The Triduum:
Maundy Thursday
with Footwashing
by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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The Maundy Thursday Liturgy is one of endings and beginnings. What was begun on Ash Wednesday is brought to a close here tonight. What begins tonight does not end until the resurrection of Easter. It is the ancient Triduum, "The Three Sacred Days," which lead us to Easter: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday with its Vigil of Easter.
The liturgy tonight opens with the sermon, which serves as the bridge between the ending of Lent and the beginning of the Triduum. The theme is love, our Savior's love for us, expressed in the washing of the disciples' feet, in giving himself in bread and wine, in dying upon the cross.
An invitation to confession is given. The focus is on absolution. On Ash Wednesday, we began Lent with a major act of confession and ashes, but did not receive absolution. That forgiveness comes now "in the name and by the command of our Lord," at the service celebrating Christ's love. The peace is shared after absolution and seals that forgiveness in a loving embrace, as if embraced by Christ himself.
The lessons of love are read. Then an example of love is given, along with a new command. The new command derives from it: "Love one another."
The prayers are said. The table is made ready. The time of the Lord's Supper arrives, and our Lord is revealed in bread and wine as once he "revealed himself to his disciples." It is a solemn moment, but we cannot linger here. Nor could the Lord. His betrayal was imminent.
Before we know it, the markings of betrayal are seen before us. The symbol of Christ in our midst, the altar, is stripped bare. Christ is stripped of his power and glory. Good Friday is inescapable. The powers of darkness work upon him.
In silence, we depart without benediction.
The Triduum continues with the Good Friday liturgy tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
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LITURGY OF INSTRUCTION & CONFESSION
Organ Prelude and Silent Prayer
Entrance Hymn #385 "What Wondrous Love Is This"
Sermon
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Instruction:
P. In this Lenten season we have heard our Lord's call to intensify our 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 committed at Baptism; God's forgiveness and the power of his Spirit to amend our lives continue with us because of his love for us in Jesus, our Savior.
Within the community of his Church, God never wearies of giving peace and new life. In the words of absolution we receive forgiveness as from God himself. This absolution we should not doubt, but firmly believe that thereby our sins are forgiven before God in heaven, for it comes to us in the name and by the command of our Lord.
We who receive God's love in Jesus Christ are called to love one another, to be servants to each other as Jesus became our servant. Our commitment to this loving service is signified in the washing of feet, following the example the Lord gave us on the night before his death.
It is, however, in the Holy Communion that the members of Christ's body participate most intimately in his love. Remembering our Lord's last supper with his disciples, we eat the bread and share the cup of this meal. Together we receive the Lord's gift of himself and participate in that new covenant which makes us one in him. The Eucharist is the promise of the great banquet we will share with all the faithful when our Lord returns, the culmination of our reconciliation with God and each other.
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Confession and Forgiveness:
P. Let us make confession to God.
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Silence for reflection and self-examination.
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P. Almighty God, merciful Father:
C. I, a troubled a penitent sinner, confess to you all my sins and iniquities with which I have offended you and for which I justly deserve your punishment. But I am sorry for them, and repent of them, and pray for your boundless mercy. For the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ, be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being; forgive my sins, give me your Holy Spirit for the amendment of my sinful life, and bring me to life everlasting. Amen
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P. On Ash Wednesday, you began this season of repentance with confession, and you came forward to receive the ashes of repentance. Come forward now and receive your absolution, the forgiveness which comes from Christ our Lord.
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Those who desire, come to the altar to receive individual absolution, either kneeling or standing. The minister, laying both hands on each person's head, addresses each in turn:
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P. In obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins.
Each person responds: Amen
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When all have been absolved, the liturgy continues:
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P. Almighty God in his mercy has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. Through his Holy Spirit he cleanses us and gives us power to proclaim the mighty deeds of God who called us out of darkness into the splendor of his light.
C. Amen
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P. The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C. And also with you.
All share the peace of our Lord.
Prayer of the Day:
P. Let us pray. Holy God, source of all love, on the night of his betrayal, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment: to love one another as he had loved them. By your Holy Spirit write this commandment in our hearts; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C. Amen
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LITURGY OF THE WORD
Setting 3, LBW
First Lesson:
Second Lesson:
Verse: "Return to the Lord Your God" Page 104
Gospel Lesson:
LITURGY OF FOOTWASHING
Hymn #122 "Love Consecrates the Humblest Act"
During the hymn, a representative group of the congregation comes forward and sits in chairs provided near the altar.
Footwashing:
The humble act of footwashing takes place in solemn silence by the Presiding Minister. The minister says to each person whose feet are washed:
P: Where charity and love are found, there is God.
R: Amen
When all the footwashing is completed, the Presiding Minister addresses the congregation:
P: Jesus says, "If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you."
C: Where charity and love are found, there is God.
Hymn #126:1-2 "Where Charity and Love Prevail"
During the hymn, the representatives return to their pews and the ministers prepare for the prayers.
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LITURGY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Prayer of the Church Page 106
Offering: Hymn during the Offering:
Hymn #203 "Now We Join in Celebration"
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Offertory Prayer:
A. Let us pray. Almighty God,
C. Creator and Redeemer of the world, we give you thanks that you have loved us and given us the bread of life, your Son, our Savior. With these gifts of bread and wine and our possessions, we dedicate ourselves to a life of love for the sake of him who gave himself in love, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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Great Thanksgiving (sung) Page 109
Holy, Holy, Holy Page 110
Prayer of Thanksgiving III
Our Father (sung) Page 112
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At the Breaking of Bread:
P. This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
C. We do not presume to come to your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and so to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen
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Distribution
Hymn #103 "O Christ, Thou Lamb of God"
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Post-Communion:
P. The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and keep you in his grace.
C. Amen
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A. Let us pray. Lord God, in a wonderful Sacrament you have left us a memorial of your suffering and death. May this Sacrament of your body and blood so work in us that the way we live will proclaim the redemption you have brought; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C. Amen
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STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR
Psalm 22 (spoken in unison) Page 224
As the Psalm is spoken, the chancel is stripped.
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When the Psalm is completed, all depart in silence.
There is no benediction this evening. The service continues with the Good
Friday Liturgy tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Remain and pray as long as you wish.
Liturgy
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