I know most of you are pros at this -- having done it many times. But I thought I would try to spell out every last detail to avoid confusion.
Above is a rough diagram of the sanctuary. For Maundy Thursday we will need at least six elders, but more is better!
The elders will start out at the middle doors (at least 3 on each side). See red arrows. They will come up to the chancel and bow, then go up to the altar and take items. Do not bow on the way back down. Items will be brought down the asile all the way to the back doorways. See blue arrows. Walk slowly and deliberatly. Try to square your walking routs (military-style "ish") when you travel or turn to leave. Try not to communicate while up at the altar. If there is a moment of confusion, just pause, assess the situation and use eye contact to communicate.
There will be two tables (see picture below) set up by the nursery for items that go to the east side and items that go to the west side can be placed in my office.
Below is the text for the "Stripping of the Altar" ceremony. My notes are in red font.
+ The lights are dimmed in the Sanctuary +
Pastor reads:
After the Last Supper, less than 24 hours remained in the earthly life of our Lord. Events moved rapidly: prayer in Gethsemane, betrayal by Judas, arrest, mock trial, painful beating, the trudge to Golgotha and execution. As His life was stripped from Him, so we strip our altar of the signs of life to symbolize His purposeful, redemptive suffering and death for us. Plants are new life springing forth. In the passion and suffering of Christ, human life ebbs from Him. In recognition of this, we remove this greenery from our altar.
The greenery is removed.
"G" = Greenery.
Three elders needed
There should only be two palms and one flower arrangement behind the altar.
Pastor reads:
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” The events of Golgotha snuffed out the human life of Jesus, the Light of the world. As even creation was dark when He suffered, so we
extinguish our candles and remove them.
Candles extinguished and removed
"C" = candles
Five Elders needed
I will have two narrow tables set up in the banner closet (see picture below) by the nursery on the east side of the sanctuary. The Christ Candle, and the two extra Stand Candles should be able to sit in the gap between the tables. When taking the Christ Candle and teh Stand Candles, just grab under the bowl and pull up. The bowl will come up and the stand will stay.
For the he two candle on the altar: Grab the stone base and take it with the candle still in it. These candles will go to the west side and can be set in my office.
Pastor reads:
Our offerings represent one way of serving God and others. They reflect God’s greatest offering to the world and to us in sending His Son, Jesus, in human form. As the offered body of Jesus was removed from sight in burial, so we remove our offerings.
Offerings are removed
Only one elder needed
Pastor reads:
Banners have always been a sign of victory. They are carried before the coming of a conquering king. But our Lord was taken away in shame. He was rejected, stricken, smitten and afflicted. We remove the banners that adorn our chancel as a reminder of the scorn our Lord endured.
The banners are removed.
Two elders needed. Banner pole will be in my office. The banner is located on the wall on the left side, behind the altar.
Pastor reads:
The missal stand holds our worship books that guide our worship life together as we sing praises to God. As Jesus suffers, joyous songs are not heard. As these sounds of joy are removed from our lips, we remove the missal stand.
Missal stands and service books are removed.
Note the square in the middle of the altar on the diagram above. Two elders needed. One elder to carry the altar book, the other to carry the stand.
Pastor reads:
Jesus’ offered Body and His shed Blood have been given to us in, with, and under the form of bread and wine in this Holy Mystery. As He was removed from us in the grave, so we remove the elements and vessels of this Sacrament.
Communion vessels and crucifix are removed.
Six elders needed.
"+" = crucifix (there are two)
oval = communion vessels. (one elder carrys trays, another the common cup, another the wafers, another the cloths)
Pastor reads:
Our altar is in the form of a table. It is here where our Lord Jesus serves us as both host and meal at this banquet feast. The coverings and paraments are made of fine linen and brocade; materials appropriate for feasting with our King. As our King’s body was stripped in crucifixion, so our altar is stripped of its coverings.
The altar cloths and paraments are removed.
Two elders needed.
Note the stars on the diagram.
Above is a rough diagram of the sanctuary. For Maundy Thursday we will need at least six elders, but more is better!
The elders will start out at the middle doors (at least 3 on each side). See red arrows. They will come up to the chancel and bow, then go up to the altar and take items. Do not bow on the way back down. Items will be brought down the asile all the way to the back doorways. See blue arrows. Walk slowly and deliberatly. Try to square your walking routs (military-style "ish") when you travel or turn to leave. Try not to communicate while up at the altar. If there is a moment of confusion, just pause, assess the situation and use eye contact to communicate.
There will be two tables (see picture below) set up by the nursery for items that go to the east side and items that go to the west side can be placed in my office.
Below is the text for the "Stripping of the Altar" ceremony. My notes are in red font.
+ The lights are dimmed in the Sanctuary +
Pastor reads:
After the Last Supper, less than 24 hours remained in the earthly life of our Lord. Events moved rapidly: prayer in Gethsemane, betrayal by Judas, arrest, mock trial, painful beating, the trudge to Golgotha and execution. As His life was stripped from Him, so we strip our altar of the signs of life to symbolize His purposeful, redemptive suffering and death for us. Plants are new life springing forth. In the passion and suffering of Christ, human life ebbs from Him. In recognition of this, we remove this greenery from our altar.
The greenery is removed.
"G" = Greenery.
Three elders needed
There should only be two palms and one flower arrangement behind the altar.
Pastor reads:
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” The events of Golgotha snuffed out the human life of Jesus, the Light of the world. As even creation was dark when He suffered, so we
extinguish our candles and remove them.
Candles extinguished and removed
"C" = candles
Five Elders needed
I will have two narrow tables set up in the banner closet (see picture below) by the nursery on the east side of the sanctuary. The Christ Candle, and the two extra Stand Candles should be able to sit in the gap between the tables. When taking the Christ Candle and teh Stand Candles, just grab under the bowl and pull up. The bowl will come up and the stand will stay.
For the he two candle on the altar: Grab the stone base and take it with the candle still in it. These candles will go to the west side and can be set in my office.
Pastor reads:
Our offerings represent one way of serving God and others. They reflect God’s greatest offering to the world and to us in sending His Son, Jesus, in human form. As the offered body of Jesus was removed from sight in burial, so we remove our offerings.
Offerings are removed
Only one elder needed
Pastor reads:
Banners have always been a sign of victory. They are carried before the coming of a conquering king. But our Lord was taken away in shame. He was rejected, stricken, smitten and afflicted. We remove the banners that adorn our chancel as a reminder of the scorn our Lord endured.
The banners are removed.
Two elders needed. Banner pole will be in my office. The banner is located on the wall on the left side, behind the altar.
Pastor reads:
The missal stand holds our worship books that guide our worship life together as we sing praises to God. As Jesus suffers, joyous songs are not heard. As these sounds of joy are removed from our lips, we remove the missal stand.
Missal stands and service books are removed.
Note the square in the middle of the altar on the diagram above. Two elders needed. One elder to carry the altar book, the other to carry the stand.
Pastor reads:
Jesus’ offered Body and His shed Blood have been given to us in, with, and under the form of bread and wine in this Holy Mystery. As He was removed from us in the grave, so we remove the elements and vessels of this Sacrament.
Communion vessels and crucifix are removed.
Six elders needed.
"+" = crucifix (there are two)
oval = communion vessels. (one elder carrys trays, another the common cup, another the wafers, another the cloths)
Pastor reads:
Our altar is in the form of a table. It is here where our Lord Jesus serves us as both host and meal at this banquet feast. The coverings and paraments are made of fine linen and brocade; materials appropriate for feasting with our King. As our King’s body was stripped in crucifixion, so our altar is stripped of its coverings.
The altar cloths and paraments are removed.
Two elders needed.
Note the stars on the diagram.