Until the end of 17th Century, English monarchs used to wash the feet of paupers (one for each year of the monarch’s age) on Maundy Thursday: a symbolic re-enactment of Christ’s washing his disciples feet, signifying humility and service on the part of the Crown. It has long since been replaced by the tradition of distributing money – more hygenic but rather less moving.
Rather than a performative ceremony, the original event was altogether grubbier. In Jesus’ time, due to their filth, feet were viewed as unclean, and they are still considered lowly or undignified in many Middle Eastern cultures today. Back then, washing feet was such a demeaning task that it was often relegated to the lowest slaves. Some Jewish rabbis taught that it was too degrading for even a Jewish slave to do.
But Jesus did it. What kind of king does that? And what can it teach us about him? We’ll be exploring these questions this week at St Andrews.
Join us this Sunday, 15th March, at 10:30am. St Andrews Church, High St, Auchterarder PH3 1BN; or via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7209731710
Wednesday Evenings
Our midweek Wednesday evening Zoom gathering is back for 2026, and we’re following a new series, Discipleship Explored – based on on the book of Philippians.
Every Wednesday evening at 8pm. It’s a chance to catch up, learn together, share our news, and pray. Everybody welcome!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7209731710
