GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.
CONFESSION AND 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.
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.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
GREETING 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.
PRAYER OF THE DAY 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.
HYMN: “LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENCE”
WORD God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
FIRST READING: Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14
PSALM: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 1I love the LORD, who has | heard my voice, and listened to my | supplication, 2for the LORD has given | ear to me whenev- | er I called. 12How shall I re- | pay the LORD for all the good things God has | done for me? 13I will lift the cup | of salvation and call on the name | of the LORD. 14I will fulfill my vows | to the LORD in the presence of | all God’s people. 15Precious in your | sight, O LORD, is the death | of your servants. 16O LORD, truly I | am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your handmaid; you have freed me
from my bonds.
17I will offer you the sacrifice | of thanksgiving and call upon the name | of the LORD. 18I will fulfill my vows | to the LORD in the presence of | all God’s people, 19in the courts of | the LORD‘s house, in the midst of you, | O Jerusalem.
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 The holy gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
SPECIAL MUSIC: RECORDING - “WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM”-BRAD HAAR & KATHI EISENBEIS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
OFFERING PRAYER Let us pray. God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
DIALOGUE 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.
PREFACE L: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ, whose suffering and death gave salvation to all. You gather your people around the tree of the cross, transforming death into life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name.
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE You are indeed holy, almighty, and merciful God. You are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory. You so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. We give you thanks for his coming into the world to fulfill for us your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
COMMUNION HYMN AFTER COMMUNION: “OH, CHRIST THOU LAMB OF GOD”
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Let us pray. Lord Jesus, in a wonderful sacrament you strengthen us with the saving power of your suffering, death, and resurrection. May this sacrament of your body and blood so work in us that the fruits of your redemption will show forth in the way we live, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR All depart in silence.
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.