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“Gethsemane”
April 15th, 2022
Maundy Thursday
ONLINE WORSHIP
The name for this day comes from the Latin word “mandatum” meaning “commandment”. It refers to the two “new” commandments our Lord gave to His disciples on this day. The first one is “love one another”, and the second is “do this in remembrance of ME.” In the early church, Maundy Thursday was also the day on which those who had fallen away from the Church were restored to full fellowship with other believers after having observed the 40-day penitential season of Lent. Today we are reminded of the reconciliation we have because of Christ’s body and blood given for the forgiveness of our sin, and the example of self-giving love shown by our Lord as He washed the feet of His disciples.
Our service tonight is the “first act” or portion of what the early Church observed as “the tridum”, a three-day observance of the events of our Lord’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Even though Christians come and go during these three days, the worship services from now through the great Vigil of Easter are considered to be one continuous service.
(Please have your Communion servings ready for after the sermon)
+ PREPARATION +
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, having been restored to God’s family by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are called to live as children of God.
Yet we confess before God and one another that we have not loved Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, nor have we loved one another as we have been loved. We have sinned in our thoughts, in our words, in our actions, and in our lack of actions. Some of our sins we know; some remain unknown even to us. With repentant King David and with the tax collector in the temple we plead, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
God is merciful. Even before we were aware of our sin, He sent His Son to die for us, and for His sake God forgives all our sins.
A NEW COMMANDMENT: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Jesus said “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
“God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3:16
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH:
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs: For courage to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, that we may be obedient to the command of our Lord.
For strength to love others after the pattern of Jesus Christ, that our love may not be self-serving.
For the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world, that it may be faithful to the proclamation of the Gospel for the glory of God.
For our remembrance of Jesus Christ as we celebrate the foretaste of the feast to come, that as we receive His very body and blood our faith may be strengthened by the forgiveness of sins and we may be empowered to love as we have been loved.
For our observance of our Lord's suffering, death, and resurrection, that we may more fully appreciate the great sacrifice of love on our behalf.
For all who are in need of special gifts from God; the lonely, the ill, the troubled, that they may know the love of God. into Your hands,
O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
WEEKLY GIVING:
Thank you for continuing to support Redeemer and others through offerings in person during worship, sending via mail, or electronically through Givelify or other electronic options. Anyone with questions about how to give remotely may refer to the attached PDF.