THE THREE DAYS TO EASTER
These services are from Church Rites (1994), prepared by the Commission on Worship, Lutheran Church of Australia.
The first service: Maundy Thursday
NOTES
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This service is designed to be the first of the three services from Maundy Thursday leading up to Easter Sunday. If it is not used as such, it will need to be adapted.
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The service is normally held in the evening.
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The service may begin with the sermon. If this is done, the sermon is brief and may explain the three days and centre on the Lord's supper in this service.
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If the foot-washing is included, a jug of water, a basin, a towel, and the people involved, should be ready.
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OUTLINE OF THE SERVICE
PREPARATION
Entrance
Invocation
Sermon
Confession of sins
Absolution
Peace
Hymn
Lord, have mercy
Glory to God in the highest
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Greeting
Prayer of Maundy Thursday (collect)
First reading
Second reading
Gospel
Nicene Creed
Sermon
Hymn
Foot-washing
Prayer of the church
LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT
Hymn
Preface
Holy, holy, holy
Lord's Prayer
Words of institution
Peace
Lamb of God
Distribution
Dismissal
Post-communion prayer
CONCLUSION
Blessing
Stripping of the altar
The first service: Maundy Thursday
PREPARATION
The minister enters in silence.
IN THE NAME
In the name of the Father and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
A sermon may be preached here instead of after the readings and creed.
Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love.
Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins!
Wash away all my evil
and make me clean from my sin!
I recognise my faults;
I am always conscious of my sins.
I have sinned against you — only against you —
and done what you consider evil.
So you are right in judging me;
you are justified in condemning me.
I have been evil from the day I was born;
from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.
Sincerity and truth are what you require;
fill my mind with your wisdom.
Remove my sin, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
and though you have crushed me and broken me, I will be happy once again.
Close your eyes to my sins
and wipe out all my evil.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Let us confess our sins to God our Father, and ask him to forgive us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Lord God, our heavenly Father,
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I am a sinner
and I have sinned against you,
not only in my words and actions,
but also in my secret thoughts and desires
which I cannot fully know or understand,
but which you know completely.
I am sorry that I have displeased you,
and repent of the evil I have done.
For the sake of your dear Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
have mercy on me,
forgive my sins,
and graciously help me in my weakness.
Amen.
I ask each of you in the presence of God who searches the heart:
Do you confess that you have sinned, and do you repent of your sins?
I do.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ has redeemed you from all your sins, and do you desire forgiveness in his name?
I do.
Do you intend with the help of the Holy Spirit to live as in God's presence, and to strive daily to lead a holy life, even as Christ has made you holy?
I do.
ABSOLUTION
As you believe, let it be done for you.
By the authority the Lord has given his church and by his command I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit.
God forbid that any of you reject his grace and forgiveness by refusing to repent and believe, and your sins therefore remain unforgiven.
May he comfort you with his holy absolution, and strengthen you with his sacrament, that your joy may be full.
Amen.
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The minister may also offer the absolution individually with the following or similar words:
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I invite you to receive the absolution individually. If you wish to do so, come forward as directed.
People may come forward and kneel at the altar. The minister, laying his hands on each person's head, says the following or similar words to each in turn:
(N,) in Jesus' name your sins are forgiven.
Amen.
The peace of the Lord be with you.
Amen.
The members of the congregation may exchange the peace with each other.
They may say these or similar words to one another:
The peace of the Lord.
The communion vessels and elements may be brought forward in procession during the singing of the hymn or during the 'Glory' below.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
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Glory to God in the highest.
And on earth peace,
among those with whom he is pleased.
We praise you, we bless you,
we worship you, we glorify you,
we give thanks to you for your great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God, the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
O Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father:
You take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world;
receive our prayer.
You are seated at the right hand
of God the Father;
have mercy on us.
For you alone are holy,
you alone are Lord,
you alone, O Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
are most high in the glory
of God the Father. Amen.
During the singing of the 'Glory', the bells may be rung and then remain silent until Easter morning.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
PRAYER OF MAUNDY THURSDAY (COLLECT)
EITHER
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, since you have left us a memorial of your suffering and death in your holy sacrament: Nourish us with your body and blood, so that our lives may show the fruits of your redemption; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, whose Son instituted his holy supper as our passover feast, and gave his life for us: Unite us all by faith in him, so that we who eat his body and drink his blood may pass with him from death to life; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
The first reading for Maundy Thursday is written in chapter —–—— of —–—— , beginning at verse —–——.
After the reading:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING
The second reading is written in chapter —–—— of —–——, beginning at verse —–——.
After the reading:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The holy gospel is written in chapter —– of the Gospel according to St -–, beginning at verse —–.
Glory to you, O Lord.
After the gospel:
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us* and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic† and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
* This means: us human beings
† or: Christian; 'catholic' here means 'universal'
If a sermon was not preached earlier, one is preached here.
The ceremony of foot-washing may be enacted.
A prayer of intercession may be said, particularly if a Good Friday service does not follow as part of the three days' celebration.
LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord.
For that is fitting and right.
It is truly fitting and right, and for our lasting good, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For he has taken upon himself our sin, that we, being dead to sin, should live to righteousness. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we adore and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and saying:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts;
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
LORD'S PRAYER
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take and eat; this is † my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way he took the cup, after the supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, Drink of it, all of you; this is † my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
LAMB OF GOD
O Christ, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world;
grant us your peace. Amen.
During the distribution, hymns and other appropriate music may be used.
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ and his precious blood strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life eternal. Go in † peace.
Amen.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Let us pray.
EITHER
We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through this healing gift; and we pray that through it you would graciously strengthen us in faith toward you and in love toward one another; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR
Lord our God, send down your rich blessing on us as we remember the suffering and death of your Son. Grant us pardon and comfort, so that we may be assured of our eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CONCLUSION
BLESSING
The God of love and peace † be with you.
Amen.
Appointed people come forward to remove the altar appointments and cloths.
This may be done in silence or as a voice is heard reading Psalm 22:1–11 or Psalm 22:1–21 or the composite psalm 22:18; Ps 88; 22:18.
The lights may be gradually extinguished as the altar is stripped. The congregation may kneel. They may remain for a time in silent meditation.
The congregation leaves in silence.
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