SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 14
Having loved his own whom were in the world, he loved them to the end.
NEWS: Our Maundy Thursday service is this evening at 7 PM. We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper and then we will commence with the stripping of the altar. Taken from the website, faithforward.org, they give a good description of the significance: “Often, the service for Maundy Thursday concludes with the stripping of the sanctuary, which is done in absolute silence and in an unhurried, orderly fashion. The practice dates from the seventh century and originally served the practical purpose of cleaning the sanctuary in preparation for Easter, when all things are made new. In time, however, the practice became ceremonial in its own right. In silence and in shadows, communion vessels, table cloths, pulpit and lectern hangings, banners, candles, and all other decorative and liturgical objects are carefully removed, thus dramatizing the desolation, abandonment, and darkness of the Passion and death of our Lord. The sanctuary remains bare until the beginning of the Easter celebration. Ordinarily there is neither a blessing nor a postlude at the conclusion of the service. The church remains in semi-darkness, and all participants exit in silence. Symbolically, Christ, stripped of his power and glory, is now in the hands of his captors.”
Our solemn Good Friday service takes place tomorrow evening at 7 PM. We once again entertain silence entering and leaving God’s house as we remember the horrible torture and death our Lord took on for our sins.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Chris Roth.
COLLECT FOR THE DAY: 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, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; John 13:1-17
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“BETTER THAN A PHOTO”
And when the hour came, He reclined at table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. …” And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” (Luke 22:14-15, 19-20)
Like many people, I have voicemails and videos I will never erase. They are the only way I will ever see or hear again the voice of people I love who have died. Until I, too, go to be with the Lord, they are all I have.
On the eve of His death, it seems to me that Jesus, too, felt this need to leave the people He loved something of Himself. Oh, He knew He would rise again, and also that He would be with them forever, even after His ascension to heaven—but it wouldn’t be the same as seeing and hearing and touching Him daily. So Jesus gave us Communion.
“This is My body,” He said, breaking the bread and giving it to them. “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” And they ate and drank, and were comforted. Jesus gives us many gifts through Communion—forgiveness, life, peace—but best of all is the gift of Himself. And we have that gift forever, until the day He returns to us bodily—and we go to live with Him forever.
THE PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your gift of love. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What keepsakes do you have of someone who loved you?
* How often do you go to Communion? Do you wish it was more often or less? Why?
* When you see Jesus face to face—what do you imagine your reaction will be?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Judges 1-3 Luke 12:32-59
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about your day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
You can now go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
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A very blessed Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
