Order of Service
April 9, 2020 | Maundy Thursday
The Son of God Goes Forth to War; The Battle is Personal
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OPENING HYMN: When You Woke That Thursday Morning | CWS 717
1 When you woke that Thursday morning, Savior, Teacher, faithful Friend,
Thoughts of self and safety scorning, knowing how the day would end;
Lamb of God, foretold for ages, now at last the hour had come
When but One could pay sin’s wages: you assumed their dreadful sum.
2 Never so alone and lonely, longing with tormented heart
To be with your dear ones only for a quiet hour apart;
Sinless Lamb and fallen creatures, one last paschal meal to eat,
One last lesson as their teacher, washing your disciples’ feet.
3 What was there that you could give them that would never be outspent,
What great gift that would outlive them, what last will and testament?
“Show me and the world you love me, know me as the Lamb of God;
Do this in remembrance of me, eat this body, drink this blood.”
4 One in faith, in love united, all one body, you the head,
When we meet, by you invited, you are with us, as you said.
One with you and one another in a unity sublime,
See in us your sister, brother, one in ev’ry place and time.
5 One day all the Church will capture that bright vision glorious,
And your saints will know the rapture that your heart desired for us,
When the longed-for peace and union of the greatest and the least
Meet in joyous, blest communion in your never-ending feast.
INVOCATION
P: In the name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: On this night, Christ Jesus gathered with His disciples in the upper room
C: And ate with the one who would betray Him.
P: On this night, Christ, the suffering servant, took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet, saying:
C: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another
P: On this night, Christ our Lord gave us His holy supper.
C: That we who eat this bread and drink this cup may proclaim His death, receive His body and blood, have His forgiveness, and on the Last Day share in His resurrection.
P: On this night Christ, the Lamb of God, gave Himself into the hands of those who would slay Him.
C: And was abandoned by those who follow Him.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Lord Jesus Christ, in the sacrament of Holy Communion you give us your true body and blood as a remembrance of your suffering and death on a cross. Grant us so firmly to believe your words and promise that we may always partake of this sacrament to our eternal good; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
FIRST LESSON: Exodus 12:1-14
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb a for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.
12“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.
SECOND LESSSON: Hebrews 10:15-25
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
HYMN: Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessing | CW 111
1 Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross we spend,
Life and health and peace possessing From the sinner’s dying friend.
2 Here we rest in wonder, viewing All our sins on Jesus laid;
Here we see redemption flowing From the sacrifice he made.
3 Here we find the dawn of heaven While upon the cross we gaze,
See our trespasses forgiven, And our songs of triumph raise.
4 Oh, that, near the cross abiding, We may to the Savior cleave,
Naught with him our hearts dividing, All for him content to leave!
5 Lord, in loving contemplation Fix our hearts and eyes on you
Till we taste your full salvation And your unveiled glory view.
SERMON: Luke 22:47-48
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
THE BATTLE IS PERSONAL
CONFESSION OF FAITH: THE INSTITUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION
P: What is the sacrament of Holy Communion?
C: It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ for us Christians to eat and to drink.
P: What blessing do we receive through this eating and drinking?
C: That is shown us by these words, "Given” and “poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins." Through these words we receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in this sacrament. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
P: How can eating and drinking do such great things?
C: It is certainly not the eating and drinking that does such things, but the words "Given” and “poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words are the main thing in the sacrament, along with the eating and drinking. And whoever believes these words has what they plainly say, the forgiveness of sins.
P: Who, then, is properly prepared to receive this sacrament?
C: Fasting and other outward preparations may serve a good purpose, but he is properly prepared who believes these words, "Given” and “poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins." But whoever does not believe these words or doubts them is not prepared, because the words "for you" require nothing but hearts that believe.
THANK OFFERING
CLOSING PRAYER
P: O God the Father, source of all goodness, in your loving kindness you sent your Son to share our humanity. We thank you that through him you have given us pardon and peace in this sacrament. We also pray that you will not forsake us but will rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit so that we willingly serve you day after day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER
Matthew 6:9-13
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
C: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent | CWS 361
1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in his hand
Christ, our God, to earth descending,
Comes our homage to command.
2 King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human likeness,
In the body and the blood
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav’nly food.
3 Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spread its vanguard on the way
As the Light from Light, descending
From the realms of endless day,
Comes the pow’rs of hell to vanquish
As the darkness clears away.
4 At his feet the six-winged seraph, Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
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