A Brief Summary of Maundy Thursday

A Brief Summary of Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday marks the night during Passion Week when the Lord Jesus gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room to observe the Passover. This gathering became known as the Last Supper. During the meal, two significant events happened that Christian churches throughout the centuries have remembered: the Lord washed his disciples’ feet, foreshadowing his voluntary and atoning death, and he instituted the Lord’s Supper, which we observe weekly to this day, eating bread and drinking the fruit of the vine in remembrance of his body and blood given for us.

 

Maundy is from the Latin word mandatum from which we get words like mandate or command. This is based on Christ’s new command which he delivers in the Upper Room on the night of the Last Supper. The Lord said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Maundy Thursday is a time to remember the events of the Lord’s last evening with his disciples in the Upper Room and the spiritual meal that he instituted. During this evening service, we consider the Passover, the love command, the Lord’s Supper, our own sinfulness, the holiness of God, the suffering and atoning death of our Savior and Lord, and the depths of the love of God.

Some Recommended Reading

Some Recommended Reading
 
Married Couples
Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson
 
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Tim and Kathy Keller
 
NKJV Study Bible (read biblical text and study notes, one book at a time)
 
Single, Young Adults
Biblical Courtship by Douglas Wilson
 
Water for My Camels by Paul Grimmond
 
Sex, Dating, and Relationships: A Fresh Approach by Hiestand and Thomas
 
Men
Thoughts for Young Men by J. C. Ryle
 
Concise Guide to Conservatism by Russell Kirk
 
Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
 
Women
Learning Contentment by Nancy Wilson
 
You Who? Why You Matter and How to Deal With It by Rachel Jankovic
 
Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman
 
Other Christian Literature for the Imagination
The Works of George MacDonald
 
The Works of Fyodor Dostoevsky
 
The Works of G. K. Chesterton
 
The Works of J. R. R. Tolkien
 
The Works of C. S. Lewis

Some Examples of Morning Prayers

Some Examples of Morning Prayers

Look upon us, O Lord, and let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of thy brightness. Fill us with holy love, and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom. All our desire is known unto thee, therefore perfect what thou hast begun, and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek thy face, turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory. Then shall our longing be satisfied, and our peace shall be perfect. (Augustine, 354 - 430)

 

Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand than if a host did round me stand. (Columba, c.521 - 597)

 

Lord, thou hast given us thy Word for a light to shine upon our path; grant us so to meditate on that Word, and to follow its teaching, that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Jerome, c 342 - 420)

 

Lord, be with us this day,

Within us to purify us;

Above us to draw us up;

Beneath us to sustain us;

Before us to lead us;

Behind us to restrain us;

Around us to protect us.

(Patrick c389-461)

 

I rise today

Through the strength of heaven -

Light of sun,

Radience of moon,

Splendour of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

(source unknown, early Scottish)

 

Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly joys. Lord, deliver me from eternal torments. Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me. Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, cowardice and stony insensibility. Lord, deliver me from every temptation. Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desires have darkened. Lord, I being human have sinned, but Thou being the generous God, have mercy on me, knowing the sickness of my soul. Lord, send Thy grace to my help, that I may glorify Thy holy Name. Lord Jesus Christ, write me Thy servant in the Book of Life, and grant me a good end. O Lord my God, even though I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me by Thy grace to make a good start. Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace. Lord of heaven and earth remember me, Thy sinful servant, shameful and unclean, in Thy Kingdom. Amen. (Prayer of St. John Chrysostom)

Scriptural Basis for Morning Prayers

Scriptural Basis of Morning Prayers

Psalm 5:1-3, “Give ear to my words, O Lord. Consider my meditation.

Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.

 

Psalm 59:16-17, “But I will sing of Your power.

Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;

For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.

To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises. For God is my defense, my God of mercy.

 

Psalm 90:14, “Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!”

 

Psalm 143:7-8, “Answer me speedily, O Lord. My spirit fails!

Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust;

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.

 

Lamentations 3:22-24, “Because of the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning.

Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,

‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”

 

Mark 1:35, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight,

He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”

A Couple Examples of Bedtime Prayers

A Couple Examples of Bedtime Prayers

O Eternal God and King of all creation, Who hast granted me to arrive at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have committed today in thought, word and deed, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit. And grant me, O Lord, to pass the sleep of this night in peace, that when I rise from my bed I may please Thy most holy Name all the days of my life and conquer my flesh and the fleshless foes that war with me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain and frivolous thoughts, and from evil desires which defile me. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

~Prayer of St. Macarius (c. 300 – 391)

 

O Lord, accept me in penitence. O Lord, leave me not. O Lord, lead me not into temptation. O Lord, grant me good thoughts. O Lord, grant me tears and remembrance of death and compunction. O Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins. O Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience. O Lord, grant me patience, courage and meekness. O Lord, plant in me the root of all blessings, the fear of Thee in my heart. O Lord, grant me to love Thee with all my mind and soul, and always to do Thy will. O Lord, protect me from certain people, and demons, and passions, and from every other harmful thing. O Lord, Thou knowest that Thou actest as Thou wilt; may Thy will be also in me, a sinner, for blessed art Thou for ever. Amen.

~Prayer of St. John Chrysostom (c. 347 – 14 September 407)

Scriptural Basis for Bedtime Prayers

Scriptural Basis for Bedtime Prayers

Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the one whose delight is in the instruction of the Lord, and on His instruction that one meditates day and night."

Psalm 3:5-7, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!

Psalm 4:4, 8, “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. . . . I will both lie down in peace, and sleep. For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Luke 6:12, “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Examples of Mealtime Prayers

 Examples of Mealtime Prayers

Use these prayers around your family table or take them as inspiration to write your own prayers!

Prayers

 

Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we gratefully receive from Thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Bless, O Father, Thy gifts to our use and us to Thy service; for Christ’s sake. Amen.

 

Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest, and let Thy gifts to us be blessed. Amen.

 

Be present at our table, O Lord. Be here and everywhere praised. These mercies bless and grant that we may feast in fellowship with you. Through Christ. Amen.

 

God our Maker, for what we are about to receive, make us truly grateful, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

May we eat and be full, and may our lives bless the Lord, our God, for the good He has given us. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Father, for this food and for every Word that comes from Your mouth, we praise Your name, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Father, You work miracles with only a handful of flour and a little oil, with only five loaves and two fish, but You so often provide us much more. For grace upon grace, we give You thanks. Amen.

 

God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed. Give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen.

 

God, our Father, we give thanks for what we eat and drink today. We want to do all to Your glory through Christ our Savior. Amen. 

 

Heavenly Father, everything You created is good, and we receive this food with thanksgiving, through Christ. Amen. 

 

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen. 

 

Our Father, You give us our daily bread, and You give us the True Bread from heaven. For these gifts we give you thanks. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

God, our Father, be with us today. Bless our happy gathering, and bless this meal that we share. Protect us all, and help us to grow in our faith. In Jesus’ name we give thanks. Amen.

 

Our Father, send your Son, the Light of the world, to shine into our home and hearts today as we receive these good gifts around this table. Amen.

 

Our Lord, we receive this food and drink with joy and gratefulness. For these gifts and so many more, we bless your name. Amen.

 

God, our Father, You bless us abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we may abound in every good work. Amen.

 

God, You are able to make all grace abound toward us, that we, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. You supply seed to the sower and bread for food. We ask that You supply and multiply the seed we have sown and increase the fruits of our righteousness. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scriptural Basis for Mealtime Prayers

Mealtime Prayers

Deuteronomy 8:10, “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.”
 
Matthew 14:19, “[Jesus] took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, 
He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and
the disciples gave to the multitudes.”
 
Matthew 26:26-27, “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and 
broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ 
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 
‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood. . . .’”
 
Luke 24:30, “Now it came to pass, as [Jesus] sat at the table with them,
that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.”
 
Acts 27:35, “[Paul] took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all;

and when he had broken it he began to eat.”