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  • Maundy Thursday Communion Service

    4-9-2020

    GATHERING

     

    Welcome

    Confession and Forgiveness:

     

    Friends in Christ, in this Lenten season we have heard our Lord's call to struggle against sin, death, and the devil—all that keeps us from loving God and each other. This is the struggle to which we were called at baptism.

     

    Within the community of the church, God never wearies of forgiving sin and giving the peace of reconciliation. On this night let us confess our sin against God and our neighbor, and enter the celebration of the great Three Days reconciled with God and with one another.

     

    All kneel or sit and keep silence for reflection and self-examination.


    Most merciful God,
    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.

     

    The presiding minister addresses the assembly.

     

    God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.

    Amen.

      

    Gathering Song: 476 Thee We Adore, O Savior

    Greeting

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

    And also with you.

    Prayer of the Day

    Let us pray.

     

    A brief silence is kept before the prayer.

     

    Holy God, source of all love, on the night of his betrayal, Jesus gave us a new commandment, to love one another as he loves us. Write this commandment in our hearts, and give us the will to serve others as he was the servant of all, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

    Amen.

  • WORD

  • Psalm 116:1-2, 12-29

    I love the Lord, who has heard my voice,
    and listened to my supplication,
    for the Lord has given ear to me
      whenever I called.
    How shall I repay the Lord
    for all the good things God has done for me?
    I will lift the cup of salvation
      and call on the name of the Lord. 
    I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all God’s people.
    Precious in your sight, O Lord,
      is the death of your servants.
    O Lord, truly I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
    I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
      and call upon the name of the Lord.
    I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all God’s people,
    in the courts of the Lord‘s house,
      in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. 

  • Reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

    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,  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."  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."  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

    Word of God, word of life.
    Thanks be to God.

  • Sermon
    Hymn of the Day: 666 What Wondrous Love Is This

    1 What wondrous love is this,
    O my soul, O my soul!
    What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
    What wondrous love is this
    that caused the Lord of bliss
    to bear the dreadful curse
    for my soul, for my soul,
    to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

    2 When I was sinking down,
    sinking down, sinking down,
    when I was sinking down, sinking down,
    when I was sinking down
    beneath God's righteous frown,
    Christ laid aside his crown
    for my soul, for my soul,
    Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

    3 To God and to the Lamb
    I will sing, I will sing;
    to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
    to God and to the Lamb,
    who is the great I AM,
    while millions join the theme,
    I will sing, I will sing,
    while millions join the theme, I will sing.

    4 And when from death I'm free,
    I'll sing on, I'll sing on;
    and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on;
    and when from death I'm free,
    I'll sing God's love for me,
    and through eternity
    I'll sing on, I'll sing on;
    and through eternity I'll sing on.


    Prayers

    Turning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

    A brief silence.

    God of love, unite your church in its commitment to humble service. Make us your faithful disciples. Speak words of truth and grace through us. Encourage us in self-giving acts of kindness. Let us love one another as you have loved us. Hear us, O God.

    Your mercy is great.

     

    God of love, tend to flocks, fields, and vineyards. Bring favorable weather for crops to grow. Guide the hands of those who cultivate, farm, and garden. Let the earth flourish so that all may eat and be satisfied. Hear us, O God.

    Your mercy is great.

     

    God of love, you give us a new commandment, to have love for one another. We give thanks for organizations that respond to disasters and for agencies that offer relief and humanitarian aid to populations in need. Grant your strength and blessing to all who are in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Hear us, O God.

    Your mercy is great.

     

    God of love, give ear to all who call upon you for any need of body or spirit (especially all those hospitalized with covid-19, and all whom we name before you …). Provide for those who do not have enough to eat, those who are unemployed or underemployed, and those who rely on the generosity of others. Hear us, O God.

    Your mercy is great.

    God of love, you invite us to your table of mercy. Heal all divisions between members of this assembly. Extend the hospitality of this table beyond these walls, that your love and welcome be made known to all. Hear us, O God.

    Your mercy is great.

    Here other intercessions may be offered.

    God of love, glorify your servants who walked by faith in this life and who now feast with you. Inspire us by the sacrifice of those who were imprisoned, persecuted, or martyred for their faith (especially Dietrich Bonhoeffer). Hear us, O God.

    Your mercy is great.

     

    According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as we commend them to you; through Christ our Lord.

    Amen.


    Peace

    The peace of Christ be with you always.

    And also with you.


    Offering Song: 686 We Give Thee but Thine Own (vv. 1-2)

    1 We give thee but thine own,
    whate'er the gift may be;
    all that we have is thine alone,
    a trust, O Lord, from thee.

    2 May we thy bounties thus
    as stewards true receive,
    and gladly, as thou blessest us,
    to thee our firstfruits give.

     

    Offering Prayer

    Let us pray.

     

    Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever.

    Amen.


    Great Thanksgiving

    The Lord be with you.

    And also with you.

     

    Lift up your hearts.

    We lift them to the Lord.

     

    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

    It is right to give our thanks and praise.


    Thanksgiving at the Table

    Lord's Prayer

    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.


    Invitation to Communion

    Taste and see that the Lord is good.

    Thanks be to God.


    Communion

    Table Blessing

    The Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen.

    Prayer after Communion

    Let us pray.

    A brief silence is kept.

    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.

    Amen.

    Stripping of the Altar

    The service concludes with the stripping of the altar. The assembly sits or kneels. The sacramental elements and vessels, linens, paraments, banners, and books are removed from the worship space.

     

    All depart in silence.