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April 2, 2026
See TodayHoly (Maundy) Thursday
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Ex. 24:3–11 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Psalm
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Psalm 116:12–19 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Epistle
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Heb. 9:11–22 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Matt. 26:17–30 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Holy (Maundy) Thursday
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
Let Us Love One Another, as Christ Jesus Has Loved Us and Loves Us to the End
“The Lord’s Passover” (Ex. 12:11) and “the blood of the covenant” at Mount Sinai (Ex. 24:8) foreshow the Lord’s Supper. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, now covers us, and we keep His Supper “as a feast to the Lord” (Ex. 12:14). In Him, we see “the God of Israel” (Ex. 24:10), and yet He does not lay His hand on us to punish us, but from His hand we eat and drink in peace. As our High Priest, He “entered once for all into the holy places … by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12). He shed His own blood in order to “purify our conscience” and bring us before His God and Father “without blemish” (Heb. 9:14). The holy apostles received this New Testament in His blood from the Lord Jesus “on the night when he was betrayed,” and they delivered the same to His Church, which we also now receive in the name and remembrance of Christ (1 Cor. 11:23–26; Matt. 26:26–28). He has “loved his own who were in the world,” and He loves us “to the end” (John 13:1); therefore, let us also “love one another” (John 13:34).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series A (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
Source: LCMS Three-Year Series (A) Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
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.
Everlasting Father, Your Son offered Himself through the eternal Spirit as a sacrifice without blemish. By this sacrifice, purify our conscience from dead works, that we may serve You always in newness and holiness of life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, as Your people of old pledged to keep all that You had spoken, let us be found faithful in doctrine and practice. Break and hinder the counsels of those who hate Your Word and who, by corrupt teaching, would destroy it. Give Your Church faithful pastors and church workers. Enlighten them with the knowledge of Your glory, that they may know the riches of Your heavenly grace and, in peace and righteousness, serve You, the only God. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God and Father, be the source of strength and comfort in every home. Bless the children of our families, that every darkness would be lightened by Your Son’s gracious visitation. Preserve them from dangers to body and soul, guide them by Your Word in wise paths, and keep them firm in the faith until life’s end. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amid plagues, enemies and a world filled with conflict and terror, give us wise leaders, O Lord, and preserve us from harm. Guide those who make and administer our laws to act prudently. Give to all judges knowledge to render justice with mercy. Bless all military, emergency and medical workers here and abroad. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God of Israel, we rally to Your altar in the wilderness of this world. Hear our prayers for [_____________ and] all those who are sick. Refresh them in their suffering, comfort them with Your Word and nourish them in body and soul. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Lord, Your Son gathered His disciples on the night He was betrayed, and He gathers us around His altar now to receive His body and blood. Forgive our sins by this Sacrament, and sanctify us to proclaim with boldness His death until He comes. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, we thank You that You have made us Your holy people, cleansed and redeemed by the blood of Your Son. Grant that we, Your priests serving under Christ, our High Priest, may now offer living sacrifices in prayer and good works. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 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 newness and holiness of life, that Christ, who offered Himself through the eternal Spirit, would purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that as God’s people of old pledged to keep all that the Lord had spoken, we may be found faithful in doctrine and practice; and that God would give and preserve faithful pastors and church workers who know the riches of His grace and serve Him in peace and righteousness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the children of our families, that every darkness would be lightened by Christ’s gracious visitation; and that God would preserve them from dangers to body and soul, guide them by His Word in wise paths, and keep them firm in the faith until life’s end, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who make and administer our laws amid plagues and threats and in a world filled with conflict and terror, that they may act in timely and prudent ways, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who are sick, that God would refresh, comfort and nourish them in the midst of the wilderness of this world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those Christ has gathered around His altar, that as we receive His body and blood in faith, He would forgive our sins and sanctify us to proclaim boldly His death until He comes, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For God’s holy people, cleansed and redeemed by the blood of His Son, that as priests serving under our High Priest, we may now offer living sacrifices in prayer and good works, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 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 445 When You Woke That Thursday Morning
- Distribution LSB 618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table
- Distribution LSB 634 The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord
- Closing LSB 436 Go to Dark Gethsemane
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series A 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.