed them to three positive examples:
• “The “youngest” in the family was the one with the least rights. He commanded them to be like the youngest, implying, “Don’t worry about your rights, just do what is right.” • Next Jesus drew attention to the one who serves. In Christ’s kingdom, we are to serve others, ministering to their needs. • And finally, he focused on the strongest example of servanthood – Himself. For thirty years he had served his family. For the last three years he had served the sick, the blind, the hungry, and the demon possessed. In the next few hours he would serve the entire human race by sacrificing himself for their sin.” The disciples would never again observe the feast of Passover without the echoes of Jesus’ powerful words and actions invading and blessing their observance. On a more everyday level, whenever they took a loaf of bread in their hands to break and share with each other the vivid scenes of the Upper Room would fill their thoughts and bring humility joy to their hearts. John’s Gospel begins the night in what seems like an ordinary act of common courtesy. Yet, by the one who performs the act and explores its meaning, the disciples are set on a magnificent course drenched in the love of God. Hear these words once again. John 13:1-9 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, 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!” Our Lord and Savior seeks to wash our feet – a tender loving act to show his care for our complete cleansing. Our Lord and Savior also seeks that we might be vessels of his love to the world. He tells us to go and do likewise. He invites us to be a servant of God to others. “Jesu, Jesu” #432 in the United Methodist Hymnal Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you. Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet; Master who acts as a slave to them. Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you. Neighbors are rich and poor, neighbors are black and white, neighbors are near and far away. Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you. These are the ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love; all these are neighbors to us and you. Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you. Loving puts us on our knees, serving as through we are slaves; this is the way we should live with you. Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you. Kneel at the feet of our friends, silently washing their feet, this is the way we should live with you. Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you. In order for us to care for others with God’s care we have to let Jesus attend to us with His care. Along with Peter may we invite anew this night, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” In John’s Gospel the entire seventeenth chapter is an amazing prayer, spoken by Jesus, inviting us to feel and experience God’s continual “Watching Over Us” in love. Hear John 17:9-19 9 “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. 11 I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. 12 When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe. None of them were lost, except the one who was destined for destruction, so that scripture would be fulfilled. 13 Now I’m coming to you and I say these things while I’m in the world so that they can share completely in my joy. 14 I gave your word to them and the world hated them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 15 I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 17 Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth. Jesus knew that his disciples, and centuries of disciples yet to come, would need God to watch over them – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As we experience our world, day to day, it is critical that God is watching over us. In this bittersweet night, when we long to be together at the Lord’s Table, we are separated by the workings of a virus. To protect one another – to “serve” one another – we worship at a distance. Yet God provides! His loving hand is on our lives. As Jesus reminds us in His prayer, we are in this world even as He is going to the Father. “I am not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one.” God is not lifting us out of this virus. He is, however, protecting the heart, mind and spirit of those who seek communion with him. As Jesus said in chapter 14, he gives us peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” [John 14:27] The transformation that Jesus made in the Passover Feast that night – reinterpreting the bread and cup as His body and blood given for us – is a physical reminder that Jesus is watching over us, providing for us. We can be strong in the Lord knowing that the Lord’s strong arm is over us all. We can walk in the servanthood that Christ is calling us to because Jesus has walked that path already. Our “Companion” is with us and in us watching our steps and providing for our protection. As a father or mother watches over their children every day of their life – no matter how old they become – so God watches over us – not from a distance, but from right within our hearts. Song: “All I Need Is You” All I need is you, Jesus, all I need is you. You are the source of all I need. All I need is you. All I want is you, Jesus, all I want is you. You are the source of all I need. All I want is you. My only hope is you, Lord my only hope is you. You are the source of all I need. My only hope is you. Luke 22:14-23 When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles joined him. 15 He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 I tell you, I won’t eat it until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.” 17 After taking a cup and giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom has come.” 19 After taking the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 “But look! My betrayer is with me; his hand is on this table. 22 The Human One[a] goes just as it has been determined. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays him.” 23 They began to argue among themselves about which of them it could possibly be who would do this. (I invite you to have your bread and cup ready.) The long journey from Galilee to Jerusalem was finished. The long week for Jesus in anticipation of the events of his suffering has finally passed. At the precipice of his betrayal, denial, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus reclines at table with his “family” – the disciples and his followers. In the comfort of the familiar Passover Feast – one they had shared twice before as a group – Jesus leads them into a new and deeper meaning of God’s grace. On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread and, when he and given thanks, he blessed and broke it saying, “Take and eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this as often as you do it in remembrance of me.” Likewise, after supper, he took the cup and, when he and when he had given thanks, he blessed it and gave it to them saying, “Take and drink all of you, for this is my blood of the New Covenant shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.” I invite us to a time of meditation before we partake of the elements. I offer this song as a way of preparation. “Broken For Me” The Faith We Sing #2263 Broken for me, broken for you, the body of Jesus, broken for you. He offered his body; he poured out his soul; Jesus was broken that we might be whole. Broken for me, broken for you, the body of Jesus, broken for you. Come to my table and with me dine; Eat of my bread and drink of my wine. Broken for me, broken for you, the body of Jesus, broken for you. This is my body given for you; Eat it, remembering I died for you. Broken for me, broken for you, the body of Jesus, broken for you. This is my blood I shed for you, For your forgiveness, making you new. Broken for me, broken for you, the body of Jesus, broken for you. Please take your Communion and follow along with me. Because the is one loaf (Jesus Christ), we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ. The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ. Please take your communion in this blessed moment with God. The Body of Christ, given for you. The blood of Christ, given for you. Closing Prayer Benediction Go forth in peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
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