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MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP APRIL 6, 7:00 pm
Live Video Broadcast
Click on the Links Provided Below:
Note: If one fails try another link..
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Vn4JFP_IQP8JQ3f8QwADQ
Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceLutheranChurchNA
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PASTOR WOOD’S NOTES
Maundy Thursday 2023
Title: “A Table of Opportunity”
Text: Matthew 26:20-30
Intro: A parable of two boats and a helicopter.
I. Psalm 41:9 prophesied “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.”
A. Judas had made his deal.
B. Judas sits at the table of opportunity—The Lord’s Supper.
1. The place of honor on his left.
2. Verse 22-25–an interesting exchange.
3. Very sad—literally sick in the heart.
4. “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
5. Judas was a thief—John 12
6. List of disciples—Judas as betrayer.
C. Noting the clues.
1. Missing clues…
2. Hard to grasp emotionally, intellectually.
3. The bowl.
4. Picture of hospitality and fellowship.
5. Judas all show—no faith.
D. A subtle answer.
1. “Rabbi” vs “Lord”
2. “Greetings Rabbi!”
3. “You have said so.”— “But in fact, it is as you say.”
E. The Lord’s Supper is not given in ideal conditions, nor in a safe environment but in a place of betrayers, deniers, cowards, and doubters; in a world full of greedy, power mongers; pharisees and hypocrites who just assume destroy Jesus, outlaw His Word, and destroy His church.
II. Take advantage of the table of opportunity.
A. One young man—illustration.
B. Capacity within to make things better or make things worse for ourselves.
1. Holy Spirit—Fruit.
2. Satan enters in makes things hell.
3. Do not miss opportunities by waiting for safe conditions.
4. When are we not tired?
5. When are we not busy?
6. When are we truly safe?
7. Get up, go to work, support your family.
8. Live with integrity.
9. Worship is still going on.
10. The Lord’s Table is available.
C. A gradual building towards betrayal, like a slow leak in a tire.
1. How sin does its most damage—slowly developing, compounding, building momentum.
2. Clue: John 6—“Hard teaching”
3. Not rebellion Judas hoped for.
4. Judas appears to begin leaving too.
5. John 6:64, 70 Jesus refers to some who would not believe–Judas as a devil, in disciple’s clothing.
6. Clue: At anointing earlier in Matthew 26 and John 13.
7. John 13–Judas complains that the act is a waste.
8. Matt 26 it seems that Judas convinced other disciples to say the same.
9. John 13:27 says, “Satan, entered him.”
10. In Judas the course of decisions led to his self-destruction.
D. Jesus gives to Judas every opportunity to believe and be saved.
1. He saw the miracles.
2. Participated as one sent out two by two.
3. Witnessed Lazarus’ resurrection
4. Carried one of the twelve basketfuls of bread after the feeding of the 5000.
5. Seat of honor right next to Jesus.
6. Made the choice to betray.
III. The Lord’s table is a table of opportunity for us too.
A. Opportunity to take hold of what Jesus is giving.
B. Something spiritual as well as something physical.
1. The Lord who created matter.
2. Bodies to interact with a physical world.
3. It is in this world that we exercise our faith.
4. Spiritual fruit in a physical world.
5. Physical bread and wine in a spiritual sacrament.
6. The Passover itself included a physical eating of lamb and actual lamb’s blood to mark the doors.
7. God in flesh provides—cross and resurrection.
C. And there is also the spiritual.
1. “This is my body…this is my blood.”
2. Elevated to the Kingdom of heaven.
3. Jesus is both physical and spiritual.
4. 1 Cor 15 speaks of a physical resurrection which follows Jesus’ own physical resurrection.
5. Spiritual forgiveness and resurrection.
6. We will be remade, the old is gone and the new will come.
7. The sacrament itself grabs hold of this.
8. Faith unlocks the sacrament.
Wrapping Up: “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:6, NLT). The Lord’s Supper is our table of opportunity every time it is offered.
Taking it Home:
1. What is the greatest opportunity that you were most glad you did not pass up?
2. Can you describe a time in your life where you were betrayed? How did this affect your faith?
3. How has the Lord’s Supper impacted your faith?
4. What are some of the tangible things that you do regularly as evidence of a living faith in Jesus?
Consider Reading John 6.
PRINTABLE PDF: MNMaundy.PDF
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SERVICE PROGRAM
APRIL 6, 2023
7:00PM
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Grace Lutheran Church
1787 Klerner Lane
New Albany, IN 47150
812-944-1267
glcna.org
MAUNDY THURSDAY
April 6, 2023 – 7:00 PM
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN: “When I Behold Jesus Christ” LSB # 542
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
A LITANY OF BETRAYAL AND DENIAL
Pastor: “Jesus went out as usual to the Mt of Olives…On reaching the place…He withdrew about a stone’s throw away and knelt down to pray.”
Luke 22:39, 41
People: “Then He returned to the disciples and found them sleeping.”
Mark 14:37
Pastor: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
People: “Once more he went away and prayed…When He came back, He again found the disciples sleeping.” Mark 14:39-40
Pastor: “The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Matthew 26:45
People: “Judas, one of the Twelve appeared with a crowd armed with swords and clubs.” Mark 14:43
Pastor: “Judas said, “Greetings Rabbi!” and kissed Him.” Matthew 26:49
People: “The men seized Jesus and arrested him.” Mark 14:46
Pastor: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “Today—yes tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” Mark 14:30
People: “Peter replied, “Sir I don’t know what you are talking about!”
Luke 22:60a
Pastor: “Just as Peter was speaking the rooster crowed.” Luke 22:60b
People: “The Lord turned and looked at Peter from across the courtyard and looked straight at Peter.” Luke 22:61a
Pastor: “Then Peter remembered the Word the Lord had spoken to Him.”
Luke 22:61b
People: “Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.” Matthew 26:47-56
Pastor: “Surely, I have been sinful from birth,
People: “sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: “If we claim to have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
People: “but if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Pastor: Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;
People: O Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
Pastor: If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
People: But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
Pastor: Let us confess our sins together:
All: Lord, you have called me to be Your disciple, and yet there are times that I have betrayed you like Judas. I have betrayed my loyalty to you in thought, word, and deed, buying into my own selfishness instead of genuine faithfulness. I have denied You like Peter, promising to stand firm until the end, but cracking under the pressure of false ideas, self-preservation, and poor lifestyle choices. Lord, I am Your disciple but I have not acted like it. Please, forgive me, renew me, and fill my life with Your Holy Spirit. Make us humble like Peter so that we might be reinstated to serve You whole heartedly, faithfully, and in such a way that we can finally, be effective disciples for the Gospel.
Pastor: I have good news this evening. God is merciful. Even before we were aware of our sin, He sent His Son, Jesus to die for us, and for His sake God forgives all our sins. As a called and ordained servant of the Word, and at the command and promise of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray.
All: O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament you have left us a remembrance of your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of your body and blood that the fruits of your redemption may continually be manifest in us, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC: “It Is Well with My Soul” – Brian & Jane Loppnow
Whitney Lyon & Helen Bohannon
OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 12:21-30 (The Passover.)
21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.
29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
THE EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
(The Lord’s Supper should be practiced faithfully.)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
HYMN: “Behold Our God” Printed
Words & Music by: Baird & Altrogge Arranged Paul Campbell
© 2011 Sovereign Grace Music, adm, by Integrity Music CCLI License #1672462
Who has held the oceans in His hands
Who has numbered every grain of sand
Kings and nations tremble at His voice
All creation rises to rejoice
Behold our God seated on His throne
Come let us adore Him
Behold our King nothing can compare
Come let us adore Him!
Who has given counsel to the Lord
Who can question any for His Words
Who can teach the One who knows all things
Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds
Behold our God seated on His throne
Come let us adore Him
Behold our King nothing can compare
Come let us adore Him!
Who has felt the nails upon His hands
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man
God eternal humbled to the grave
Jesus, Savior risen now to reign!
Behold our God seated on His throne
Come let us adore Him
Behold our King nothing can compare
Come let us adore Him!
Behold our God seated on His throne
Come let us adore Him
Behold our King nothing can compare
Come let us adore Him!
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 26:20-30 (Jesus gives us the Lord’s Supper)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-sixth chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
TONIGHT’S MESSAGE—Pastor Matthew Woods
PRAYERS
LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERINGS: “What Wondrous Love Is This” LSB # 543 vs. 1, 4
+++ SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT +++
PREFACE
Pastor: The Lord be with you. (2 Timothy 4:22)
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts. (Colossians 3:1)
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. [Psalm 136]
People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
SANCTUS–(Taken from LSB #507)
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name
In earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
PAX DOMINI (The Peace of the Lord)
Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. John 20:19
People: Amen.
AGNUS DEI “Lamb of God” (LSB page 163)
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; Grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
Special Music: “Is Your All on the Altar?”
Helen Bohannon, Jane Loppnow, Whitney Lyon
“The Lamb” LSB #547
“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded LSB # 449
“You Satisfy the Hungry Heart” LSB #641
“Glory be to Jesus” LSB #433
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Pastor: Gracious God, our heavenly Father, You have given us a foretaste of the feast to come in the Holy Supper of Your Son’s body and blood. Keep us firm in the true faith throughout our days of pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Let us bless the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
+++ STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR +++
MUSIC: “Vocalise” by Sergei Rachmaninoff – Helen Bohannon & Jane Loppnow
(After the altar is stripped, all may offer a silent prayer and leave the sanctuary without talking.)
PRINTABLE PDF FOR APRIL 6, 7 p.m. Service:MaundyApril6.PDF
MAUNDY THURSDAY — April 6 at 7:00 pm
The Last Supper of Jesus — Communion Served
GOOD FRIDAY — April 7 at 7:00 pm — Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross
EASTER SUNDAY — April 9 — Victory of the Resurrection
6:30 am + Sunrise with Communion
8:00 & 10:30 am with Communion
EASTER MORNING BREAKFAST — SERVED CONTINUOUSLY 7:30 – 10:00
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for children through adults on Easter.
The Last Supper of Jesus — Communion Served
GOOD FRIDAY — April 7 at 7:00 pm — Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross
EASTER SUNDAY — April 9 — Victory of the Resurrection
6:30 am + Sunrise with Communion
8:00 & 10:30 am with Communion
EASTER MORNING BREAKFAST — SERVED CONTINUOUSLY 7:30 – 10:00
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for children through adults on Easter.