Leader: This is the day that Christ the Lamb of God gave himself into the hands of those who would slay him.
This is the day that Christ gathered with his disciples in the upper room.
This is the day that Christ took a towel and washed the 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: O God, your Son Jesus Christ has left to us this meal of bread and wine in which we share his body and his blood. May we who celebrate this sign of his great love show in our lives the fruits of his redemption; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Exodus 12:1-14
1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, * because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
10 How shall I repay the Lord * for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation * and call upon the name of the Lord.
12 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord * in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the Lord * is the death of his servants.
14 O Lord, I am your servant; * I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving * and call upon the name of the Lord.
16 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord * in the presence of all his people.
17 In the courts of the Lord’s house, * in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The Gospel
The Ceremony of the Washing of Feet
Leader: Fellow servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night before his death, Jesus set an example for his disciples by washing their feet, an act of humble service. He taught that strength and growth in the life of the kingdom of God come not by power, authority or even miracle, but by such lowly service. Let us who share in the royal priesthood of Christ recall whose servant we are by following the example of our Master, for Jesus said, “a servant is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (A basin of water and a towel is placed nearby. Participants may now wash each other’s feet.)
The Prayers of the People
In the power of the Spirit let us pray to the Father through Christ the saviour of the world.
Father, on this, the night he was betrayed, your Son Jesus Christ washed his disciples’ feet. In this time when so many are fearful and suffering, we pray that you will strengthen us to live with his love and follow his example of service. Lord, hear us and strengthen us in humble service.
On this night, he prayed for his disciples to be one. We pray that in this holy week, when your churches throughout the world pray together for the sick and the dying, you may help us grow into one. Lord, hear us and unite us.
On this night he commanded his disciples to love, but suffered rejection himself. He asked his disciples to pray with him, but faced the agony in the garden alone. We pray for the rejected and unloved, and for all those who are lonely. Lord hear us and fill us with your love.
On this night, he reminded his disciples that if the world hated them it hated him first. We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith. Lord hear us and give us your peace.
On this night, he accepted the cup of death and looked forward to the new wine of the kingdom. We remember those who have died in the peace of Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone. Lord hear us and welcome all your children into paradise.
Leader: On this night our Lord Jesus said, “Peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you
Hymn: Blue #500 Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:54-58)
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Silence
All: Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Hymn: Blue #78 Deck Yourself, My Soul, with Gladness
Deck yourself, my soul, with gladness; leave the gloomy haunts of sadness.
Come into the daylight's splendour, there with joy your praises render
to the Lord whose grace unbounded has this royal banquet founded:
though all other powers excelling, with my soul he makes his dwelling.
Lord, I bow before you lowly, filled with joy most deep and holy,
as with trembling awe and wonder all your mighty works I ponder
how, by mystery surrounded, depth no-one has ever sounded,
none may dare to pierce unbidden secrets that in you are hidden.
Shining sun, my life you brighten, radiance, you my soul enlighten;
joy, the best of all our knowing, fountain, swiftly in me flowing:
at your feet I kneel, my Maker let me be a fit partaker of this sacred food from heaven, for our good, your glory, given.
Jesus, Bread of life, I pray you, let me gladly here obey you;
never to my hurt invited, always by your love delighted:
from this banquet let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep its treasure;
through the gifts your hands have given let me be your guest in heaven
Prayer after Communion
Holy God, source of all love,
on the night of his betrayal
Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment,
to love one another as he loved them
Write this commandment in our hearts;
give us the will to serve others,
as he was the servant of all,
who gave his life and died for us,
yet is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
On this night our Lord Jesus Christ went out with his disciples to the Mount of Olives to pray. As we remember his agony in the garden, we strip the altar of the church and pray that we may be given grace to watch with him.
As you dim the lights in your home and pray with him, one or both of the following readings may be read.
Reading: Matthew 26:30-46
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; * by night as well, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are the Holy One, *enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 Our forefathers put their trust in you; * they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried out to you and were delivered; * they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man, * scorned by all and despised by the people.
7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; * they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; * let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”
9 Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, * and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; * you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, * and there is none to help.
12 Many young bulls encircle me; * strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
13 They open wide their jaws at me, * like a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; *my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; * and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
16 Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; * they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.
17 They stare and gloat over me; * they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.
18 Be not far away, O Lord; * you are my strength; hasten to help me.
19 Save me from the sword, * my life from the power of the dog.
20 Save me from the lion’s mouth, * my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
21 I will declare your name to my brethren; * in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; * stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither does he hide his face from them; * but when they cry to him he hears them.
24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: * “May your heart live for ever!”
26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; * he rules over the nations.
28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; * all who go down to the dust fall before him.
29 My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; * they shall be known as the Lord’s for ever.
30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn * the saving deeds that he has done.
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale,
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Catherine Sider-Hamilton – Priest-in-charge: 416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Ephraim Radner – Honorary Assistant
Please direct all enquiries to Peter Oakes, Peoples’ Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
