Blog

Maundy Thursday

Prelude

Variations on Lenten Hymns

Gathering

Confession and Forgiveness

P:  That we may prepare to meet our God who loves us at his table, let us kneel or sit to make our confession to God.

Please kneel or sit as you are able.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P:  Most merciful God,

C:  we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P:  God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, the ungodly. As a called and ordained minister of the church and by His authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins in the name of the Father, and the ☩ Son and the Holy Spirit.

C:  Amen.

Please stand as you are able.

Peace

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:  And also with you.

We share the peace of Christ with one another to affirm the forgiveness we have just received from Christ.

Prayer of the Day

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  Let us pray.
Eternal God, in the sharing of a meal your Son established a new covenant for all people, and in the washing of feet he showed us the dignity of service. Grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit these signs of our life in faith may speak again to our hearts, feed our spirits, and refresh our bodies, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:  Amen.

Please be seated.

The Word

First Reading: Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14

¹ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: ² This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. ³ Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. ⁴ If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it.
 ¹¹ This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. ¹² For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. ¹³ The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
 ¹⁴ This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Psalmody: Psalm 116

“What Shall I Render to the Lord”
(Tune: Rockingham)

1  What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
How shall my life, by grace restored,
give worthy thanks, O Lord, to thee?

2  Salvation’s cup of blessing now
I take and call upon God’s name.
Before his saints I pay my vow
and here my gratitude proclaim.

3  His saints the Lord delights to save;
their death is precious in his sight.
He has redeemed me from the grave,
and in his service I delight.

4  With thankful heart I offer now
my gift and call upon God’s name.
Before his saints I pay my vow
and here my gratitude proclaim.

5  Within his house, the house of prayer,
I dedicate myself to God.
Let all his saints his grace declare
and join to sound his praise abroad.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Please stand as you are able.

Gospel: John 13:1-38

P:  The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 13th chapter.

C:  Glory to you, O Lord.

¹ Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
¹² After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are right, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. ¹⁸ I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ ¹⁹ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. ²⁰ Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”
²¹ After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” ²² The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. ²³ One of his disciples — the one whom Jesus loved — was reclining next to him; ²⁴ Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. ²⁵ So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” ²⁸ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. ²⁹ Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. ³⁰ So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
³¹ When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³² If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³ Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
³⁶ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” ³⁷ Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” ³⁸ Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.”

P:  The Gospel of the Lord.

C:  Praise to you, O Christ.

Gospel Response: Hymn #664 (blue hymnal)

“A New Commandment”

  A new commandment I give unto you,
that you love one another as I have loved you,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
By this shall people know you are my disciples,
if you have love one for another;
by this shall people know you are my disciples:
if you have love one for another.

Please be seated.

Sermon

Silence for meditation.

Hymn of the Day #84 (maroon hymnal)

“Where Charity and Love Prevail” vv. 1, 3-4, 6

Handwashing

P:  On this night we have heard our Lord’s commandment to love one another as he has loved us. We who receive God’s love in Jesus Christ are called to love one another, to be servants to each other as Jesus became our servant. Our commitment to this loving service is signified in the washing of hands, following the example our Lord gave us on the night before his death.

Those who wish may choose to have their hands washed. The symbolic washing is performed by pouring a small amount of water over the top of the hands, and then drying them with a towel.

Washing stations are at the front and rear of the sanctuary. An assistant will be waiting at each station.

After your hands have been washed and dried, stand and take a new towel and the pitcher and be ready for the next person. Then you wash and dry that next person’s hands. The assistant is available to help you as needed. When the last persons have had their hands washed, they will then wash the assistants’ hands.

Special Music during Handwashing

“Three Holy Days Enfold Us Now”
Delores Dufner and Edward Miller

“Stay Here”
Jacques Berthier, Taizé Community

Please kneel as you are able.

Prayers of Intercession

A:  Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

After each petition:

A:  Lord, in your mercy,

C:  Hear our prayer.

After the last petition:

A:  Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen.

Please stand as you are able.

Offering Prayer

A:  Let us pray.

C:  God of glory, receive these gifts and the offering of our lives. As Jesus was lifted up from the earth, draw us to your heart in the midst of this world, that all creation may be brought from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, and from death to life; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Meal: At the Lord’s Table

The Great Thanksgiving

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  We lift them to the Lord.

P:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

P:  In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

  Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

The Lord’s Prayer

P:  Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
 hallowed be thy name,
 thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done,
  on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
 as we forgive those
  who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
 and the power, and the glory,
 forever and ever. Amen.

Communion

P:  Jesus was lifted up on the cross and from the grave, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Please be seated.

  The Body of Christ, broken for you.

  The Blood of Christ, shed for you.

Those who wish to commune at the altar rail may either bring forward their individual Communion kit, or receive the wafer and wine/grape juice by intinction (dipping) from the Communion Ministers, when they are directed forward by the usher. Those who wish to commune in their seat with their individual Communion kit may remain seated.

Communion Hymn

“Behold the Lamb”
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend, Kristyn Lennox Getty, arr. Douglas Nolan

  Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us – and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King.

  The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Torn for you – eat and remember
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King.

  The blood that cleanses every stain of sin,
Shed for you – drink and remember
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King.

  And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
To respond, – and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven
Around the table of the King.

Table Blessing

P:  The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

C:  Amen.

Prayer after Communion

A:  Let us pray.
Lord Jesus, in a wonderful sacrament you strengthen us with the saving power of your suffering, death, and resurrection. May this sacrament of your body and blood so work in us that the fruits of your redemption will show forth in the way we live, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:  Amen.

In the Garden of Gethsemane

Reading: Matthew 26:36-45

Special Music

“Gethsemane”
Kristin & Keith Getty

All depart in silence.

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Worship Leaders

The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director
Kate Wollenburg, Organist
Cindy Mayhugh, Assisting Minister
Patrick Cathcart, Reader
Donny Cathcart, Acolyte
Liam Cathcart, Book Bearer

Upcoming Events

Copyright Notices

Where Charity and Love Prevail: Tr. © 1960, World Library Publications. 3708 River Road, Suite 400. Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158. www.wlpmusic.com. All rights reserved.

Three Holy Days Enfold Us Now: Text by Delores Dufner © 1995 GIA Publications, Inc., giamusic.com. All rights reserved.

Stay Here: Text and music © 1984 Les Presses de Taizé, admin. GIA Publications, Inc.

Behold the Lamb: Text and music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, & Stuart Townend; © 2007 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Gethsemane: Text and music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend; © 2008 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Hymns/anthems: Music reprinted and streamed by permission under ONE LICENSE #A‐726103 and CCLI Licenses #21045423 and #21045416. All rights reserved.

Liturgical texts and service music: From SundaysandSeasons.com. Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.