Wallace SC&W Maundy Thursday Service #2 Extinguishing of the Lights   Note: have 9 candles lit as people come into the service     Welcome and Invocation:  We are glad you could join us this evening.  It is encouraging to see that so many of us are still along for the journey of Jesus’ last week.  Last Sunday, Palm Sunday, we remembered the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem.  We read about the many people who waved palm branches and shouted loud “Hosannas” to Jesus.  Yet as the week wore on and the road became more difficult and unclear, people began falling away… one by one.  Some were glad to be part of the party but left when it wasn’t fun anymore.  Other didn’t understand what was happening and so pulled back out of confusion or fear.  For others Jesus wasn’t doing things right as far as they understood what was right.  Still other just hadn’t decided what to think or what they wanted to do.  Now, on the evening before his crucifixion, it is just Jesus alone with his disciples.   Matthew 26:17-20, 26-29   The Last Supper: Jesus knew that trouble was coming and on this night he told his disciples about the sacrifice he was about to make.  This bread is broken just like I will be broken for your mistakes, errors, indiscretions and sins.  This wine is poured out just like my blood will be poured out so that you may be forgiven.  Then Jesus invited them all to share in this meal with him as a reminder that God will bring new life.   Tonight Jesus offers forgiveness for all that we have done and for all the destructive thoughts and ways of our lives.  It is our choice whether we will accept this precious gift offered to us by God.   Prayer for the Lord’s Supper   Taking of the Cup and Bread (people come forward to be served Communion)             Piano playing “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris   Our Need for Christ’s Gift: Matthew 26:30 tells us that Jesus and the disciples sang a song and then went across the valley to the Mount of Olives.  The meal had been finished and Jesus’ words heard.  But now the terrible reality of his words was about to be seen by the disciples and, as we listen to the story, by us.  We have shared in Christ’s meal of forgiveness and salvation but have we taken our need for Christ’s gift seriously?  Let’s spend the next few moments reflecting on how you and I made this gift necessary and how we might more fully open our lives to receive the power of this gift.   Song:  (e.g. Rock of Ages vss. 1-2 or another song focusing on our need for Christ)     You Will All Fall Away: Matthew 26:31   Yes, it is true, that at times we all walk away from the way God wants us to travel.  We all deny Christ as our Lord at some point in our lives.  Scripture tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Tonight is a time to think about how we deny, reject, and ignore Jesus.   The First Candle:  You Will Disown Me Matthew 26: 32-35    Peter was unaware of some of the weakness and faults within him; at least unaware of how vulnerable he was to them and how powerfully they impacted others.  We too can fail to see our weaknesses or turn a blind eye to our failings.  If we do admit our faults it is easy to jump right to the stage of forgiveness, without any real attempt to change things or set them right.  It is as though we accept the gift of forgiveness without any real confession or repentance.  Do you ever minimize your faults or wrongdoing?  Do you give lip service to the damage you have done and move right on to accepting Christ’s forgiveness and love without making needed changes?   Extinguish the first candle   Song: (e.g. Cover Me or a song focusing on Christ’s healing or our rejection of him)   The Second Candle:  Stay Here and Keep Watch With Me Matthew 26: 34-40   Often Jesus calls us to participate in his work.  But we can come up with all sorts of excuses; we are tired, we are booked, we are not talented in that area, we are afraid.  We “sleep” the opportunity away by choosing to do other things than what he invites us to do with him.  Are there any areas of your life where you put out Christ’s light because you are “sleeping” instead of responding to his request?   Extinguish the second candle   The Third Candle:  The Spirit is Willing, But the Flesh is Weak Matthew 26: 41-43   Again Jesus invited the disciples to pray and once again they rejected the request. They were so tired.  It had been a long day. Perhaps they thought that it really wouldn’t matter.  Surely they could do it tomorrow when they felt more refreshed or energetic.  Certainly it could be done at a more convenient time.  It wouldn’t really matter if they did it right now, tonight, would it?  Are you rejecting Christ by “putting” him off until sometime later?  Are there times when you should have responded right then…stood up for someone, made a call, grabbed an opportunity…but you didn’t because it wasn’t convenient?   Extinguish the third candle   The Fourth Candle:  The Son of Man is Betrayed Matthew 26: 44-49   How interesting that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, a sign of love and closeness.  It is possible to use the gifts, abilities and opportunities God gives us to help others for our own selfish desires.  We can even twist our thinking and justify our actions to make it look “right” all while we are betraying what Jesus is asking us to do.  Are you twisting any situations for personal gain?  Are you following what Jesus wants you to do and how he wants you to do it or are you making some adjustments for your own benefit?  What kind of “kiss” are you giving Jesus?   Extinguish the fourth candle   Song: (e.g. Breath on me breath of God, Does he still feel the nails-Ray Boltz, or similar song)   The Fifth Candle:  Put Your Sword Back Matthew 26: 50-52   Christ had tried to explain that his suffering was part of what had to happen.  God’s plan took it into account, but the disciples weren’t too sure they still wanted to follow God’s plan when it included suffering.  They would rather fight, so they drew their swords for battle.  Do you ever deny Christ’s way when it comes to facing difficult times or hurtful experiences?  Are you willing to lay down attitudes, priorities, and habits that you think keep you safe so that you can walk with Jesus?   Extinguish the fifth candle   The Sixth Candle:  All the Disciples Deserted Him Matthew 26:53-56   All the disciples ran away?  I wonder who went first?  I wonder how it got started and how far they ran?  Did they look over their shoulders to see if anyone was following or what was happening to Jesus?  I guess it doesn’t really matter… they all left him.  Do you deny Jesus by following the crowd instead of standing firmly beside him?  Where do you find it hard to stay loyal to Jesus?   Extinguish the sixth candle   The Seventh Candle:  Tell Us If You Are The Christ Matthew 26: 57-68   They failed to recognize Jesus as God’s Son.  They couldn’t hear the truth in his message or see the reality in his actions.  Instead they made fun of him, they bullied him and they shoved him away.  Do you mock Christ by not trusting him?  Do you shove him away from you instead of letting him see all of your hurts, battles and needs?  Where do you hold back because of uncertainty or a lack of belief in his way? Where are you having a hard time accepting Jesus as the one who knows the way to life’s fullness?   Extinguish the seventh candle   Song: (e.g. Change my heart, O God or song focusing on our searching for faith)   The Eighth Candle:  The Denial Matthew 26: 69-70   It is amazing that Peter, having been so close to Jesus, could turn away so quickly.  He didn’t just hide in the shadows but he said that he did not even know Jesus.  Is there anywhere that you experience the love of God and then turn away from it?  Is there any place that you are not just sitting on the sidelines but are actively doing things that inhibit what Jesus desires?   Extinguish the eighth candle   The Ninth Candle: The Rooster Crows Matthew 26: 71-75   Peter was given a second opportunity, and even a third chance to stand up for Jesus, but he made the same mistake again and again.  It is easy to follow the familiar pathways in life.  It is easy to fall in a groove and just stay in it for the duration; even if that groove puts us crossways with Jesus.  Are there any reoccurring mistakes in your life that keep moving you away from Christ?  Are you in any grooves or habits that move you in directions contrary to God’s desires?   Extinguish the ninth candle   The Journey to Easter:  We are responsible for Christ’s death!  It was for you and you and you and me that Jesus let the soldier take him and beat him and put him on a cross to die.  That sacrifice, that gift, was a present to us and one that we desperately need.  It was expensive.  It is unequaled. Tonight think about the ways your life makes Christ’s gift necessary.  Not so that you will be overwhelmed with guilt or beat yourself up.  But think about it so that you will see, for the first time or for the thousandth time, the great treasure offered to you.   That night ended in darkness with the disciples scattered and Jesus under arrest.  It is still a long road from here until Sunday morning; Easter Morning.  I hope that you will not give up the journey or try to skip ahead.  Because the more of this week we walk through the more of God’s love for us we see and the greater our joy will be when we hear the news of that wonderful morning.   Song (e.g. Spirit Song or something mellow and searching for God’s presence)   As we leave:  We leave not with the happiness of a party but with the joy of knowing a God cares deeply for us.  We leave not having the whole story of life completed but trusting that God does know the rest of the story and it is good.  May God hold us safely and help us find healing, cleansing and renewal as we walk the way before us.