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HOLY TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH813 WYOMING AVENUE
KINGSTON, PA 18704(570) 287-9067
Pastor Metzloff: 570-706-1330
Holy Thursday
Announcements
Confession and ForgivenessMost 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.
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin,and made us alive together with Christ. By grace we have been saved.In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.May Almighty God strengthen us with power through the Holy Spirit,
that Christ may live in our hearts through faith. Amen.
Gathering Hymn: #359, Where Charity and Love Prevailhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqbtHSxWeo8
GreetingP The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ; the love of God;
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.C And also with you.
Prayer of the DayHoly Jesus, the bread and wine of your last supper have become your body and
blood, given for us. Transform us with your holy presence. Cleanse us, forgive us, and renew us in your word. Amen.
Lesson – Mark 14:22-42
Welcome Worship Witness
22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
MessageI don’t normally preach very much on Holy Thursday – perhaps a bit on why it’s
sometimes called Maundy Thursday, or on how we Lutheran Christians understand the Lord’s Supper, or something along those lines. I have always preferred to let communion, on that day, speak for itself.
Well, that won’t work this year. Since we can’t gather – in order to love our neighbor during this pandemic – we can’t
take communion. And while I grieve at that, I also look forward to the day when we can gather again and commune again, however far off that day might be. But it’s better, for now, to wait.
But that does mean I have to find something else to talk about. And, fortunately, our lesson for this day has more than just the last supper. It also
has the rest of the story of that night, after Jesus and his disciples sing their last hymn and head out to the Garden of Gethsemane. And the one single point that I’d like to make about what happens there, from the disciples (especially Peter) insisting that they are going to hang tough and be faithful, to Jesus going off to pray, to him returning three times (three times!) to find them asleep . . . is that Jesus is faithful.
Clearly the disciples are not. Even before they run away, and before Peter denies he even knows Jesus, the disciples are failing. Failing to understand what’s really going on,
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failing to stay awake even when Jesus specifically asks them to. This is not a shining moment for the disciples, especially Peter.
And that doesn’t matter. What matters is that Jesus is faithful. From giving the bread and the wine at dinner, to accepting God’s will, to going out to meet Judas and the hostile crowd, Jesus is faithful through it all. And he will remain faithful through all that happens the next day.
That’s the good news for this Holy Thursday – Christ’s enduring faithfulness. Amen.
Song of the Day: #347, Go to Dark Gethsemanehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD6tcMroY0A
PrayersTurning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the church, the
world, and all who are in need.God of love, unite your church in its commitment to humble service. Make us your
faithful disciples. Speak words of truth and grace through us and encourage us in self-giving acts of kindness. Let us love one another as you have loved us.
God of love, tend to flocks, fields, and vineyards. Bring good weather for crops to grow. Guide the hands of those who cultivate, farm, and garden, and especially bless those who pick and harvest. Let the earth flourish so that all may eat and be satisfied.
God of love, you give us a new commandment, to have love for one another. We give thanks for organizations that respond to disasters and for agencies that offer relief and aid to those in need.
God of love, give ear to all who call upon you for any need of body or spirit. Provide for those who do not have enough to eat, those who are unemployed or underemployed, and those who rely on the generosity of others.
God of love, you invite us to your table of mercy. Heal all divisions between members of this assembly. Extend the hospitality of this table beyond these walls, that your love and welcome be made known to all.
God of love, glorify your servants who walked by faith in this life and who now feast with you. Inspire us by the sacrifice of those who were imprisoned, persecuted, or martyred for their faith.
According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as we commend them to you; through Christ, who taught 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.
Stripping of the Paraments
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Holy Thursday worship includes the tradition of removing the colored banners, hangings, table linens, and other worship decorations from the sanctuary. This leaves the space plain and bare for Good Friday – an appropriate thing.
Usually at Holy Trinity the altar guild does this while the pastor reads a psalm. This year, however, given the situation, we thought it more appropriate to simply remove them in silence. If you have some sort of religious display in your home – a wall cross, or a picture, or other religious item – you might consider putting it away from tonight until Easter. It will look different, perhaps even unsettling, but that’s the point.
There is no benediction, as this service is considered to be a part of the larger worship which includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil (Saturday).
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