Category: Holiday

Maundy Thursday Worship Service (at home)

April 9, 2020 (during the season of COVID-19 Virus Quarantine)

Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA

(Please place a candle or small light on a table, with bread (or cracker or cookie) and juice (or water, or soda, tea or coffee) to prepare for our Communion. Also, please get some paper and a pencil. Due to our extraordinary “stay at home” status to help block the spreading of the virus, Bishop Park has given us permission to share Communion in this “virtual” way. Thank you for supplying the elements.)

Gathering-Welcome, Everyone, to Worship!

GREETING

Leader: We join a solemn journey of three days that has changed the world and our own lives. Followers of Jesus have been taking this journey since his first followers took it, long ago. (pause)

This is the night of love. (pause)

On this night Jesus took a towel and basin, and washed his disciples’ feet.
On this night he told them to do the same for others to show their love for him and for one another. This is the night of love. (pause)

On this night, followers of Jesus have invited those preparing for baptism to begin with them a solemn vigil of prayer and fasting until the day of Christ’s resurrection is fulfilled. This is the night of love. (pause)

On this night, Jesus broke bread and shared wine with his followers for the last time, and invited them to remember him to encounter him anew, whenever they did the same. This is the night of love.
(pause)

On this night, followers of Jesus have welcomed those who have returned to the way of Jesus after a time of wandering and a journey of returning. This is the night of love. (pause)

This is the night of love. And so, on this night, we welcome the penitent-
All here have wandered—
And invite all preparing—
All here are still learning—
To join us in hearing and obeying the commandment of our Master
And to feast at his table, that we may love one another as he has loved us.
Come, ye sinners. Come, ye thirsty. Come ye weary. Come to the night of love.

“A Wind Blew Over Calvary” – George Sewell

 

(Pic 1)

Lectio, Reflectio and Collectio: We Invite All to Listen and Obey the Spirit

Reading: John 13:1-7, 12-16, 34-35

We will read the gospel of John three times, pausing for reflection between each reading.

After the first reading, notice what stood out for the passage and write down a word or two to remember it.

After the second reading, you are invited to listen for a word that you believe God’s Spirit is speaking or showing.

After the third reading, you are invited to listen and decide one action you will take to obey the Holy Spirit’s prompting from the Word from the Gospel of John.

(One or more may read the following)

This is the night of love. And this is the table of love.

At this table, Christ, who loves us, is with us.
He is with us, and we are his. We belong to God. And so we pray:

We are yours, all yours, blessed Triune God,
All our lives, all our thanks, all our praise, all our fears, all our grumbling, all our hesitations, all our loves, all our joys, all our passions, we give them all to you, with bodies, and minds and voices. Yours, all yours!

Yours the blessing, yours the praise, from the unimaginable silence before the big bang, beyond the farthest reaches of time and space we may ever find, from infinity to infinity, everlasting to everlasting, you are God, boundless in love and power.

What are we that you should notice us? What are we that you should love us? What are we that you should call us into covenant with you, a covenant we continually broke and you continuously sustained. Mercy! How full of mercy!

How can we but praise you, joining our voices with the song of angels and saints, seraphim and martyrs, strangers and family in every generation:

Jesus Christ who comes in our God’s name, you are worthy, worthy! Lamb of God for all creation slain you are worthy, worthy! Hosanna to our King! Hosanna to our King!

You are holy, O God! You are worthy, O Christ
Worthy in your birth! Worthy in your living!

Worthy in your loving! Worthy in your serving!

 

(Please join with me in the bold print response, Pic 2)

Worthy! Worthy! Worthy!
You preached good news that God’s kingdom has drawn near
and gathered disciples, then and now, to learn and show the world
what life in God’s reign means: healing for the sick.
new life for the dead, cleansing for the lepers,
sight for the blinded, food for the hungry,
freedom for the possessed, love poured out for all.

Worthy the night you took a towel and basin,
washed your disciples’ feet,
and taught them to do likewise.

Worthy too, the same night we betrayed you,
when you took the bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to your disciples.

Worthy when you told them, “This is my body broken for you. Remember me.”

We remember.

Worthy when you took the cup, praised God and shared it,
and worthy when you said, “This is my blood of the new covenant for you.
Remember me.”

We remember.

We remember, and we praise you with our lives
and these gifts of bread and wine,
proclaiming with one voice the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Come upon us, Holy Spirit.
Come upon us, Holy Spirit.

Come upon these gifts.
Come upon these gifts.

Make them be for us Christ’s body, Christ’s blood.
Make us one body in Christ enlivened in love by his blood.

One in heart, one in mind, one in you, Holy Spirit,
as you move us to pray for the church and the world:

That we may proclaim the gospel boldly:
Hear us, Lord.
That healing may come for people who are sick, and peoples who are torn and weary:
Hear us, Lord.
That many dead and left for dead may be raised, and death itself vanquished:
Hear us, Lord.
That all who are unclean may receive your cleansing grace:
Hear us, Lord.
That all who are possessed, oppressed, distressed, depressed and downcast may be set free at last.
Hear us, Lord.
That we may love one another, and all your creation, as you have loved us.
Hear us, Lord.
Even so, come and fill this feast, Holy Spirit,
on this night, and every night
until we eat it new at the marriage supper of the Lamb!
All blessing, honor, glory and power
be yours, Holy Triune God,
now and forever. Amen!

Pastor Susan invites people to share in Holy Communion

“Let Us Break Bread Together” – Mark Hayes

 

(Pic 3)

Thanksgiving after Communion:
Thank you, God, for uniting us with Jesus in this holy mystery.
We are no longer our own, but yours.
So send us, and put us to leading and serving,
loving as you have loved us
wherever we go. Amen.

This is the night of love.
Go forth in the strength of this feast, in the care of our community of faith, and with the love and blessing of our Triune God. Amen.
 

 

 

Faxon-Kenmar UMC is using CCLI Streaming License 3356248 Exp. 3.31.21.

Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday Worship (at home)

April 5, 2020 (during the season of COVID-19 Virus Quarantine)

Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA

(Directions for our worship. Collect something from your home that can symbolize a palm branch. It can be a scarf, some forks from your kitchen drawer, a twig from outside. When we refer to the palm branches waving-please put your symbol of the branch on your table near you. Collect your bible to look up the scripture passages to follow the reading or read from the bulletin. Each box at the end of the worship is an “attachment”. There are 4 attachments this week. If you need help in working with the attachments, please contact Pastor Susan. 717-377-9266. The Prelude is the first attachment. You simply click on that box to hear the music. If all 4 attachments cannot be sent at one time, another email will be sent to you with the remaining attachments. We are learning how to do this, so we appreciate your patience with glitches.)

PRELUDE                         “Ride On In Triumph, O King”                        Balcombe

(Pic 1)

GREETING

Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Welcome to our worship this morning. We greet you and all who have gathered to worship God during this pandemic that requires us to stay at home for safety. Gathering for worship is one of the ways that we work as the Body of Christ. Even though we are not physically together, we join together with our sisters and brothers of the faith that are connected with us this morning through Faxon-Kenmar Church.

CALL TO WORSHIP

1-The Lord be with you.

2-And also with you.

1-Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

2-It is right to give our thanks and praise.

All-We praise and bless you, ever-living God, for the acts of love by which you redeem the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem and was proclaimed king by those who spread their garments and palm branches along his way, Let these branches be for us signs of his victory; and grant that we who bear them may always acclaim Jesus Messiah by walking the way of his suffering and cross that, dying and rising with him, we may enter into your kingdom.

Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

PROCLAMATION OF THE ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM Luke 19:28-40 (Turn to your bible and read this passage)

Response: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

CONFESSION

For all that we ought to have thought and have not thought, For all that we ought to have said and have not said, For all that we ought to have done, and have not done; For all that we ought not to have thought, and yet have thought, For all that we ought not to have spoken, and yet have spoken, For all that we ought to not to have done, and yet have done; For thoughts, words, and works, pray we, O God, for forgiveness and repent with penance.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE      God forgives you and loves you-no matter what.

PROCLAMATION OF THE PASSION STORY                         Matthew 27:11-54

READER 1: Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”

READER 2: And while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.

READER 1: Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”

READER 2: And he did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

READER 1: Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that because of envy they had handed him over.

READER 2: While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

READER 1: But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said,

ALL: “Barabbas.”

READER 1: Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said,

ALL: “Crucify Him!”

READER 1: And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying,

ALL: “Crucify Him!”

READER 2: When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said,

ALL: “His blood shall be on us and on our children!”

READER 1: Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they knelt down before him and mocked him, saying,

ALL: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

READER 1: They spat on him, and took the reed and began to beat him on the head.

READER 2: After they had mocked him, they took the scarlet robe off him and put his own garments back on him, and led him away to crucify him. As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, he was unwilling to drink.

READER 1: And when they had crucified him, they divided up his garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over him there. And above his head they put up the charge against him, which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

READER 2: At that time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at him, wagging their heads and saying, ALL: “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

READER 1: In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying,

ALL: “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; Let God rescue him now, if He delights in him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

READER 2: The robbers who had been crucified with him were also insulting him with the same words.

SOLO: “All they that see him” from Messiah All they that see him laugh him to scorn: they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying (Psalm 22:7)

READER 1: Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

READER 2: About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

READER 1: And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying,

ALL: “This man is calling for Elijah.”

READER 1: Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. But the rest of them said, ALL: “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

READER 2: And Jesus (AT) cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

READER 1: And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said,

ALL: “Truly this was the Son of God!”

HYMN                        “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”                        arr. Cindy Berry

(Follow these words during the music on Attachment – PIC 2)

1-3 Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty rock Within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way, From the burning noontide heat, And the burden of the day.

Upon the cross of Jesus Mine eye at times can see The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me; And from my stricken heart with tears Two wonders I confess: The wonders of redeeming love And my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow For my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of his face; Content to let the world go by, To know no gain nor loss, My sinful self my only shame, My glory all the cross.

MEDITATION ON THE WORD

(PIC 3)

OFFERING OF GIFTS AND TITHES (Please send your envelopes to the church office 1301 Clayton Avenue, Williamsport, PA)

PRAYER OF DEDICATION Dear Lord, we give you thanks for the way you provide for us. Bless these gifts of money, in addition to our gifts of time, energy, ideas and witness! We give because we love you. May all of our gifts be used to glorify you and help people be transformed by your love and mercy.

BENEDICTION May you enter a new week with courage, purpose and love, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

POSTLUDE                        “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”                        Callahan

Rev Susan Halverstadt, Pastor

David Koskey, Director of Music

 

 

 

Faxon-Kenmar UMC is using CCLI Streaming License 3356248 Exp. 3.31.21.