The Service in PDF format is at: April 1, 2021 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
Peace Lutheran Church
Maundy Thursday
April 1, 2021
RINGING OF THE BELL AND WELCOME
OPENING SONG: “That Old Rugged Cross”
Recorded on April 6, 2014, Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price Music by Don Besig Incorporating The Old Rugged Cross Copyright MM by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
We need You, dear Savior to stay at our side,
to grant us the comfort and love You provide.
We know we’re not worthy of all we receive,
but we always will trust and believe.
We try to be faithful, we try to be true,
and often we fail You in things that we do.
But when we’re discouraged, alone and afraid,
we remember the price that You paid.
On a hill far away there’s an old rugged cross
where You suffered in sorrow and pain.
In the dark of that day, all the world felt the loss,
and our guilt will forever remain.
But we think of that old rugged, old rugged cross,
and the way that You died for our sins.
We remember that old rugged, old rugged cross,
and our hope is restored once again.
We try to be patient, we try to be strong;
we yield to temptation and things that are wrong.
But, Lord, You have taught us to love and obey,
and our faith will grow ev’ry day.
For we know that old rugged cross,
and the way that You died for our sins.
We remember that old rugged, old rugged cross,
and our hope is restored once again, again.
Our hope is restored once again!
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: We gather this evening to remember a most holy night, a night when God sealed His covenant with His people through bread and wine. Tonight, we receive God’s most precious gift of forgiveness for His people. Our Father in heaven desires to restore a right relationship with His children. Therefore, gathered in His holy name, we His people confess our sins before Him and before one another.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of the innocent suffering and death of Your beloved 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.
Pastor: God is merciful. Even before we were aware of our sin, He sent His Son to die for us, and for His sake God forgives all our sins. As a called and ordained servant of the Word, and at the command and promise of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Let us pray. O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
HYMN: “Blessed Assurance” TOSB 16
By: Fanny J Crosby & Mrs. J.F. Knapp © 1971 by William J. Gaither. The Fellowship Publications.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
MESSAGE “He Came to Love”
Pastor: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For the gift of divine peace and of pardon, with all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For the Christian Church, here and scattered throughout the world, and for the proclamation of the Gospel and the calling of all to faith, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For this nation, for our cities and communities, and for the common welfare of us all, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For seasonable weather and for the fruitfulness of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For those who labor, for those whose work is difficult or dangerous, and for all who travel, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For all those in need, for the hungry and homeless, for the widowed and orphaned, and for all those in prison, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For the sick and dying and for all those who care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: Finally, for these and for all our needs of body and soul, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
The Answer to the Haunting Question
Pastor: Is it I? The truth is, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes” for all of us. The timelessness of sin makes our answer: “Yes, it is I who betrayed You.” It is as if I was the one who held the nails. But even more, it is I whom He saw, when out of love He took the shame of the cross, giving His life for mine. Now, it is we who have the opportunity to share in the special meal where God meets us, forgives our sin, gives us salvation and eternal life, and connects us one to another. Thanks be to God, that it is we who benefit from all that God, in Christ Jesus, has done to save sinners. Welcome to the Table of our Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
DISTRIBUTION
Pastor: Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “Were You There” LBW 92
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,
Were you there when they Crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
(The Communion ware, the paraments, and altar appointments are removed and placed into the sacristy. The chancel is to remain bare through Good Friday. The congregation sits in silence as Psalm 22 is read. Once all the items are removed, the congregation may exit the sanctuary. There is a bowl by the door to collect your empty communion packages.)
Good Friday Worship at 7 pm tomorrow
Easter Drive-In Worship at 11 am on Sunday