Maundy Thursday prepares Christians for Good Friday, Easter

Southeast Missourian/Don Frazier

Members and guests of St. Andrew Lutheran Church took part in a Thursday evening remember Maundy Thursday "Meal in the Upper Room."

HOLY DAYS

By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian

In the shadow of candlelight, the snapping of matzo wafers sounded throughout the room as people began to eat from plates with lamb, dried fruits, a cube of cheese, a slice of orange and a sprig of parsley .

The meal Thursday night at St. Andrew Lutheran Church was much like what Christ would have shared with his disciples on Passover.

Area churches held services Thursday to commemorate the last supper before Christ's betrayal, trial and crucifixion. The services help Christians in their preparation for Easter, and in nearly every congregation marking the day communion was offered.

At the conclusion of the Catholic service, altars were stripped of any adornments or items used in Mass in remembrance of Christ's death.

Jews also marked the Passover with a Seder meal Thursday.

The crowd of worshippers at St. Andrew shared the meal in the "upper room" in their Maundy Thursday observance and learned a bit about the Jewish Passover. Communion also was offered.

Jews mark the Passover to celebrate the angel of death's passing over their homes during the plagues in Egypt. It is among the most celebrated of Jewish holidays.

Gaining perspective

The upper room service at St. Andrew really helped to put the betrayal, trial, Christ's death and resurrection into perspective for those who attended.

Ken and Rita Aufdenberg came to see what the service was about; both are members at St. Andrew, but hadn't been to the special service before.

The church doesn't always include an upper room meal in its Maundy Thursday service; a traditional service was held earlier in the day. The meal, which lasted 75 minutes, was last observed two years ago.

"It gives you a sense of what it was like that day for Christ," Ken Aufdenberg said.

The Downtown Council of Churches will observe another Jewish custom in a Way of the Cross walk at noon today. The walk begins at Riverfront Park and winds its way through downtown locations, or stations, before ending at the River Campus.

A large, wooden cross, similar to what Christ would have carried to his crucifixion, will be carried along the route.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126