This episode speaks to the unique role that each staff member is playing at this critical moment in the life of the church. We encourage you to listen to it….pray for each staff member in the days ahead….and offer assistance if you feel called to do so.
Maundy Thursday: Gathering for Holy Conversation
In John 13, Jesus gathers his disciples together around a table. After he washes their feet, he commands us to love one another as he has has loved us. (By the way, the meaning of the Latin word Maundy is commandment.)
To celebrate Maundy Thursday this year, we invite you to share a meal and holy conversation with others virtually. Invite one or two other families or individuals to participate with you by gathering at their table, with their meal, at the same time. Use it as an opportunity to reflect on who you feel God is nudging you to connect with or reach out to during this season.
Details for the Meal
Virtual Format – You can use any form of virtual connection that works for you. There are many free video conference services, including FaceTime (Apple), Google Hangouts, and Skype, and audio only options, such as FreeConferenceCalling.Com. Tabernacle Community, If you need help setting one of these up, please contact Meg@tbcrichmond.org and she will assist. Members of sister churches are encouraged to reach out their pastoral staff members for assistance.
Who – One of the gifts of our traditional Maundy Thursday meal is its inter-generational nature. We encourage you to use this meal as a time to connect with someone outside of your typical circle or age group, or even someone that lives in another part of the world but who is connected to Tabernacle through Livestream ministry or other avenues.
Time – There is not a single time for this event, as we expect folks to gather at various times depending on what works best for their schedule. Be sure to consider time zone differences should you want to dine with someone that doesn’t live in your neck of the woods.
Holy Conversation: Group Reflection Questions
Spend the first part of the meal catching up with one another, sharing the gifts and challenges of this season together. When you feel ready, we invite you to transition into a time of Holy conversation using the following questions that bring us into connection with the Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples.
- Why is this night different from all other nights? Why do we call this particular Thursday “holy”?
- Share one word about how you are feeling in the midst of this Holy Week, as we navigate the rituals and rhythms in a totally different way (virtually).
- Lent began nearly 40 days ago, when our whole world was totally different. Lent is meant to be a time of prayer, preparation and fasting. We are probably all praying, preparing, and fasting, but maybe for different reasons that we originally planned:
- What is your prayer during this season?
- How do you sense God is using this time to prepare you?
- What are you fasting from–whether by choice, or maybe because your life has changed in a way that has forced you to give up or let go of something you love?
- Why these symbols– why do you think Jesus gathered the disciples for a meal?
- Why the bread? Why the cup? Why do you think Jesus chose these elements to remind the disciples of his love?
You may choose to celebrate communion together, with whatever bread and cup you have available. You may choose to end with a blessing, or with sharing of prayer concerns.
Blessing the Bread, the Cup
A Blessing for Holy Thursday by Jan Richardson
Let us bless the bread
that gives itself to us
with its terrible weight,
its infinite grace.
Let us bless the cup
poured out for us
with a love
that makes us anew.
Let us gather
around these gifts
simply given
and deeply blessed.
And then let us go
bearing the bread,
carrying the cup,
laying the table
within a hungering world.
Palm Parade Montage (2020)
We had a wonderful Palm Sunday Celebration yesterday. We’ve added some extra photos and videos to this montage. Thanks to all our participants, past and present alike!
You can watch the entire service by clicking on this link.
Visual Testimony: Week of March 29, 2020
Christ is at work among us.
Christ is at work among us. We are an extension of his hands, feet, and heart.
We celebrate the creative use of the the gifts and resources God has given us.
We testify as an expression of gratitude to Jesus, and also to encourage those he his using to bring light in darkness!
Thank you, Tabernacle, for your courage, love, and faithfulness.
Christ is at work among us.
Christ is using the church as an extension of his hands, feet, and heart. Help us testify!
Please send screenshots, written testimonies, and videos to Pastor@tbcrichmond.org. Please just be sure you have permission to share, especially if minors are in the images.
Palm Sunday
A poem entitled Palm Sunday, by Malcolm Guite
Now to the gate of my Jerusalem, the seething holy city of my heart, the Savior comes. But will I welcome Him? Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start; They raise their hands, get caught up in the singing, and think the battle is won.Too soon they’ll find the challenge, the reversal He is bringing changes their tune. I know what lies behind the surface flourish that so quickly fades; Jesus, come break my resistance and make me your home.
Painting, Palm Sunday by Kai Althoff
Readers: Kristen Cavallo and Phil Dawson
Music by Ryan Corbitt
Sunday, April 5 | Palm Sunday
We strive to be a congregation rooted in the participatory worship of God, where personal relationships are nurtured and all persons are encouraged to creatively and meaningfully express their unique gifts and stories in the worship experience. While our expression of worship looks a little different in this season, we are so glad to be able to participate together via Livestream.
This worship guide is meant to be a companion to the Livestream service. You can join us live at 11am on Sunday morning, or watch the recorded service later, following along with the words to Hymns, etc. in a separate window, or print this guide out if you like!
The diversity of our unique theological heritages is one of our God’s greatest gifts at Tabernacle. One of markers of the gift is our diverse convictions about the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Jesus opens the table to everyone. That said, we also believe that each person should remain true to their convictions. Some of us were raised in traditions that believe communion should only be received after someone has been baptized or confirmed, while others were raised to believe that no specific criteria is required for participation. There is a wide assortment of beliefs about the symbolism and meaning of communion.
We are a priesthood of all believers, an eclectic and beautiful circle of Jesus followers. We celebrate our differences. We make space for people to grow in their understanding of theology while also honoring the places we’ve come from.
We want you to know that it’s okay for you, or your loved ones, to partake of the elements if you feel that it is appropriate to do so. We also want you to know that it’s okay for you, and your loved ones, to abstain. Regardless, all of us sit at the table together.
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION AND/OR BLESSING:
1) Please arrive to worship with bread and cup prepared. In our tradition, there is complete freedom in the specific type of bread or wine/juice that is brought to to the table.
2) At the designated moment in worship, our Pastor will lead the congregation in the partaking of the elements.
3) Should you, or someone in your household, choose to abstain, one of the Pastors will offer a special blessing through the chat feature in the live-streamed worship service.
SOLO: Denise Lowe Walters, “Ride On King Jesus”
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Lift up your heads, you mighty gates; behold, the King of glory waits; the King of kings is drawing near; the Savior of the world is here!
People: Who is the King of Glory?
Children: The Lord Strong and Mighty!
People: Who is the King of Glory?
Children: The Lord Strong and Mighty!
People: Who is the King of Glory?
Children: The Lord Strong and Mighty!
Hymn #175: “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” (ST. THEODOLPH)
V. 1: All glory, laud and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the Kin of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son, who in the Lord’s name comest, the King and blessed One!
V. 2: The company of angels are praising Thee on high; and we will all creation in chorus make reply. The people of the Hebrews with palms before Thee went; our praise and prayer and anthems before Thee we present.
V. 3: To Thee, before Thy passion they sang their hymns of praise; to Thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise. Thou didst accept their praises, accept the praise we bring, who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King!
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
GOSPEL READING: Mark 14:3-9
SOLO: Terry Witt, “The Alabaster Jar”
HYMN #171: “What Wondrous Love is This”
V. 1: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
V. 3: To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing; to God and to the Lamb, I will sing. To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am,” while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.
Join us this afternoon at 4PM for a special Holy Week service.
All of us sit at the table together.
The diversity of our unique theological heritages is one of our God’s greatest gifts at Tabernacle. One of markers of the gift is our diverse convictions about the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Jesus opens the table to everyone. That said, we also believe that each person should remain true to their convictions. Some of us were raised in traditions that believe communion should only be received after someone has been baptized or confirmed, while others were raised to believe that no specific criteria is required for participation. There is a wide assortment of beliefs about the symbolism and meaning of communion.
We are a priesthood of all believers, an eclectic and beautiful circle of Jesus followers. We celebrate our differences. We make space for people to grow in their understanding of theology while also honoring the places we’ve come from.
We want you to know that it’s okay for you, or your loved ones, to partake of the elements if you feel that it is appropriate to do so. We also want you to know that it’s okay for you, and your loved ones, to abstain. Regardless, all of us sit at the table together.
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION AND/OR BLESSING:
1) Please arrive to worship with bread and cup prepared. In our tradition, there is complete freedom in the specific type of bread or wine/juice that is brought to to the table.
2) At the designated moment in worship, our Pastor will lead the congregation in the partaking of the elements.
3) Should you, or someone in your household, choose to abstain, one of the Pastors will offer a special blessing through the chat feature in the live-streamed worship service.