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Creative Worship Experience: Images of Holy Week

This service was originally designed by a team from the McKendree District Worship Committee in the Memphis Annual Conference for a district worship event during Lent. It is offered here with permission from that team. Please use it as a springboard for discussion with your own worship planning team as you help your congregation to experience the events of Holy Week anew this Lent.

During this service, we visit images and symbols of Holy Week. The scattered palms and garments show us that some kind of triumphant entrance into the city has taken place.

[The worship space is littered with palm branches and pieces of clothing -- remnants of the people paving Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.]

AFTER THE PARADE

GATHERING MUSIC

CALL TO WORSHIP
Return to the Lord, God of all mercies, for a feast of love has been prepared for God's own.
I will bless the Lord at all times.
God's praise shall be continually in my mouth.
O taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Happy are they who take refuge in God.
O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt God's name together.


HYMN 280 (United Methodist Hymnal) -- All Glory, Laud, and Honor


ON THE NIGHT OF THE MEAL

GOSPEL READING -- Matthew 26:20-24

THE INVITATION TO THE TABLE
Christ our Lord invites to the table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin,and who seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore let us confess our sin before God and one another.

CONFESSION AND PARDON
Most merciful God,
we your church confess that often our spirit has not been that of Christ.
Where we have failed to love one another as he loves us,
where we have pledged loyalty to him with our lips and then betrayed, deserted, or denied him, forgive us, we pray;
and by your Spirit make us faithful in every time of trial.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All offer prayers of confession in silence.

Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God's love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God! Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING -- Pages 64-65, United Methodist Book of Worship

THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE BREAKING OF BREAD

THE SHARING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP
The congregation is invited to share an offering with the poor of the community.

HYMN 256 (United Methodist Hymnal) -- We Would See Jesus


AFTER THE MEAL

A SYMBOL OF SERVICE
[Here one who will portray Jesus through the rest of the service is dressed in first century clothing. He sets up a chair, a towel, a basin, and a pitcher full of warm water in the worship center. Then Jesus goes out to the congregation and brings forward one who will have her or his feet washed (set up ahead of time). During the silence, Jesus washes this person's feet. Afterward, Jesus escorts the person back to the pew, places the towel, basin, and pitcher on the altar table, along with the chalice and bread left from Communion. Jesus puts the chair away.]

GOSPEL READING -- John 13:3-15

HYMN 273 (United Methodist Hymnal) -- Jesus' Hands Were Kind Hands

IN THE GARDEN

GOSPEL READING -- Matthew 26:36-39

A SYMBOL OF CALL
[Here the one playing Jesus enters the worship center. Jesus moves to one side of the worship center and offers clasped hands toward heaven in fervent, almost frantic prayer. Jesus moves to the opposite side of the worship center and offers the same prayer in that direction. Jesus moves toward the front, facing the congregation, and sits or kneels, offering hands in the same position. Someone from the congregation comes forward and places a crown of thorns over Jesus' hands held in prayer. Jesus rises and places the crown of thorns on the altar.]

HYMN 290 (United Methodist Hymnal) -- Go to Dark Gethsemane

JUDAS' DECISION

GOSPEL READING Matthew 26:47-50

A SYMBOL OF BETRAYAL
[Here Jesus stands in the worship center. Someone portraying Judas, also dressed in first-century costume, enters from a side front door. Jesus opens his arms toward Judas in an inviting way. Someone in the congregation has small bag filled with coins and is tossing the bag in an audible, rhythmic manner. Judas circles the congregation, looking toward Jesus; but he is drawn by the sound of the coins. Judas makes his way to the one with the coins, takes them and starts to walk out of the sanctuary in front of Jesus, who still stands with open arms. Judas hesitates, runs up and hugs Jesus, and then runs out of the sanctuary.]

HYMN 402 (United Methodist Hymnal) -- Lord, I Want to be a Christian

THE TRIAL

A DRAMATIC PRESENTATION [See the presentation in The New Handbook of the Christian Year by Hoyt L. Hickman, Don E. Saliers, Laurence Hull Stookey, and James F. White (Abingdon Press, 1992), page 182, starting with the narrator's line "Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium...." The presentation includes parts for Jesus, Pilate, a narrator, and some people for the crowd. Eliminate narrator's roles as seems appropriate.]

A MOMENT IN SILENCE AND DARKNESS

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING

DEPART IN PEACE

RESOURCES USED:
The United Methodist Hymnal, The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989.
The United Methodist Book of Worship, The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992.
The New Handbook of the Christian Year, Hoyt L. Hickman, Don E. Saliers, Laurence Hull Stookey, James F. White, Abingdon Press, 1992.

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