Maundy Thursday was the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples, sharing a meal with them which we call the Last Supper.
In those days it was usual for a servant to wash the guests feet on arrival. Jesus got up and washed his disciples feet, giving them an object lesson in humility and service.
In the UK, the custom of washing feet by the Monarch was carried out until 1689. Up until then the King or Queen would wash the feet of the poor on Maundy Thursday in Westminster Abbey.
Today, the Queen follows a very traditional role of giving Maundy Money to a group of pensioners. In 2009, the Queen will attend St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury and will present Maundy purses to 166 Suffolk pensioners.
In 2009, each recipient will be given two purses – a red purse containing a £5 coin celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII and a 50p coin to mark the founding of Kew Gardens, and a white purse containing 83p in Maundy coins.
You can read more about Maundy Thursday on our website
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/easter/maundythursday.htm
Do you have a similar custom in your country?
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6 comments:
What a brilliant site you have! Well Done!!
At our Church on Maundy Thursday the age of customs are continued - as they are in many churches throughout England (Chruch of England and Roman Catholic).
There is a very special Mass or Eucharist, remembering the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his closest friends. At that meal Jesus first washed the disciples feet - a job normally given to the least important person present. In our church, at the gospel, this act is repeated. The parish priest takes a jug of water and a bowl and washes the feet of a representative number of the congegation, as a reminder to all that we are all called to love and serve others.
After this the Eucharist is celebrated, and people make their communion, sharing in the bread and wine, following the commandment of Jesus to 'Do this in remembrance' of him. Some of this consecrated bread is then taken in procession to another altar. This altar is decorated to represent the garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus present in the consecrated bread is placed in this garden - just as Jesus went into the garden to pray after the last supper.
People take part in the 'watch' - a period of private prayer and reflection in front of 'Jesus in the garden' known as 'the altar of repose'. The 'watch' nowdays lasts until midnight, and takes us into the celebration of Good Friday.
Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the three day celebration of Easter - the most important time in the year for Christians. This period ('The Triduum')is one big celebration, remembering the last supper, the crucifixion and the death of Jesus, and the Resurrection to new life.
We are just a small country parish church - but we join with millions of Christians across the world when we celebrate Easter.
what a great page of information i dearly love it
Here in Australia at St. Luke's Anglican Church in the Parish of Concord and Burwood ( this is in Sydney) Father Cliff Stratton will conduct a Maundy Thursday Service with Footwashing and / or Handwashing.
The Church is then stripped, and Good Friday sees a traditional service followed by Hot Cross Buns.
Easter Saturday will see an Easter garden built by the children and the Church cleaned, ready for the celebrations on Easter Sunday.
Blessings to Christians all around the world as we celebrate this Easter 2009.
John Wherry
Rector's Warden
We eat three love hearts to symbolise our love for Jesus and we eat three because Jesus died at three o'clock.
Here in Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA), our church (Sunrise United Methodist Church - pastor: Marv Vose) does a reenactment of the Last Supper, aptly called, "The Living Last Supper". Church members fill the roles of Jesus and the 12 disciples. Each "disciple" discusses how he felt when Jesus tells the group that a disciple will betray Him. Afterward we take communion. What a lovely way to honor Easter and Our Lord.
In Singapore, some Protestant churches have members come together in the evening for a special holy communion service to commemmorate the night before Jesus was cricified on the cross. The service starts with a call to worship, the singing of hymns, a sermon preached by the pastor, and then the pastors and church leaders serve communion (bread and wine) to worshippers. Service ends with the benediction by the pastor. The next day, Good Friday service is held and then on Sunday, we have the sunrise service at 6am, and then the Easter Service at 9am. - the latter services celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
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