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Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday occurs on the Thursday before Easter.
"Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatus which means "commandment." On Maundy Thursday, we remember that Jesus sat at table with his disciples and told them, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you also should love one another." (John 13:34)
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We also remember that on this night, Jesus began the tradition of celebrating the Lord's Supper, instructing his disciples to "Do this in remembrance of me." (1 Cor 11:23-26)
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Download the readings and prayers.
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Download a simple service to have at home with your family.
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Explore the playlist below and reflect together on the significance of this day.
Children's Video
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Watch this video that tells the story of the Last Supper. Do you have a children's Bible at home? Look up this story in your Bible (John 13) after the video and read it together.
Youth Video
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Read through John 13 and then watch the video below.
Wash One Another's Hands/Feet
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Jesus washed his disciple's feet as a way to show his love for them. He did a job that was normally done by a servant, showing us the importance of serving others.
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Gather up a towel and a large bowl filled with water. As a family, take turns washing and drying one another's hands. As you wash and dry, say a blessing to the person "You are loved by Jesus. Go and serve."
Stripping of the Table
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Usually, at the end of our Maundy Thursday worship service, we remove signs and symbols of our faith from the sanctuary. This removal of items ​helps us remember the loneliness and pain Jesus experienced, as well as the darkness of the tomb. But this is not the end! We wait and watch for the new light on Easter morning and the promise of resurrection!
Your family can share a meal together and following the meal you can share readings together while you remove items from your table, one by one until at the end of the readings, your table is bare. For more ideas on stripping the table, including removal of signs of faith in your house (and the joy of putting them back up on Easter morning!) check out this article: Maundy Thursday at Home: Stripping the Table. ​