A Service of Holy Communion & Tenebrae
The Church of Christ, Union Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026
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. You are welcome to participate in washing the hands or feet of others as you are moved.
Prelude
7:30 pm GATHERING TO HEAR AND KNOW
Welcome
Greeting and Invitation
¨ 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.
JUDAS’ DECISION
Hearing the Story Matthew 26:14-19
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.
STORY OF THE MEAL
Hearing the Story Matthew 26:20-30
Receiving Communion
Tonight we will receive by intinction (dipping the unleavened bread in the cup) and by serving one another at the two tables on either side of the chancel. The bread is gluten free. Both wine and grape juice are offered tonight and will be clearly marked.
Special Music This Is My Body Cheri Keaggy Steve Emery and Maranda Weckman
PREDICTION OF PETER’S DENIAL
Hearing the Story Matthew 26:31-35
Anthem Pie Jesu Andrew Lloyd Webber Union Church Choir and Orchestra, Emily North and Maranda Weckman, soloists
JESUS PRAYS IN THE GARDEN
Hearing the Story Matthew 26:36-56
Anthem I Choose Love Mark Miller Union Church Choir
JESUS TAKEN TO THE HIGH PRIEST’S HOUSE
Hearing the Story Matthew 26:57-27:2
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.
SUICIDE OF JUDAS
Hearing the Story Matthew 27:3-10
Special Music When Jesus Wept the Falling Tear William Billings
PILATE QUESTIONS JESUS
Hearing the Story Matthew 27:11-14
Special Music Vocalise Sergei Rachmaninoff Charles Hoffman, cello
THE RELEASE OF BARABBAS INSTEAD OF JESUS
Hearing the Story Matthew 27:15-26
Special Music Gethsemane Maranda Weckman Steve Emery and Maranda Weckman
JESUS MOCKED BY SOLDIERS
Hearing the Story Matthew 27:27-31
Organ Solo The Cross Fugue J. S. Bach
JESUS CRUCIFIED AT GOLGOTHA
Hearing the Story Matthew 27:32-44
Special Music Crucifixus Claudio Monteverdi Union Church Orchestra
THE DEATH OF JESUS
Hearing the Story Matthew 27:45-56
Silence
JESUS’ BODY LAID IN THE TOMB
Hearing the Story Matthew 27:57-61
Special Music Were You There trad. Dr. Stephen Bolster, soloist
The Candle of Hope Carried Forth
LEAVING, WAITING, WATCHING
Silence and Darkness
Those who wish may remain to pray. Tomorrow the church will remain locked and unlit. We depart to our homes to pray for the light.
About Tonight’s Service
Tenebrae: On this night we commemorate the events of Jesus’ life that led to his crucifixion. We gather to tell the story of the gospel and to share communion just as the original disciples did on this night nearly 2,000 years ago. “Tenebrae” is the Latin word meaning, “shadows.” This Service of Tenebrae is an adaptation of a liturgy that dates from the fourth century. The candles represent the disciples and the Christ. The denial and desertion is represented by the gradual darkness culminating in the total darkness of death and burial. A single, sheltered candle is re-lit and taken from the sanctuary at the close of the service to prophesy of the Easter so soon to come.
Maundy Thursday: “The word “Maundy” comes from “mandatum novum,“ the Latin translation of John 13:34, “I give you a new commandment…that you love one another” Jesus spoke these words to the disciples on the evening when the First Supper was celebrated, just before he was betrayed and taken away to his trial. We commemorate this new commandment at every celebration of Communion. Tonight we remember the institution of the sacrament.
The Story According To Matthew: Tonight’s reading of the “Passion” narrative is taken from the gospel according to Matthew, most likely written about 90 CE by an unknown Christian who was probably located in or near Antioch of Syria. Although the apostle Matthew may have been active in founding the church in which this Gospel originated, the author exhibits an outlook, a command of Greek, and rabbinic training that suggest that he or she was a Jewish Christian of the second generation. The community for which the gospel was written was probably prosperous, urban, and mixed with both Gentiles and Jews. The text of Matthew includes hymns and prayers from that community and shows concern for sustaining the existing community of faith more than the other Gospels writers.
Communion: Originally the meal that is described in the Gospels was served on low tables while the guests reclined on the floor or on cushions. The bread we use tonight is similar to what may have been served at the First Table, and both wine and grape juice are provided to symbolize the gift of Christ’s blood. This is Jesus’ table, not our own. All who would be fed are welcome here.
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This service was made possible by many volunteers who have led the prayers and readings for our worship. We especially thank the readers, choir, soloists, orchestra and our musical director for their hard work preparing the music that made it possible to offer this worship to the glory of God.
Watch. Wait. Pray.
Our Holy Week Continues…
Holy Saturday, April 4, 10:00 am Gather with Rev. Kent as we clean and prepare the sanctuary for our Easter guests. We’ll dust the pews, and prepare the decorations, and place lilies.
Easter Sunday, April 5
¨ 7:00 am Sunrise Service, White’s Memorial Presbyterian Church, 400 White Station Rd, Berea. Let’s share worship, song, and prayer with all our neighbors.
¨ 10 am Easter Activities for kids, beginning in Cowan Chapel and moving on to the Easter Egg Hunt! Cowan Chapel is on the Scaffold Cane Rd. side of the building, to the right of the main sanctuary steps.
¨ 10:30 am Celebration of the Resurrection! Join to recall the joy and hope of that first Easter Morning, and to renew yourself by recalling that God’s love is not reserved in that long-ago time. This is a lovely time to invite guests, new neighbors, and any who’ve ever wondered what Union Church is about!
¨ Breathe and Sing Begins Next Week!
Thanks to a special grant from the Lilly foundation, Union Church will be offering special events and experiences in a season we are calling “Breathe and Sing: Together with One Voice.”
In Sunday worship, in special events and classes, you are invited to explore how to catch your breath in challenging times. And how to let your heart (and voice!) sing for resilience. Everyone who wishes can experience voice lessons, breathing techniques for health, Alexander Technique classes for alignment and ease of movement, song classes with local and national leaders, and much more! The Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins will be our pastoral guide April-July. You can find out more at union-church.org/breatheandsing
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