Maundy Thursday this year is on April 6!  Try a new way of marking the day in your parish community.  With or without a priest.  Check out the bulletins posted under Resources - Parish Resources - Worship. 

https://irp.cdn-website.com/87928975/files/uploaded/Diocese%20Maundy%20Thursday.pdf

     This order of worship for Maundy Thursday is within the context of an Agape Meal to be eaten with others in a congregation or community.  An Agape meal is an ancient feast of a communal meal shared by Christians, ‘agape’- a-ga-pay - being a Greek word that reflects God’s unconditional love.  The washing of feet, the sharing of bread and wine, and the new commandment to love one another all happened in a room where, on the night of his betrayal, Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. Jesus drew his friends together as host, teacher, friend, and mas- ter who was there to serve them all.

     This evening marks the beginning of the Three Days or the Paschal Triduum. Ideally, we celebrate the Holy Eucharist on this day. With or without clergy, we can join together in fellowship this holy night to pray, sing, and hear the Word of God while we eat together, and wash feet (only if desired.)

The service recognizes the profound connection between the Celebration of the Eucharist and the meals we share in daily life. It reminds us of the holiness, the “sacramentality” of all meals, the holiness of all food, and the presence of the Risen Christ whenever we break bread. It also reserves the symbolism of the Jewish Passover for its appropriate location in the Easter Vigil.

     This service weaves together parts of the Maundy Thursday liturgy with aspects of the Agape Meal as outlined in the Book of Occasional Services of The Episcopal Church (2018).