The name of today’s service is derived from the Latin mandatum, and refers to the new commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples in John 13:34: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” This commandment forms the center of our Maundy Thursday service. We will begin with washing each other’s hands (a nod to Jesus’ act of service of washing the disciples’ feet, but updated for our modern context). And, then, we will move into an agape meal in the midst of our service. The agape meal — literally a love meal — celebrates Jesus eating with his disciples and places us in the center of this unfolding story. We will also celebrate the Eucharist for the last time before the Easter Vigil. Finally, we will strip the altar ceremonially and process with the consecrated bread to the altar of repose, where it will rest until Good Friday.

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