Stalbridge Congregational Church Prayer / Reflection/ for 9th April 2020

Hello everyone, a month ago at our church meeting we planned at communion service at 10.30 am. I hope
you will join me and John as we celebrate communion at home. We are missing the face to face
fellowship, love and joy which meeting at Church brings – but picture you all in our mind’s eye as we
worship each Sunday – we hope it helps you to feel connected both to God and to each other as we reflect
on scripture and pray together – keep well until we can meet in one place again. The songs are on our
Bible Course facebook page.
Maundy Thursday – Communion
You might like to set the scene
– imagine a bowl of water and a towel. The table set for a meal – bread and wine
Praise God together with these words from scripture……
From the rising of the sun ‘til its setting in the west, GOD’S HOLY NAME BE PRAISED
On the lips of children, by babies at the breast, GOD’S HOLY NAME BE PRAISED
In the visions of the old and the dreaming of the you, GOD’S HOLY NAME BE PRAISED
in the banqueting hall of heaven and the forgotten corners of your hearts, GOD’S HOLY NAME BE PRAISED
Sing v 1 of 162 – the Servant King
From heaven You came, helpless babe, This is our God, the Servant King,
entered our world, Your glory veiled he calls us now to follow him.
Not to be served, but to serve, to live our lives as a daily offering
and give Your life that we might live. Of worship to the Servant King.

Let us pray together……

Lord, in these times, when we fear and are in danger of losing hope, when we feel that there is so little we
can do to change the course of this virus – and serve each other – let us see in our hearts the image of your
sacrifice for us – knowing we can see beyond to your resurrection. Make this our source of courage and
strength. In our personal lives there are other challenges and fears which we bring to you bow asking that
you will help each one of us to face them knowing that you are with us each step of the way. Hold all
those we love in your love and care – Jesus we pray in your name AMEN
Read Matthew 26 v 17 – 30
Just as Jesus sent his disciples to prepare for the Passover – each one of us must prepare our Lord’s table
some bread – some wine – making sure all is ready.
Unlike that meal – there is only ‘me’ / ‘you’ alone or with a partner to bless the bread and wine:
There is no one else to serve you – you must serve yourself – it reminds us of Jesus’ loneliness in the
Garden of Gethsemane – take a moment to think about this – then pray your thanksgiving and blessing on
the bread and wine.
Let us sing together……..465 Meekness and Majesty
Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity, O what a mystery,
in perfect harmony, the man who is God: meekness and majesty:
Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity, bow down and worship
kneels in humility and washes our feet. For this is your God…. This is your God
Father’s pure radiance, perfect in innocence Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible,
yet learns obedience to death on a cross: love indestructible in frailty appears.
Suffering to give us life, conquering through sacrifice; Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly,
and as they crucify, prays, “Father forgive”. Lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne.
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty, bow down and worship, for this is Your God, this is Your God…

Take eat……. Let us eat and drink together …..

“While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke the bread and gave it
to his disciples……….”
Take your bread – break it – give thanks for it – and as hear Jesus say, “Take and eat it; this is my body”
As you eat the bread repeat the words – the Body of Christ ………….name of the one you would normally sit
next to in Church – given for you.
“Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them.” Drink from it, all of you. This is the blood of
the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell, I will not drink of this fruit of
the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Take your wine – think of someone you would like to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour – name
them and then drink of it all of us together.
Let us say the Lord’s Prayer together.

The Lord’s Supper contains a number of themes ….

The hardest is perhaps – Denial – Judas the obvious candidate but what about Peter what about me?
But equally challenging is - Running Away – the only disciple left after Jesus’s arrest was Peter
Following this Jesus is arrested, tried, convicted and crucified – all the while the disciples are scattered –
hiding behind locked doors – fearing for their lives. Despite the darkness of these Holy Week days – and
the difficulties of the Corona Virus illness, death and lockdown light your candle each night at 7 pm as a
sign that the light of the world never stopped shining in the darkness –

Let us close by singing the rest of 162 – The Servant King.

There in the garden of tears, Come, see His hands and His feet,
my heavy load He chose to bear: the scars that speak of sacrifice,
His heart with sorrow was torn, hands that flung stars into space,
“Yet not my will, but Yours”, He said. To cruel nails surrendered.
So let us learn how to serve This is our God, the Servant King,
and in our hearts, enthrone Him, He calls us now to follow Him,
each other’s needs to prefer, and bring our lives as a daily offering
for it is Christ we’re serving. Of worship to the Servant King.
Say the Grace to each other……
The Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you/us
all now and evermore. AMEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHOOSE A HYMN FOR EASTER SUNDAY LET ME KNOW AND WE WILL TRY AND DO
IT FOR YOU ON FACEBOOK AND IN THE SERVICE SHEET.