Maundy April 9, 2020 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 3415 ERBES RD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362 | WWW.PRINCEOFPEACETO.COM (805) 492-8943 NOAH BATER | [email protected] | WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD

YOUR PLACE TO FIND PEACE!

ABOUT TONIGHT’S SERVICE: THURSDAY Just as began the season of , so Maundy Thursday marks the end of Lent proper and the beginning of the Three Holy Days of Christendom (the ). The theme of the celebration is the Lord’s new command (mandatus, , became Maundy in Old English) to His disciples of all time to love each other as He has loved. The institution of the Lord’s Supper sets forth the depth of ’ love and gives power to the Church to live out His command. As with Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday occupies a unique place in the church calendar. It is a festival in which reconciliation is solemnly expressed and in which the congregation makes its transition from preparation for the celebration of the mystery of the Passion and Resurrection, to the celebration itself.

But how can we celebrate Maundy Thursday in a meaningful way if we can’t gather to receive the Lord’s Supper? While it will include much from our typical Maundy Thursday service, tonight will be a somewhat abbreviated service without the . Following the service, however, Pastor Bater will take some time to explain the various elements of the liturgy which we typically say and sing in the Divine Service. The thoughts offered will reinforce for us an appreciation for the wonderful blessings that we receive in the Sacrament. And, with a better understanding of the context that surrounds it, we might look forward all the more to the day when we can again gather in the Lord’s house to receive this gracious Meal for “forgiveness of sins, life, and ” (Small Catechism).

Our service will conclude with the Stripping the which has deep roots in the Christian Church. The congregation will sing a hymn as the missal stand, candles, and paraments are removed from the altar. Once bare, the altar, which represents the body of Christ, serves as a vivid reminder that Jesus was stripped of His disciples, His clothes, and even His life. The altar remains this way for .

PLEASE PARTICIPATE AT HOME We encourage you to read, sing, speak, and pray along wherever you are watching from today. The service we will follow is printed out on the following pages. The parts marked m are spoken or sung by the minister. The parts marked C are spoken or sung by the whole congregation.

2 OPENING HYMN “When You Woke that Thursday Morning” We consider many of the intense moments and significant events of that final Thursday as we sing a hymn to our Savior, Jesus.

3 THE HOLY :1-15, 34

Jesus gathers with His disciples to instruct them one final time before He is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. He teaches them of the

It was just before the Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted , son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. … 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

SERMON “Jesus Loved You to the End"

4 INSTRUCTION FOR THE END OF LENT m In this Lenten season we have heard again how our Lord walked the path of suffering which led Him to the cross for our salvation. We have also heard our Lord’s call to intensify our struggle against sin, death, and the devil—all that keeps us from loving God and one another. This is the struggle to which we were committed at ; God’s forgiveness and the power of His Spirit to amend our lives continue with us because of His love for us in Jesus our Savior. Within His family, God never wearies of giving peace and new life. In the Absolution spoken by His servants, we receive forgiveness as from God Himself. Through this Absolution we should not doubt but firmly believe that our sins are thus forgiven before God in heaven, for it comes to us in the name and by the command of our Lord. We who receive God’s love in Jesus Christ are called to love one another, to be servants to each other, as Jesus became our servant. In Holy Communion the members of Christ’s body participate most intimately in His love. Remembering our Lord’s with His disciples, we eat the bread and drink the cup of this meal. Together we receive the Lord’s gift of His body and blood for forgiveness and participate in that new covenant that makes us one with Him and one another. The Lord’s Supper is the promise of the great banquet we will share with all the faithful when our Lord returns, the joyous culmination of our reconciliation with God and each other.

CONFESSION OF SINS m Let us confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness.

C Almighty God, merciful Father, I confess to you that I have not loved you with all my heart. In what I have done and left undone, I have pursued my ways instead of your ways. I have not loved my brothers and sisters as myself. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. I am truly sorry for my sins. I repent of them. I beg for your mercy, O Lord.

Silence for meditation.

5 m Forgive us for the sake of Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for us.

C Cleanse me from my sins. Release me from my guilt. Grant me your to amend my sinful life.

ABSOLUTION m The almighty God has been merciful to us and has sent His Son to die for all. For His sake, God forgives our sins and calls us from darkness to His marvelous light. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son ✙ and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen.

EXHORTATION m Our Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us and reconciled us to God and has promised us the power to forgive and love each other. Relying on His promise, therefore, be reconciled with one another, and extend to each other the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. C Peace be with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY m Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion you give us your true body and blood for forgiveness and strength. Grant us so firmly to believe your promises that we may always hear your Word of forgiveness and partake of your Sacrament to our eternal good; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

6 SCRIPTURE READING Exodus 12:1-14

The Lord institutes a meal for the Israelites that will mark their deliverance out of Egyptian slavery and tyranny. Tonight we hear Jesus institute a new meal: Holy Communion. In it we are also promised deliverance from sin and death.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals— and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.”

7 SCRIPTURE READING 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

St. Paul recounts the words given to him by Jesus Himself in connection with Holy Communion. Since we receive the very body and blood of Jesus, we proclaim the death of Christ each time we partake.

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.

HYMN “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord”

This hymn helps explain how we can actually rejoice in the : it is by the death of our Lord that we are given life and forgiveness—both of which are now given to us in the feast of Holy Communion.

8 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

The pastor prays for the needs of many people. Each petition of the prayer will end this way: m Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

We will conclude with the words of the Lord’s Prayer:

C 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 ALTAR

To remind us of how Jesus was abandoned, the altar, which symbolizes Christ, is now solemnly stripped. After Jesus instituted Holy Communion, He left with His disciples for Gethsemane. After intense time in prayer to His Father, Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Then His disciples left Him and fled. The bare altar silently reminds us that our Lord would be utterly alone as He faced His suffering and death on Good Friday. While the altar is being stripped, please sing the hymn on the following page, “Abide with Me.” There is no closing blessing as tomorrow’s service will be a continuation of the service tonight. We’re not ending a service this evening but hitting ‘pause,’ so to speak. We’ll continue with our Good Friday service, Lord willing, tomorrow night at 6:30.

9 HYMN “Abide with Me”

Though it is listed in the “Evening” section of our hymnal (along with most others) and oftentimes referred to as a ‘bedtime’ prayer, this hymn was actually written as a metaphor for the “evening of life.” Thus, it is most fitting to sing as we contemplate the Passion Jesus is about to endure and just as fitting to be sung at the deathbed of a Christian.

10 A BRIEF STUDY ON THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT

While we are not able to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion together tonight, let’s use the time as an opportunity to take a closer look at the words and songs that surround this precious Meal.

PREFACE m The Lord be with you. “

C And also with you. m Lift up your hearts. The Introduction C We lift them up to the Lord. “ m Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise. m It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who brought the gift of salvation to all people by His death on the tree of the cross, so that the devil, who overcame us by a tree would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

This opening dialogue has been spoken by Christians for nearly 1800 years, making it one of the oldest elements of the Communion liturgy. These words are found in nearly every ancient Communion rite. We join Christians of the past in lifting our hearts to our eternal King, who comes to us in this sacred Meal. Our modern use of these ancient responses is an example of honoring the history of the church in the context of our worship today.

The begins with an exchange we already spoke earlier in the service. “The Lord be with you” isn’t a wish; it’s God’s promise. We first speak these words prior to hearing the Scripture readings and now as we prepare to receive the Sacrament. In both, our Lord promises to be with us in a special way. For where the Word is preached and the administered, there is Jesus.

The second and third pairs, invite us to have a spirit of thanksgiving as we participate in this holy Meal. Paul refers to the cup of wine as the “cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks” (1 Corinthians 10:16). Scripture tells us that our Lord gave thanks in connection with the institution of the Sacrament. These responses also set a joyful mood for the celebration of Holy Communion.

The final paragraph is known as the Proper Preface, meaning it changes with the season of the church year. The one included above is used for the season of Lent. Each Proper Preface helps express the theme of the season in which it’s found.

11 “ Holy, Holy, Holy “

The Sanctus has been a part of the celebration leading up to Holy Communion in worship since at least the fourth century. The opening words of the song come from Isaiah 6:3. As Isaiah receives his divine call to serve as the Lord’s prophet, he sees a of Lord seated on His throne with angels surrounding Him saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

To the angels’ words are added the praises of the crowds, who shouted in Matthew 21:9, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! in the highest!” The holy and almighty Lord Jesus Christ has come to rescue His people. He has come to answer our cries of “Hosanna!”—a Hebrew word that means, “Save us, please!”

Both Isaiah 6 and Matthew 21 record instances when God draws close to His people. How fitting that we echo those songs as Jesus now promises to do the same for us in the Sacrament. Here we confess that heaven has come down to us and we stand in the presence of Jesus – a reality which we cannot perceive with our eyes but confess with our voice. He comes in the flesh, His very body and blood which save us from sin, death, and hell.

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THE m Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, 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, This is… which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” “ Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it all of you; this is my ✙ blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

For many Christians, Jesus’ Words of Institution are nothing more than an historical report: this is what Jesus did and what He said. Period. But the words of Jesus are so much more than that. Because they are the very words of God, the Words of Institution do what they say. When Jesus commanded the dead to rise, they rose. When He commanded the lame to walk or the blind to see, they did. When Jesus says the bread and wine are His body and blood, given and poured out for our forgiveness, that’s what it is and that’s what it imparts.

According to the command of Christ, we celebrate the Lord's Supper not as a mere meal of remembrance but as a Sacrament by which Jesus Himself comes to us. We don’t transport ourselves back in time or up into heaven; rather, He comes to us with all His good gifts in order to save, defend, and deliverer us. Thus, in this Sacrament we find strength for our journey to heaven.

Just as Jesus Christ is proclaimed in the Word of God, He is also received in the Holy Supper. Just as the gospel in the Word forgives us our sins and strengthens our faith, so does the gospel in the Sacrament. It’s not merely a reminder or reassurance. It is the actual delivery of God’s forgiveness.

It may seem redundant to receive these same blessings of the gospel multiple times in the same service. One way to understand this is to view the gospel as medicine for the soul. This perspective is reflected in the writings of Ignatius (b. 35 A.D.), a student of the apostle John, who called Holy Communion, “a medicine of immortality.” But unlike the medication that a doctor may prescribe for a patient today, we cannot overdose on the gospel. When we realize the depths of our sinful condition and the very real spiritual enemies that constantly surround us, we will see our need for God’s gospel gifts that much more. Luther says it well in the Large Catechism:

“Those who are mindful of their weakness desire to be rid of it and long for help. They should regard and use the Sacrament just like a precious antidote against the poison that they have in them. Here in the Sacrament you are to receive from the lips of Christ forgiveness of sin. It contains and brings with it God’s grace and the Spirit with all His gifts, protection, shelter, and power against death and the devil and all misfortune.”

13 “ Look! The “

The song is both a confession of sin and a confession of faith as we see Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. as we come forward, confident that do we receive his forgiveness in the Supper. These words remind us that Jesus is the sacrifice to which all of the sacrifices pointed. His sacrifice on the cross has won the forgiveness of sins for the entire world, and we come forward to the altar to personally receive His gift of forgiveness. The body He gave and the blood He shed as a sacrifice on the cross are now received in the Sacrament. Luther wrote, “The Agnus Dei, above all songs, serves well for the Sacrament, for it clearly sings about and praises Christ for having borne our sins and in beautiful, brief words powerfully and sweetly teaches the remembrance of Christ.”

The finals words—both here in the Agnus Dei and in the Words of Institution— speak of God’s peace. These are the very first words our risen Savior spoke to His disciples on that evening when they were hidden behind locked doors: “Peace be with you.” It is right for us to hear those words with the Sacrament because, although Jesus died to take away the sins of the world, it is not a dead Jesus we receive in Holy Communion but a resurrected Lord who gives us forgiveness and peace!

NOTE: As it is with so many other parts of the liturgy (e.g. Invocation: “In the name of…”; : “Lord, have mercy;” Gloria: “Glory, glory, glory!” Blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you…”; etc.), we sing this song in triplet form, repeating it three times. The theme of triplets can be seen throughout the Divine Service as a constant reminder of our Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

14 THE DISTRIBUTION

In keeping with the historic practice of the Lutheran church, we celebrate Holy Communion “every Lord’s Day and on other festivals” (Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Art. XXIV) here at Prince of Peace. And yet, sadly, for a while we’ve had to forego corporate celebration and distribution. Our prayer is that during this time of sacramental , God would work in us an even greater desire to joyfully receive our Savior’s feast of forgiveness.

For, as the Small Catechism reminds us, “where there is forgiveness of sin there is also life and salvation.” Forgiveness is not only God dealing with my guilt and its consequences. It is also spiritual nutrition by which He regularly nourishes my relationship with Him and medicine by which He heals my spiritual illness. What a precious gift! What a loving Lord to so feed and GIVEN & SHED strengthen us! So we look forward to the day when the current crisis has abated and we can once again gather in the Lord’s house to feast with one another and our God. FOR YOU

NUNC DIMITTIS “ Now You Dismiss “

After receiving the Sacrament, we often join in singing the or the Song of . Simeon was a man who got to see and hold the newborn baby Jesus (Luke 2:25f). God had promised Simeon that he would not die until he saw the long-promised . God kept that promise. When Mary and Joseph brought the newborn Jesus into the temple for the first time to present him to the Lord, Simeon took the baby up in his arms and sang the words of this song. What fitting words for us to sing after receiving the Lord’s Supper! We too have seen and have touched the Lord, His body and blood, which have come to us in a physical way in the bread and wine of the Supper. So we, like Simeon, can depart not only from the Lord’s house but even from this life in peace, assured that our sins are forgiven and that we are peace with God.

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Copyright Acknowledgments | Scripture is taken from the HOLY , NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1984, by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. “When You Woke that Thursday Morning” Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1918-2008, © 1991 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Tune: David A. Schack, b. 1947 © 1992 David A. Schack. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense.net # A-716133. Instruction for Lent taken from Christian Worship: Occasional Services, © 2004 Northwestern Publishing House.

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