April 2, 2026 — Maundy Thursday

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On Maundy Thursday, our congregation gathered in quiet reverence to remember the final evening of Jesus’ earthly ministry—a night marked not by triumph, but by tenderness, humility, and profound love.
The service invited us into the upper room, where Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples. Through Scripture readings, reflective silence, and the familiar refrain of “Were You There,” we were drawn deeply into the unfolding story of that sacred night. Each moment allowed us to pause, listen, and respond with prayerful hearts.

At the center of the evening was a powerful image: Jesus kneeling to wash the feet of His disciples. In this act of humble service, we witnessed a love that reaches beyond human expectation. Jesus washed the feet of those who would soon misunderstand, abandon, and even betray Him. Yet His love did not waver. It remained steady, gentle, and complete.
As we reflected, we were reminded that we, too, are present in that room. Like Peter, we may resist or misunderstand. Like the other disciples, we may falter in fear. At times, we may even turn away. And yet, Christ still comes to us—kneeling, serving, and offering grace.
The celebration of Communion deepened this truth. In the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup, we encountered again the gift of Christ’s body and blood, freely given. This sacred meal reminded us that His love is not earned, but received—offered even in the face of human weakness.
Throughout the service, a quiet sense of awe—what some might call a “holy trembling”—settled over us. It was the recognition of a love so vast, so undeserved, and yet so intimately personal.
As the story moved toward Gethsemane and the betrayal of Jesus, we were invited to sit with the weight of what was to come. The service concluded not with celebration, but in silence, as the congregation departed quietly, carrying the solemnity of the night.
Maundy Thursday leaves us in that sacred tension—held between love and loss, between the basin and the cross. It reminds us of Jesus’ command to love one another, just as He has loved us: with humility, grace, and a love that does not turn away.
As we journey toward Good Friday and Easter, may we carry with us the memory of this night—the sound of water poured into a basin, the breaking of bread, and the quiet, enduring promise:

He loved them to the very end.