MAUNDY THURSDAY
April 17, 2025
7:00 p.m.
PRELUDE Ubi Caritas 8th Century
O Jesus Joy of Loving Hearts Germany-tune Ludvig van Beethoven
arr. Charles Callahan
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN Great God, Your Love Has Called Us vs. 1-2
🜊 SOLA GRATIA 🜊
CONFESSION & 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.
Silence is kept 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.
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.
CONFESSIONAL HYMN Great God, Your Love Has Called Us vs. 4-5
PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.
Let us pray together:
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.
🜊 SOLA SCRIPTURA 🜊
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Exodus 12:1--14
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 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. 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. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 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. 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. 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.
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.
Word of God, Word of Life; Thanks be to God
PSALM: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
I love the Lord, who has | heard my voice,
and listened to my | supplication,
for the Lord has given | ear to me
whenev- | er I called.
How shall I re- | pay 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.
SECOND LESSON: 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
HYMN OF THE DAY Love Consecrates the Humblest Act
GOSPEL: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Glory to you, Oh Lord.
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. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 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.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
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? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”
“Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 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.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Gospel of our Lord, Praise be to you Oh Christ.
HOMILY Pastor Kurt
🜊 SOLA FIDE 🜊
WASHING AND BLESSING OF FEET AND HANDS
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
Those who wish to participate in the foot washing and blessing may come forward to one of the stations. After your own feet have been washed you are invited, if you choose, to wash the feet of the next person. The hand washing and blessing station is available to all, whether or not your feet were washed.
Music during Foot Washing What Wondrous Love is This arr. Albert Zabel
THE OFFERING We return to God a portion of the great gifts God has first given us for the work of his glory here at Third and Ash.
OFFERING PRAYER
Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
PRAYER CHANT Stay Here and Keep Watch With Me
repeat after the cantor to be sung twice at the beginning and end of prayers
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
*after each petition:
Hear us O God... Your mercy is great.
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE 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.
Blessed are you, O God of the universe. Your mercy is everlasting and your faithfulness endures from age to age.
We do indeed bring you a gift of thanks, O God,
as we raise the cup of freedom in your name,
for you have made a covenant with us in the blood of Christ
and broken us free from the grip of death.
In your creative love, you brought the world to birth,
and from the first you loved all who live in it.
You heard the cries of your suffering people
and protected them with the blood of the Passover lamb
as you struck down those who oppressed them.
You sent your Son, Jesus, as our Teacher and Lord and gave all things into his hands.
Laying aside his power, he gave himself to us in humble service
and taught us to love one another as he had loved us.
When the hour for his departure came, he was betrayed by a friend and his
body broken on the cross.
With his outpoured blood you marked out those who will follow where he has gone,
into the promised land of resurrection life.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, …for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
*all sing:
Ubi caritas et amor, ubi caritas, Deus ibi est
Where true charity and love abide, God is dwelling there; God is dwelling there
O God of resurrection and new life: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine. Bless this feast. Grace our table with your presence.
Come, Holy Spirit.
*all sing:
Ubi caritas et amor, ubi caritas, Deus ibi est
Where true charity and love abide, God is dwelling there; God is dwelling there
Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and love.
Come, Holy Spirit.
*all sing:
Ubi caritas et amor, ubi caritas, Deus ibi est
Where true charity and love abide, God is dwelling there; God is dwelling there
With your holy ones of all times and places, with the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God, blessed and holy Trinity,
now and forever.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your Kingdom as you have taught us to pray:
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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
COMMUNION OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Three Holy Days Enfold us Now
STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR
*Stripping of the altar is symbolic of Jesus’ humiliation at the soldiers’ hands. As the altar candles are extinguished and the linens, paraments, ornaments, and candles are removed, Psalm 22 will be chanted.
PSALM 22 LBW tone 2
*refrain:
My God, my God, why have you for- | saken me?
Why so far from saving me, so far from the words | of my groaning?
My God, I cry out by day, but you | do not answer;
by night, but I | find no rest.
Yet you are the | Holy One,
enthroned on the prais- | es of Israel.
Our ancestors put their | trust in you,
they trusted, and you | rescued them. /R
They cried out to you and | were delivered;
they trusted in you and were not | put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm | and not human,
scorned by all and despised | by the people.
All who see me laugh | me to scorn;
they curl their lips; they | shake their heads.
“Trust in the Lord; let the | Lord deliver;
let God rescue him if God so de- | lights in him.” /R
Yet you are the one who drew me forth | from the womb,
and kept me safe on my | mother’s breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since | I was born;
you were my God when I was still in my | mother’s womb.
Be not far from me, for trou- | ble is near,
and there is no | one to help.
Many young bulls en- | circle me;
strong bulls of Ba- | shan surround me. /R
They open wide their | jaws at me,
like a slashing and | roaring lion.
I am poured out like water; all my bones are | out of joint;
my heart within my breast is | melting wax.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; my tongue sticks to the roof | of my mouth;
and you have laid me in the | dust of death.
Packs of dogs close me in, a band of evildoers | circles round me;
they pierce my hands | and my feet. /R
I can count | all my bones
while they stare at | me and gloat.
They divide my gar- | ments among them;
for my clothing, | they cast lots.
But you, O Lord, be not | far away;
O my help, hasten | to my aid.
Deliver me | from the sword,
my life from the power | of the dog.
Save me from the | lion’s mouth!
From the horns of wild bulls you have | rescued me.
I will declare your name | to my people;
in the midst of the assembly | I will praise you. /R
You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s | line, give glory.
Stand in awe of the Lord, all you off- | spring of Israel.
For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the
Lord‘s face hid- | den from them;
but when they cry out, | the Lord hears them.
From you comes my praise in the | great assembly;
I will perform my vows in the sight of those who | fear the Lord.
The poor shall eat | and be satisfied,
Let those who seek the Lord give praise! May your hearts | live forever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn | to the Lord;
all the families of nations shall bow | before God.
For dominion belongs | to the Lord,
who rules o- | ver the nations. /R
Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow | down in worship;
all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel be- | fore the Lord.
Their descendants shall | serve the Lord,
whom they shall proclaim to genera- | tions to come.
They shall proclaim God’s deliverance to a people | yet unborn,
saying to them, “The | Lord has acted!” /R
Tonight’s Service Ends in Silence
there is no benediction as this is only part one of three, followed by Good Friday
and The Easter Vigil or Easter Morning
The Rev. Kurt Christenson, Pastor
Bill Engel, Music Director
Jan Neuhaus, Cantor
Joann Masters, Lector
Chuck Leib, Assisting Minister
David Pohl, Joann Masters, Deacon Randy Sensmeier, Joyce Sensmeier, Paul Engel,
Ellen Beck, Jan Neuhaus, Billie Thompson, Elizabeth Connolly, Victoria Pearson, Singers
Brian Jensen, Rebecca Kjonegaard, Melodie Baker, Sound, Video, & Computer
Ruth Clayton, Melinda Person, Dan Kjonegaard, Ushers
confession & forgiveness, prayer of the day, offering prayer, and dismissal
from Sundays and Seasons 2021, Year B
© 2020 Augsburg Fortress
reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies annual license #SB137579
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-710629.
First Lutheran Church worships and works on the unceded territory of the Kumeyaay People.
