A Dance For Maundy Thursday

The dance below is meant to express a note of joy in an otherwise sober service. The expression of joy in a service of sobriety reminds us of the gospel that is always present, even in the darkest moment. Every day we should move as the resurrected body of Christ. Every Holy Thursday celebration should incorporate the joy of the Resurrection, even as we remember the crosses ahead; for the cross itself has meaning only in the context of Resurrection. The celebrational joy of the Lord's Supper moves us beyond ourselves and out into the world. The following simple historic Jewish and Christian dance patterns may be used with many of the hymns planned for the Maundy Thursday celebration. The Christian tripudium dance pattern is especially helpful to incarnate the recessional hymn of the celebration. The following descriptive material on the biblical and historical uses of dance in worship could be incorporated in the homily or presented as instructions just before the congregation is inv…