Join us on April 13th for our annual Maundy Thursday service. This service is quite a bit different from a typical Sunday morning service so we want to let you know in advance what it is all about.
When is it?
The service is structured as a drop-in. You are welcome to arrive anytime between 7:00 – 8:00pm on April 13th. The service is approximately 20 minutes in length.
Where is it?
The service will begin in the basement of the church. The basement is accessible at the back of the church building through the door at the bottom of the stairs. We will also have signs out that evening directing people where to go.
What’s a Monday Thursday?
Maundy (pronounced mon-dee) Thursday refers to the day before Good Friday. It was a significant day in the life of Jesus. On this day he celebrated the Last Supper, showed himself to be a servant by washing his disciples’ feet, prayed in the Garden, was betrayed by his friend Judas, and was arrested as a criminal. For those interested in language “Maundy” has its origins in the Latin word mandatum meaning “command”. This is a reference to the words of Jesus found in John 13:34. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you…”.
What to Expect:
In small groups you will receive a “guided tour” that retraces Jesus’ steps on Maundy Thursday. Stops along the way include: the upper room where Jesus shared the last supper with his disciples and three stations in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed and was arrested. We have designed sets and created a multi-sensory and interactive service that brings the story to life.
What about Kids:
The service is open to people of all ages and we have found that it makes an especially significant impression on kids. The multi-sensory approach engages their imaginations in a way that leaves a lasting impact. We find that the service also creates excellent opportunities for parents to discuss the Easter story with their kids. At the end of the service we will provide a short set of questions that parents can use to follow up with their kids. Several of the Neighbourhood kids are even known to reenact the service all year round.
