Last Supper, Icon by Simon Ushakov (1626–1686)
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday.
Derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "commandment," Maundy refers to the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you") the statement by Jesus at the Last Supper in the Gospel of John (13:34) when He was explaining to the disciples that He would soon be leaving them.
Maundy Thursday is normally celebrated in the evening, when Friday begins according to Jewish tradition. It commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples on the night before he was crucified.
Often Maundy Thrusday is celebrated with a candlelight sevice which is what we do in our church and consequently, it is one of the favorite services of our congregation. We usually have the elders of the church sit at a candlelit table commemorating the last supper and have readings from the gospel reinacting the sayings of Jesus at that last feast. As each reader finishes, the candle in front of them is extinguished followed by the dousing of the Christ candle which the leaves the room in darkness. The elders then leave the sanctuary, the bell toles, and the lighted Christ candle is brought back in to the altar to symbolize that Christ lives even though he was crucified. The congregation then leaves the darkened sanctuary singing, "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord."
You are invited to be with us at First Christian Church of Huntsville, Texas this evening, April 5, to witness this somber, beautiful, and moving service.
Song: "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord"
Sung by: Tatiana (I Thirst)-album
Movie Scenes: "The Passion of The Christ"
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Were You There
Negro spiritual
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
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