A Service For All the Senses

This Maundy Thursday service is designed to be a deeply engaging and multi-sensory experience, reminiscent of a Seder meal but firmly rooted in the Christian tradition. When first celebrated at my church, it was remarkably well-received, and I'm thrilled to share it with you now.

This service invites participants to journey with Jesus through his last night with his friends, exploring the themes of strength, submission, love, forgiveness, and gratitude. We will do this by engaging all our senses – seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling – allowing us to connect with the familiar story of Jesus's final hours in a fresh and profound way.

The service follows the narrative of that pivotal night, from the symbolic tasting of figs representing Jesus's strength, to the intimate act of hand-washing mirroring his humility, the shared meal echoing the Last Supper, the communion of bread and wine, and finally, the fragrant herbs evoking Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Each element is designed to prompt personal reflection and small group discussion, creating a space for intimate sharing and contemplation as we remember the significance of Maundy Thursday.

You are invited to adapt this service as you may need to fit your context and space. Setup and musical selections are recommendations and should be tailored to your needs.

Pre-recorded readings available here to stream or download:

• Intro and Fig Tree (https://vimeo.com/1053502250)

• Washing Feet (https://vimeo.com/1053501890)

• Dinner with Friends (https://vimeo.com/1053502468)

• Bread and Wine (https://vimeo.com/1053501778)

• Praying in the Garden (https://vimeo.com/1053502076)

• Closing (https://vimeo.com/1053501702)

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