March 28, 2002

Maundy Thursday Procession to Gethsemane

[West Bank, Palestine] We observed Maundy Thursday in Holy Week an an ecumenical service at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. Several hundred English, German, Arabic and Danish-speaking people attended the communion service.

The following is from our church bulletin:

The way Christians all over the world celebrate Easter has its origin in Jerusalem. It was here that the early Church bound together holy Word, place and time to remember the acts of salvation. Visiting pilgrims participated and when they returned home the Jerusalem liturgy was imitated. Already in the fourth century we have description of the Holy Week celebrations, and especially the liturgies of the three days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Morning as an ongoing celebration of what was later called "triduum sanctum" -- the three holy days. We are only at the beginning of our Easter celebrations. We could echo the words of the fourth century bishop of Jerusalem, who said when he invited the faithful to this service: "There is a great effort ahead of us."

After the meal, Jesus and his disciples sang the Great Hymn (Psalm 113-118). As we leave the church tonight, we will listen to part of it (Psalm 116) before we go to Gethsemane. These psalms find a profound resonance in Christ's lonely prayer in Gethsemane. "I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. I shall not die, but live." This could be a source for our meditation in the Garden.

Mark 14:22-24 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, " he said to them.

Communion at Redeemer Church

Mark 14:26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives

Leaving Jerusalem

Mark 14:32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."

The Church at Gethsemane