St. Andrew's Lutheran Church and Campus Center
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Maundy Thursday
Background
This service for Holy Thursday is the first service in the celebration of the holy three days of Christ’s Passover, commonly known as the Triduum. It culminates the Lenten period of preparation for Christ’s Passion and Resurrection and leads into His sacrifice on our behalf. As such, the service, like that for Good Friday, exhibits a mood of restrained joy. It consists of four parts: the Service of Corporate Confession and Absolution, the Service of the Word, the Service of the Sacrament, and the Stripping of the Altar.The Service of Corporate Confession and Absolu¬tion signals the end of the Lenten preparations with the absolution and peace of Christ that stand at the center of the Three Days. The Service of the Word focuses upon Christ’s humble service demonstrated in His washing of His disciples’ feet, a servanthood enacted on the Cross and whose benefits are bestowed in the Lord’s Supper. The service culminates with the Lord’s ministry to His people through the Sacrament of the Altar.
The depth of Christ’s servanthood is demonstrated as the altar is reverently stripped in preparation for the Church’s observance of Jesus’ death. In this service, the Church and her catechumens begin the journey through the three days of Christ’s Passover from death to life and from captivity to freedom.
Scripture
- Psalm 116:12-19 (ESV)
- Psalm 22:1-31 (ESV)
- Exodus 12:1-14 (ESV)
- 1 Corintians 11:23-32 (ESV)
- St. John 13:1-15(34-35)(ESV)
Hymn of the Day
- LSB 627 "Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior" (midi)
Other Hymns
- LSB 624 "The Infant Priest was Holy Born"
- LSB 617 "O Lord, We Praise Thee" (midi)
Setting of the Divine Service
- LSB 3 (p.184)
