The focus of this service is on foot-washing; Eucharist may be included.
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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
John 13.34
PRELUDE
GREETING
Leader: Christ, our teacher and our healer,
you call us to your table to celebrate our freedom in God.
All: We come, drawn by your Word.
Christ, our savior and our Chief, you call us to be close to you in prayer.
We come, drawn by your Spirit.
Christ, our servant and our victim, you call us to follow you in humility.
We come, drawn by your love. Amen.
SONG
OLD TESTAMENT — Isaiah 42.1-4
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit within you;
you are to bring forth justice to the nations.
Do not cry or lift up your voice,
or make it heard in the street;
Gently, so as not to break a bruised reed
or quench a faint candle,
faithfully bring forth true justice.
You will not grow faint or be crushed
until you have established justice in the earth;
and far lands wait for your teaching.
SILENCE
PRAYER
Gentle Christ, in humble service you renounce power, comfort and status.
We surrender our fear, and open our hearts to your grace.
You do not cry out; you will not quench even a dimly burning wick.
We confess our anger, despair and violence,
and our distrust of the power of love.
We confess our envy and judgment, our thirst to dominate and control.
You call us to be light for the nations,
to open blind eyes and release imprisoned souls.
May your compassion flow through us to all living beings.
We pray for all whom we think are beneath us.
We pray for all those whom we have judged or wounded.
Gentle Christ, you establish justice in all the earth.
Grant us your spirit of nonviolence, justice and mercy. Amen.
SILENCE
NEW TESTAMENT — 1 Corinthians 1.18-31
SILENCE
PRAYER
Suffering Christ, you humble yourself to death,
even to the shame of the cross.
We confess that we hurt others, seeking our own security.
We pray for all who suffer, who are ashamed, who are accused,
for they are the Lamb of God.
You lovingly serve even those who harm you.
Grant us your spirit of humble servanthood.
Your tender love is more powerful than all our evil.
Grant us your spirit of self-emptying love. Amen.
OFFERING
SONG
[Optional: SHARING THE MEAL OF JESUS]
MEDITATION
GOSPEL John 13. 1-17
SILENCE
PRAYER
Loving Christ, in our sin you wash us clean;
in our grief you bless us;
in our shame you honor us, in our weariness you restore us.
We confess our resistance to your grace.
Wash the feet of our hearts, that we may wholly belong to you.
You pour out your Spirit upon us, and make us your brimming vessels.
Grant us your spirit of love, O God, your life-giving spirit of love.
SONG
THE FOOT-WASHING
SCRIPTURE John 13.34-35
SILENCE
PSALM Psalm 141 (A paraphrase)
Holy One, you who are always present for me, I call to you.
Hear the cry of my heart — oh hear!
My prayer rises like incense before you,
my hands I raise as my evening sacrifice.
Beloved, keep watch over my mouth;
stand guard at the door of my lips.
Keep me from evil thoughts,
from joining in other people’s anger.
Help me stay free from joining them in accusing;
may I never seek comfort in belonging with them.
Let righteous people strike me,
let the faithful condemn me,
but may the wicked never anoint me with the acid of their praise:
for every day I pray blessing in defiance of their evil.
With the stones we would throw we are always wounded.
Help us see the way of gentleness, and follow.
The whole warring world is divided and split:
our bones lie at the edge of hell.
So we turn to you, O Loving One:
You are our healing, and our only hope.
Keep me out of the trap of blaming and judging,
the pit of evil, so easy to fall into.
The violent are entangled in their own nets,
while I go freely on a different way.
SILENCE
SONG
BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
POSTLUDE
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Suggested Songs
At Your Feet (Original song)
Jesus, at your feet I bow. I am yours completely now.
By your mercy show me how to be loving.
Jesus, teacher, you who save, you have served me as a slave.
This the perfect gift you gave: to be loving.
In each hurting one I meet it is you, O Christ, I greet.
Make my faithfulness complete, to be loving.
By your grace (Tune: What Wondrous Love Is This)
What wondrous love is this O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
That you so freely give the bread by which we live,
that you revive our soul, by your Word, by your Word,
and by your life in us make us whole.
Our lives we give to you, by your grace, by your grace,
our lives we give to you, by your grace.
Lord, use the gifts we give to help your children live,
that all may come and feast by your grace, by your grace,
the greatest and the least, by your grace.
God, help us die and rise, by your grace, by your grace,
by Christ alive in us, die and rise;
for when we finally do surrender all to you,
you give us life anew, by your grace, by your grace
you give eternal life, by your grace.