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Maundy Thursday April 9, 2020 Welcome! For this service I invite you to get a small bowl or cup of water, and you may light a candle. We gather for Maundy Thursday worship. Today day we observe Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples, transforming the Passover meal into Holy Communion, and Jesus’ betrayal. Because we are unable to gather in person we are not engaging in a collective foot washing, nor celebrating Holy Communion. We are beginning this worship experience with a Thanksgiving for Baptism – a celebration of the sacraments of our tradition, that involves remembrance and forgiveness. We will also strip the altar, as is tradition, as a sign of Jesus’ betrayal, leading us further into Jesus’ journey to the cross. Greeting P: We begin in the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Thanksgiving for Baptism People of God, through the waters of baptism we journey with Christ from death to life. All our sins, failures, and doubts are drowned and gone. You, O God, give us new life. All our confusion, our self-righteousness, and our despair are washed away by God’s grace. You, O God, give us new life. All our pride, and hypocrisy, and other people’s opinions of us no longer (and truly never have) define us as individuals. You, O God, give us new life. The Holy Spirit lives in you; the Holy Spirit moves through you now; therefore, you bring God’s love and mercy into the world as the Body of Christ. You, O God, give us new life. Rejoice that God has claimed you in this baptismal grace in Jesus, not by your own doing or believing, but by God’s loving mercy alone. You, O God, give us new life. We give thanks to you, O God, for the gracious gift of baptism that joins us together in Christ by the Spirit’s power. As your promises are present in baptism, O God, we know you are present with us now. As we remember our baptisms, bring us release from our sins, freedom of our fears, and trust in your never failing love. Bless all the baptized, and stir our hearts with your love for all creation. I invite you now to take the water you in front of you. Dip your finger into the water and make the sign of the cross on your forehead. Beloved child of God, by love and grace, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the Cross of Christ, forever! Thank You, O God, giving us new life through baptism, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen! Let us pray: Holy God, source of all love, even as Jesus was betrayed, he commanded us to love one another. We know your love in baptism, through which we are washed clean, completely forgiven, and fully renewed. Teach us to love as you love each one of us. Help us to make your love manifest for the whole of your creation. Amen. A reading from Mark 14:22-25 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ Word of God, Word of Life ELW 494 For the Bread Which You Have Broken pictures breaking bread / bread 1. For the bread which you have broken, for the wine which you have poured, for the words which you have spoken, now we give you thanks, O Lord. 2. By this promise that you love us, by your gift of peace restored, by your call to heav’n above us, hallow all our lives, O Lord. 3. With the saints who now adore you seated and the heav’nly board, may the church still waiting for you keep love’s tie unbroken, Lord. 4. In you service, Lord, defend us; in our hearts keep watch and ward; in the world to which you send us let your kingdom come, O Lord. A Reading from Mark 14:26-31 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters; for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even though all become deserters, I will not.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ But he said vehemently, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all of them said the same. Song ELW 642 Ubi Caritas et Amor Where true charity and love abide, God is dwelling there; God is dwelling there. (Sing 3 times) A reading from Mark 14:32-42 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’ Psalm 22 – Sung by Jen Hauser Stripping of the Altar Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship “Thanksgiving for Baptism Rite” originally composed by Pr. Michael Coffey, August 14, 2012; adapted by Pr. Jess Herran; adapted by Pr. Diane Olson for this service. For the Bread Which You Have Broken; Text: Louis F. Benson, 1855-1930, alt. Music: Gross Catolisch Gesangbuch, Nurnberg, 1631; arr. William Smith Rockstro, 1823-1895. Text © Robert F. Jefferys Jr. Ubi Caritas et Amor: Text: Latin antiphon, 9th cent.; Taize Community; tr. With One Voice Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994 Text and music © 1979 Les Presses de Taize, admin. GIA Publications, Inc. Tr.. © 1995 Augsburg Fortress