A Service of Holy Communion & Tenebrae
The Church of Christ, Union April 17, 2025
7:00 pm Service of Foot and Hand Washing
Jesus taught that leadership begins with service. The act of washing the feet of guests after a journey was usually the work of slaves, but Jesus insisted on washing the feet of his disciples on the night before he was betrayed. It was an act intended to honor and welcome those who serve. Either hands or feet will be washed with warm water scented with oil, then dried with fresh towels.
Gathering Music
1. The Night of Shadows and Betrayal
Greeting and Invitation
One: On this night we remember the events that led up to Jesus’ betrayal, desertion and death. We recall his pain and anguish as he prepared to meet the consequences of his faithfulness to God’s way. Through the Passover meal he shared with his friends, this night is different from all other nights, for in it we remember the cost of the love Jesus had for us. Let us enter the story and allow mystery to surround us. But let us keep silence when we have heard it and the service is over.
Stay to pray as long as you wish, in the darkness and silence of this holy night. Then go to keep the story in your heart. For, like the disciples in that first Holy Week, we fail to follow the light, we pretend we don’t know God, and we too deny all that Jesus teaches. The world suffers and we do not respond.
One: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”
All: For God sent his child Jesus into the world not to condemn but that the world might be healed through him.
One: This is the week of darkness.
All: This is the time of trial, the day of betrayal.
One: The light was too bright; the message too challenging.
All: And this is the judgement: that the light has come into the world, and the people loved darkness more.
Hymn #222 My Song Is Love Unknown Rhosymedre
1 My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me; love to the loveless shown,
that they might lovely be. Oh, who am I, that for my sake my God should take frail flesh and die? My God should take frail flesh and die?
2 God left the richest throne salvation to bestow; but Christ as flesh and bone the world refused to know. But oh, my Friend, my Friend indeed, who at my need did life expend, who at my need did life expend!
3 Sometimes they threw down palms, and sweetest praises sing; Hosannas and glad psalms through streets and markets rang. Then “Crucify!” is all their breath, for blood and death they thirst and cry; for blood and death they thirst and cry.
4 What has my Sovereign done? What makes this rage and spite? Christ gave new strength to run;
restored the gift of sight. Sweet injuries! Yet they at these themselves displease, and ‘gainst Christ rise; themselves displease, and ‘gainst Christ rise.
5 I sing my plain belief, one song my heart outpours: Never was pain nor grief, never was love like yours. This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend; in all my days could gladly spend.
2. The Passover Meal: This do In Remembrance of Me
Hearing the Story from Luke 22:1-23
Hymn #225 It Was a Sad and Solemn Night Bourbon
1 It was a sad and solemn night when powers of earth and hell arose against the child of God’s delight, whom friends betrayed to wicked foes.
2 Before the mournful scene began, our Jesus blessed and broke the bread; what love through all these actions ran, what wondrous words of love were said!
3 “This is my body, broke for sin; receive and eat the living food.” Then took the cup and blessed the wine: “This the new covenant in my blood.”
4 “Share this, my feast, till time shall end, in memory of your dying friend; meet at my table and recall the love which God has shown to all.”
5 Oh Christ, your feast we celebrate; we show your death; we sing your name till you return and we shall eat the marriage supper of the Lamb.
3. Remembering and Sharing the Meal
Communion Invitation
Serving One Another
Everyone is invited to participate in the remembrance of this meal, whether you are a church member or not. Elements are gluten-free. Please come forward to receive bread at the first station and the cup at the second, placing the empty cup in the adjacent tray.
Communion Music Jesus, Remember Me, When You Come into Your Kingdom Taize
4. I Am Among You as One Who Serves
Hearing the Story from Luke 22:24-39
Musical Meditation Beneath the Cross Union Church Orchestra
5. Remove This Cup From Me
Hearing the Story from Luke 22:40-54
Sung Psalm 22:1-5,11-15,19-24 p. 632
The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form with congregational responses. Please sing the response when invited, indicated by R
6. You Are Also One of Them
Hearing the Story from Luke 22:55-62
Choir Anthem Lamb of God Christiansen Union Church Choir
Lamb of God most holy! Who on the cross didst suffer, patient still and lowly. Thyself to scorn didst offer; our sins by Thee were taken, or hope had us forsaken: Have mercy on us, O Jesus!
7. Are You the King of the Jews?
Hearing the Story from Luke 22:63-23:12
Hymn #226 Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded Passion Chorale
1. O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded with thorns your only crown. How pale you are with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn! How does your visage languish which once was bright as morn!
2. What you, dear Savior suffered was all for sinners’ gain; mine, mine was the transgression but yours the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior, for I deserve your place; Look on me with your favor, O grant to me your grace.
3. What language shall I borrow to thank you, dearest friend; For this, thy dying sorrow, your pity without end? May I be yours forever; and though my days be few, O Savior, let me never outlive my love for you!
8. Crucify Him, Crucify Him!
Hearing the Story from Luke 23:13-25
Stripping the Sanctuary
As Jesus was stripped of all finery before the soldiers, so we remove the finery and trappings of our sanctuary. We remove or cover all symbols of Christ’s presence and proclamation including the table, the Peace Bell, and even the pulpit where “good news” is proclaimed. These are covered to symbolize the darkness of the world and the death of Jesus.
Musical Meditation On the Willows Scwartz Union Church Choir
On the willows, there, we hung up our lyres for our captors there required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth. Saying sing us one of the songs of Zion, but how can we sing? Sing the Lord’s songs? In a foreign land?
9. If They Do This in the Green Wood …
Hearing the Story from Luke 23:26-31
Musical Meditation Ave Maria Caccini Union Church Choir
Ave Maria. Amen.
10. He Saved Others; Let Him Save Himself!
Hearing the Story from Luke 23:32-38
Musical Meditation Crucifixus Fugue J.S. Bach Bernardo Scarambone, organ
11. You Will Be With Me in Paradise
Hearing the Story from Luke 23:39-43
Musical Meditation
12. “Into Your Hands…”
Hearing the Story from Luke 23:44-49
Musical Meditation Were You There trad. Spiritual Steve Bolster, soloist
1. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
2. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
3. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
13. Laid in a Rock-Hewn Tomb
Hearing the Story from Luke 23:50-56
The Candle of Hope Carried Forth
14. Leaving, Waiting, Watching
Silence and Darkness
Those who wish may remain to pray. We depart to our homes to pray for the light.
This service was made possible by many volunteers who have led the prayers and readings for our worship. We thank the choir, orchestra, soloists, and our Director of Music Ministries; our computer, audio and video technicians for their hard work preparing this worship to the glory of God. A very special thank-you to Jennifer Elam for the cover art painting.
Leave a Reply