Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration for Maundy Thursday
O Lord Jesus Christ, enthroned in the majesty of heaven, who, when you came forth from God, did make yourself one that serves: We adore you because you did lay aside the garment of your glory, and clothed yourself with all humility, and minister to your disciples, washing their feet. Teach us to know what you have done and to follow your example; deliver us from pride, jealousy and ambition, and make us ready to be subject one to another, and with humility to serve one another for your sake, O Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Prayers for the Christian Year, Language Adapted for Modern Worship by Stuart Strachan Jr.
The love of Christ has gathered us as one.
Let us rejoice and be glad in him.
Let us fear and love the living God
And in purity of heart let us love one another.
Where charity and love are, there is God.
When therefore we are gathered together
Let us not be divided in spirit.
Let bitter strife and discord cease between us;
Let Christ our God be present in our midst.
Where charity and love are, there is God.
With all the blessed may we see for ever
Your face in glory, Jesus Christ our God.
Joy that is infinite and undefiled
For all the ages of eternity.
Where charity and love are, there is God. Amen.
Hymn: Ubi Caritas, from The Western Rite
This is the day that Christ, the Lamb of God,
gave himself into the hands of those who would slay him.
This is that day that Christ gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room.
This is the day that Christ took a towel\ and washed his disciples’ feet,
giving us an example that we should do to others as he has done to us.
This is the day that Christ our God gave us this holy feast,
that we who eat this bread and drink this cup may here proclaim
his holy sacrifice and be partakers of his resurrection
and at the last day may reign with him in heaven.
Leader: Taste and see that the Lord is good.
People: Happy are all who take refuge in him.
Leader: Let us bring our praise to God.
Complete Library of Christian Worship, Vol. 5: The Services of the Christian Year, Robert Webber, Ed.