Maundy Thursday
April 2, 2015
Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14 The
Message Bible
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 The
Message Bible
John 6:47-51 The Message
Bible
Psalm 116:1-6, 12-19 The
Message Bible
A Teachable Moment…
We have almost come to the
end of our Lenten journey together. On our journey we have learned that through
Jesus, God pours out so many blessings but the most important is the free gift
God Salvation only found through Jesus. As Psalm 116 said, God heard our cry
for help. . . He heard and came to help, He knew our need for a Messiah. God
did not come and help in the form of a Davidic king taking Rome by storm but in
the form of a helpless babe who grew up to be the King of all kings freeing all
of humanity from a fate worse than death. . . freeing us from our sin. How
interesting it is that He would come in the form of a helpless babe to help us
in our helplessness of sin. . . He became like us to conquer for us. . . And
this gift. . . is absolutely FREE!
We now enter the upper
room where Jesus taught His disciples then and now one of the most important
lessons in His ministry. There was one last thing He needed to show
them…example for them…before He completed His work on the cross. Jesus took
something that they were taught as they grew up…the Pass Over Seder…and turned
into something new…something different. They were taught that the Seder was a
remembrance of how God delivered the Israelite's from the tyranny of the
Egyptians as is stated in the Exodus scripture I read this evening. Now this
new thing was about remembering Jesus and His teachings…about remembering how
Jesus acted and to go and do likewise.
At this Seder, Jesus did something that a teacher would never
have done. Instead of having others wash His feet…instead of claiming the
rights of one was above others…Jesus did a new thing. He was the one who washed
the feet. Taking on the posture of a servant instead of being served, He taught
the disciples and us to live a new way…one that puts others above our selves.
I can understand how Simon Peter felt…he knew who Jesus was.
Peter understood that Jesus was special. Peter felt unworthy of Jesus washing
his feet but Jesus told him that if He didn’t, Peter could have no part of what
Jesus was doing…this new way of life. In taking on this new lifestyle… of a
servant…Jesus also gave them and us a new commandment. To love others not as
our self but as Jesus loved. To be willing to put aside self and take up theirs
and our own cross and follow Jesus’ example.
Jesus taught the disciples many lesson as they learned from
their Rabbouni. We continue to this
day to remember those lessons by reenacting the Lords Supper. This too was a
new thing that night when the celebrated the passover meal together. You see
not only did Jesus become their servant and gave that servant example to them,
He also changed the meaning behind the whole “Lords Supper”. It not only was a
remembrance of what God did in Egypt but also what God did in Christ Jesus. . .
He became that Pascal Lamb. . . He proclaims that He is the “Bread of Life” as
in the John scripture from tonight. The disciples then and now celebrate this
meal that Jesus offers so that we may live life with Him. Through Him there is
life eternal instead of a life of death.
Through His death and resurrection we have new life in Christ. . . 1
Corinthians reminds us that each time we celebrate. . . reenact this meal, we
are drawn back to the Upper Room and suit with Jesus. May we always cherish
these moments and never get to the point that we become so familiar that we
just go through the motions and miss out on the God inspired moment in the
Upper Room. . .
So. . . now Jesus gives one of His final lessons at this meal
in the Upper Room. They and we are called to live in a new and radical way…much
different than the world around us as Jesus’ disciples. Now. . . they and we
are called to serve. . . to set aside ourselves our titles. . . our degrees. .
. our self-interests. . . our ego's. . . we are called to not see color. . . we
are called to not see economic realities. . . we are called to be a house of
prayer and not a house of despair. . . we are called to be the hands, feet,
voice and image of the Servant of the Lord. We are called to roll up ourselves
and get involved with a hurting world who needs acts of Radical Hospitality.
We are called to love unconditionally. We are called to serve
others with the love and joy that Jesus did. We are called into the family
business, as beloved children of the Most High God. We are called to be Christ
to the world. Imagine what the world would be if we were more interested in the
family business than branching out on our own? Maybe the world. . . humanity. .
. needs to return to its original form and walk in the cool of the evening with
our God? What to do you think would happen if you and I would unconditionally
be the hands and feet of Christ? Just imagine.
April 2, 2015
Maundy
Thursday
Opening
Prayer and 1st reading:
Psalm
116:1-6, 12-19 (NRSV)
2nd
reading - Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14 (NRSV) and 3rd reading -
1
Corinthians 11:23-26 (NRSV)
4th
reading - John 13:1-17, 31b-35
sermon,
“Lenten Reflections”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
prayer
of confession
“As
the Deer”
“More
Love, More Power”
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=662949973811361&set=vb.174161846023512
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXtjIFABQ6I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXtjIFABQ6I
“How
Beautiful”
foot
washing
Communion
– part 1
Communion
- part 2
Prayer after communion
Benediction
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 2, 2015
&
Palm Sunday
John 19:28-29
(The Amplified Bible)
sermon, “What
Do We Thirst For? . . .”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message – “That
slipper snake”
-
Mystery
box – rubber snake
video:
text:
Sacred
Dance introit, distribution of the palms
to
“Hosanna” by Kirk Franklin
praise
hymn, “Hear Our Praises”
praise
hymn, “How Majestic Is Your Name”
praise
hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness
praise
hymn, “Break Every Chain”
offertory
hymn, “Light The Fire Again”
Communion
hymns, “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”
closing song,
“God You Reign”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
6th Sunday of
Lent
Palm Sunday
March 29, 2015
&
Mark 15:21-36a
(The Message)
Psalm 22:1
Psalm 22:1
sermon, “You
Are Never Alone”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s Message – “The
Protection of the Trinity”
-
Mystery
box – jackknife (from Ted)
video:
text:
praise
hymn, “I Will Call Upon the Lord”
praise
hymn, “Standing In The Need of Prayer”
praise
hymn, “It’s Amazing”
praise
hymn, “For Those Tears I Died”
offertory
hymn, “ At The Cross”
Communion
and Communion hymns, “Ain’t Jesus Good” and “I Will Bless The Lord”
closing hymn,
“Let Everything That Has Breath”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
5th Sunday in
Lent
March 22, 2015
&
John 19:25-27
Ephesians 1:3-14
Romans 8:15
sermon, “You
Are Chosen”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s Message – “God's
Love Letter; God is writing your story”
-
Mystery
box – a pencil
video:
text:
praise
hymn, “Step By Step”
praise
hymn, “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High”
praise
hymn, “Jesus, Messiah”
praise
hymn, “I Stand Amazed”
offertory
hymn, “May Jesus Christ Be Praised” (“When Morning Gilds the Skies”)
Communion
and Communion hymn, “There Is A River”
closing hymn,
“Shout To the Lord”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in
Lent
March 8, 2015
&
Luke 23:32, 39-43
sermon, “So
This Is Paradise”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message – “Thirsting for God”
-
Mystery
box – bottle of grape juice
video:
text:
centering
hymn, “Surely the Presence”, Greeting and Announcements, Opening Prayer
praise
hymn, “Forever”
praise
hymn, “Everlasting”
praise hymn,
“To God Be the Glory”
praise
hymn, “I Worship You Almighty God”
offertory
hymn, “The Love Of God Goes On”
Communion
hymn, “10,000 Reasons”
closing hymn,
“Better Is One Day”
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=648698805236478&set=vb.174161846023512&type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=648698805236478&set=vb.174161846023512&type=2&theater
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in
Lent
March 1, 2015
&
Luke 23:23, 33-34
sermon, “You
Are Forgiven”
video:
text:
http://pstruthsermons.blogspot.com/2015/02/you-are-forgiven.html
https://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/you-are-forgiven/
https://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/you-are-forgiven/
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message – “Jesus is our superhero”
-
Mystery
box – Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Scooby Doo
-
and a
candy cane
video:
image:
text:
centering,
“Surely the Presence”
praise
hymn, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
offertory
hymn, “Make My Life A Prayer to You”
Communion
hymn, “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him”
closing hymn,
“Our God Reigns”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
1st
Sunday in Lent
February 22,
2015
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poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights
reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 37,180+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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