Commemorating Jesus’ Last Supper

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

-Isaiah 53:5-6

We commemorated the Lord’s Supper on March 24, 2016 during a special Maundy Thursday Service.

The Sanctuary was darkened for this service while solemn music played. The stage was adorned with candlelight and the communion table was set in the middle.

The service opened with the Scripture reading from the Gospel of John chapter 15 while scenes of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane were displayed on the stage screens. The service included congregational hymns appropriate for the occasion interspersed with scripture reading from the Gospels, the New Testament and the book of Isaiah by church members.

After each scripture was read, each reader extinguished a candle on the stage. Pastor Shanlian gave the message for the evening, reflecting on the events of the Last Supper and subsequent arrest and trial of Christ. The deacons distributed small penny nails in plastic bags during the sermon. Pastor Shanlian instructed everyone to (carefully) apply some pressure to their hand where the nails pierced the hands of Jesus. Afterwards he invited each person to give their nail to another person in the church who has helped them in their spiritual journey by bearing their pain and being Christlike.

After the communion service, Pastor Shanlian extinguished the middle pillar candle, signifying the death of Christ and closed the large altar Bible signifying the closed tomb.

The congregation exited in quiet and later joined each other in the social hall for a light dinner.