MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE
The entire service should be conducted around the communion table, either by placing the table in a center aisle or by arranging chairs in a semi-circle around the table.
*Everyone who is able, please stand.
Prelude
"Ah, Dearest Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended"Heermann
Opening
In the past God spoke through the prophets at
many times and in various ways,
but in the last days he has spoken to us by his
Son, whom he appointed heir of all things,
and through whom he made the universe.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-— the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Praise the Lord!
*Hymn
"Praise God, Ye Servants of the Lord"Psalm 113
SERVICE OF THE WORD
First Reading
Exodus 12:1–14, 29–42
*Hymn
"When Israel Fled from Egypt Land" Harmsel
Second Reading
Exodus 19:1–6, 24:3–8
God's Will for His People
Deuteronomy 5:1–21,32–33
*Hymn
"Not Unto Us, O Lord of Heaven"Psalm 115
Third Reading
John 13:1–17; Matthew 26:26–30
Anthem
"Go to Dark Gethsemane" Montgomery
Fourth Reading
Mark 15:22–32; Luke 23:39–24:32
Meditation: THE NEW COVENANT
Prayer
*Hymn
"Give Thanks to God for All His Goodness" Wiersma
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Offering
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the gospels tell us that before he suffered, Jesus sat at table with his disciples and established a new covenant in his blood. After he suffered, on the day he rose from the dead, he appeared to some of the disciples and was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. Come, then, to the supper of our Lord. Let us prepare the table with the offerings of our lives and labor.
Offertory
"The Last Supper" Weinberg
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, you who have brought forth bread from the earth.
Blessed be God, now and forever!
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, you who created the fruit of the vine.
Blessed be God, now and forever!
As the grain once scattered in the fields and the grapes once dispersed on the hillsides are now reunited on this table in bread and wine, so, Lord, may your whole church soon be gathered together from the corners of the earth into your kingdom.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
The Thanksgiving
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right for us to give thanks. It is our joy and our peace at all times and in all places to give thanks to you, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, through Christ our Lord.
It is indeed right and good to glorify you, at all times and in all places, and to offer you our thanksgiving, O Lord. Through your living Word you created all things and pronounced them good. You made human beings in your own image, to share your life and reflect your glory. In the fullness of time you gave Christ to us as the way, the truth, and the life. In the upper room Christ gave us this supper, that we should celebrate the memorial of the cross and resurrection, by which he became the source of salvation for all who put their trust in him. Therefore, with the whole company of saints in heaven and on earth, with all creation in all time, we sing a hymn to your glory:
Hymn
The Institution
We give thanks to God the Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, before he suffered, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice, until his coming again. For the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, 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.
The Memorial
We shall do as our Lord commands. We proclaim that our Lord Jesus was sent hy the Father into the world, that he took upon himself our flesh and blood, and bore the wrath of God against our sin. We confess that he was condemned to die that we might be pardoned and suffered death that we might live. We proclaim that he is risen to make us right with God, and that he shall come again in glory to his new creation. We do this now, and until he comes' again.
Prayer of Consecration
O Father, send down your Spirit upon us, your people, and upon this bread and wine, that to us they may be Christ's body and blood, and that in partaking we may be one single body and one single spirit in Christ, a living sacrifice to the praise of your glory.
Preparation of the Elements
The bread which we break
is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We who are many are one body,
for we all share the same loaf.
The cup for which we give thanks
is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
The cup which we drink
is our participation in the blood of Christ.
Hymn
Women: O Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
Men: O Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
All: O Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us your peace. Amen.
Invitation and Dedication
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.
Hosanna in the highest!
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The Communion
[While the bread is passed, sing "Eat this Bread."]
Take, eat, remember and believe that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for a complete remission of all our sins.
[While the cup is passed, sing "Jesus, Remember Me."]
Take, drink, remember and believe that the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for a complete remission of all our sins.
Conclusion
Our Lord suffered, died, and was buried.
But on the third day he arose again.
Behold, O God, your family: your son Jesus did not hesitate for its sake to give himself into the hands of wicked people and to suffer agony on the cross—your Son who now lives and reigns with you, in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Meditative singing
Depart in silence.
Revised Common Lectionary
Years A, B, C: Holy Week—Maundy Thursday
