Maundy Thursday Meal & Holy Communion
Maundy Thursday is observed as the night before Jesus was crucified. It was two days before the Jewish Passover.
SHARE A MEAL Share a meal together!
(optional)
Potluck is great. You
can organize it using
PerfectPotluck.com
Sing or listen to a contemplative song. A suggestion is attached, “Lord I Need
You,” #11 on the “Small Group Worship CD,”
(to transition from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA
… or …
the meal to
Holy Communion) Prayers of spontaneous thanksgiving to God.
PREPARATION
MAUNDY
THURSDAY
READING
HOLY
COMMUNION
Use the attached “Maundy Thursday Reading,” with 8 different readers.
1. Leader, pray in thanksgiving to Jesus, as you feel led, for His sacrificial
death on the cross.
song sheets
&
a way to play the
song
“Maundy Thursday
Reading”
&
Bibles
consecrated
matzah &
grape juice
2. Leader, explain to the group what to do, asking that you be served last.
Leader goes first to show how to do it.
3. Leader, go to one person and tell the person how he/she has been a
blessing to you.
4. Then say to that person: “The body and blood of Christ, given for you.”
5. That person breaks off a piece of bread, dips it in the grape juice, and
eats.
6. That person takes the elements and goes to another person to do as the
leader did.
7. Continue the process until the leader has been served.
LISTENING &
PRAYER
Listen to God for one another in groups of three’s. Invite God to speak
encouragement to us. Say what you believe you hear from God.
Pray for one another.
SUPPLIES
 Potluck meal, if you choose to have a meal; organize it using PerfectPotluck.com
 Song sheets and a way to play the song
 “Maundy Thursday Reading” (attached); assign 8 readers in advance
 Bibles
 Consecrated matzah and grape juice
The group leader does not have to lead the meeting! If someone else would like to lead, great!
**Dispose of any unconsumed Matzah by putting it outside on the ground for the birds. Pour unconsumed grape juice onto
the ground. Do not put any consecrated Matzah or grape juice in the trash or down the sink.
Lord I Need You
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
You're my one defense, my
righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Maundy Thursday Reading
Everyone please read unhurriedly, and with expression.
Reader 1:
Today we observe Maundy Thursday, which was the night before Jesus was crucified.
Maundy Thursday was two days before the Jewish Passover.
Reader 2:
Passover was instituted in the Old Testament. The people of Israel had been held
captive for 400 years in Egypt, where they were slaves. Through Moses, God had sent
9 plagues to Egypt, in order to persuade the Egyptians to let the Israelites go free. But
the Egyptians refused.
Reader 3:
So God told Moses to prepare the Israelites for one last plague: God would kill all of the
firstborn in Egypt, both people and livestock. But God would not harm the people and
livestock of Israel. After that, Egypt would let the Israelites go free, as God had
promised centuries before that time.
Reader 4:
Let’s read about the Passover in Exodus 12:14-30. (Read the Bible passage aloud.)
Reader 5:
After these events happened, Egypt freed the Israelites. This event is called the Exodus.
“Exodus” means “a going out.”
Reader 6:
Today the Exodus and Passover have profound meaning for both Jews and Christians.
As Christians, we see Jesus as the sacrificial Passover lamb, who died on the cross for
us, and rescued us from the eternal devastation of sin.
**Leader:
How has God rescued you? (Invite everyone to answer.)
Reader 7:
Two days before Passover, Jesus instituted Holy Communion. He thereby became the
Passover Lamb who would take away the sins of the world.
Reader 8:
Read Luke 22:7-23.
Small Group Guide
Small Group Guide
Look Up
Look Up
Open with a time of prayer and worship. Suggested song, “Lord I Need You,”
#11 on the Small Group Worship CD,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA
… or … Prayers of spontaneous thanksgiving to God.
Open with a time of prayer and worship. Suggested song, “Lord I Need You,”
#11 on the Small Group Worship CD,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA
… or … Prayers of spontaneous thanksgiving to God.
Look Back
Look Back
Maundy Thursday Reading
Maundy Thursday Reading
Everyone please read unhurriedly, and with expression.
Everyone please read unhurriedly, and with expression.
Reader 1:
Reader 1:
Reader 2:
Reader 3:
Reader 4:
Reader 5:
Reader 6:
Reader 7:
Reader 8:
Today we observe Maundy Thursday, which was the night
before Jesus was crucified. Maundy Thursday was two
days before the Jewish Passover.
Passover was instituted in the Old Testament. The people of
Israel had been held captive for 400 years in Egypt, where
they were slaves. Through Moses, God had sent 9 plagues
to Egypt, in order to persuade the Egyptians to let the
Israelites go free. But the Egyptians refused.
So God told Moses to prepare the Israelites for one last
plague: God would kill all of the firstborn in Egypt, both
people and livestock. But God would not harm the people
and livestock of Israel. After that, Egypt would let the
Israelites go free, as God had promised centuries before that
time.
Let’s read about the Passover in Exodus 12:14-30. (Read
the Bible passage aloud.)
After these events happened, Egypt freed the Israelites. This
event is called the Exodus. “Exodus” means “a going out.”
Today the Exodus and Passover have profound meaning for
both Jews and Christians. As Christians, we see Jesus as
the sacrificial Passover lamb, who died on the cross for us,
and rescued us from the eternal devastation of sin.
Two days before Passover, Jesus instituted Holy
Communion. He thereby became the Passover Lamb who
would take away the sins of the world.
Read Luke 22:7-23.
Reader 2:
Reader 3:
Reader 4:
Reader 5:
Reader 6:
Reader 7:
Reader 8:
Today we observe Maundy Thursday, which was the night
before Jesus was crucified. Maundy Thursday was two
days before the Jewish Passover.
Passover was instituted in the Old Testament. The people of
Israel had been held captive for 400 years in Egypt, where
they were slaves. Through Moses, God had sent 9 plagues
to Egypt, in order to persuade the Egyptians to let the
Israelites go free. But the Egyptians refused.
So God told Moses to prepare the Israelites for one last
plague: God would kill all of the firstborn in Egypt, both
people and livestock. But God would not harm the people
and livestock of Israel. After that, Egypt would let the
Israelites go free, as God had promised centuries before that
time.
Let’s read about the Passover in Exodus 12:14-30. (Read
the Bible passage aloud.)
After these events happened, Egypt freed the Israelites. This
event is called the Exodus. “Exodus” means “a going out.”
Today the Exodus and Passover have profound meaning for
both Jews and Christians. As Christians, we see Jesus as
the sacrificial Passover lamb, who died on the cross for us,
and rescued us from the eternal devastation of sin.
Two days before Passover, Jesus instituted Holy
Communion. He thereby became the Passover Lamb who
would take away the sins of the world.
Read Luke 22:7-23.
**Share in communion together.
**Share in communion together.
Look Forward
Then, close in prayer by listening to God for one another and sharing any
encouragements you hear.
Look Forward
Then, close in prayer by listening to God for one another and sharing any
encouragements you hear.