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April 2, 2026
See TodayHoly (Maundy) Thursday
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Ex. 12:1–14 or Ex. 24:3–11 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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The Bible text provider reports that its usage allowance is exhausted. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Exodus 12:1-14 in NKJV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
The Bible text provider reports that its usage allowance is exhausted. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Exodus 24:3-11 in NKJV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
- Psalm
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Psalm 116:12–19 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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1 Cor. 11:23–32 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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John 13:1–15 (34–35) (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Holy (Maundy) Thursday
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
Let Us Love One Another, as Christ Jesus Has Loved Us
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). By eating His body and drinking His blood, we proclaim to all the world that Jesus is, indeed, our Passover Lamb (Ex. 12:1–14), who was sacrificed for us on Calvary. In Christ, the Lord remembers us in mercy and remembers our sin no more; He forgives us all our iniquity. With such love, he “loved His own who were in the world,” and even loves us “to the end” (John 13:1). As He washes us and feeds us in love, let us love one another, just as He has loved us (John 13:34).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — One-Year Lectionary (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
- Antiphon
- Galatians 6:14 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab), liturgical text
Source: LCMS One-Year Series Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Collect
Historical Collect — Thursday in Holy Week
O LORD God, Who hast left unto us in a wonderful Sacrament a memorial of Thy Passion; Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so use this Sacrament of Thy Body and Blood, that the fruits of Thy redemption may continually be manifest in us; Thou, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (Baltimore, 1893), Introits and Collects for the Church Year (opens in a new tab). Public-domain text (published 1893), transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of the Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for April 2, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Gracious God, for a time Your Son set aside His heavenly authority in order to cleanse and gather us to Himself. Give us such confidence in our Baptism that we seek His presence at His table. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessed Lord, give us a heart of mercy to love all people and serve them as Christ has loved and served us. Bless Your Church and provide for her faithful pastors and church workers, that we may keep the faith and not be led astray by every wind of change. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You have formed us after the pattern of Christ’s humble service. Help us in our vocations to follow His example of self-sacrifice. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant us, Lord, our daily bread. Preserve us from greed and selfish cares. Grant us good government and protect us from violence. Help us to trust that You will provide for our every need, so that our lives may overflow with thanksgiving. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, give healing to the sick according to Your will. Grant relief to the suffering by Your grace. Give comfort to the grieving and peace to the dying. We lift before You those who have requested our prayers [including _____________]. Bring all things to their perfect healing and fulfillment in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, in Your Holy Supper You give us a foretaste of the feast to come. By Your Word and Spirit, unite in true faith those who receive Your Son’s body and blood this day, that they may proclaim Christ’s death until He comes. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gather us, heavenly King, around Your Son’s altar and throne with angels and saints. Bless our fellowship on earth, that at length we come to share this feast in eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for April 2, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For renewed confidence in the cleansing of Baptism, that we would seek the Lord without fear and find a place at His table, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that the Lord would provide for her faithful pastors and church workers; and that we may keep the faith and not be led astray by every wind of change, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For humility and selflessness according to the pattern of Christ, that in our vocations we would follow His example of self-sacrifice, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our daily bread and the trust that God will provide for our every need; for preservation from greed and selfish cares; and for good government and protection from all violence, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who have requested our prayers, [including _____________,] that God would grant relief to the suffering, comfort to the grieving and peace to the dying, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who receive Christ’s body and blood this day, that they may be united in true faith by God’s Word and Spirit; and that they may proclaim Christ’s death until He comes, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Holy Church, gathered with saints and angels around the altar and throne of Christ, that we who taste this fellowship on earth may be brought at length to share it forever in eternal life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 617 O Lord, We Praise Thee
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Holy (Maundy) Thursday (One-Year and Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 168 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 634 The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord
- Distribution LSB 618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table
- Distribution LSB 637 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord
- Distribution LSB 647 Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — One-Year Lectionary Series 2025–26 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.