TODAY'S PROVERBS FROM THE LIVING BIBLE

"Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death." (14:27)

"Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God." (14:31)

A PRAYER FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY *

* From the Lutheran Book of Prayer

Eternal Savior, how can my heart show its appreciation of Your love? How can I serve You best, who has loved me & given Your life for me? You have sealed to me the forgiveness of all my sins & offered me reconciliation & peace in the blessed Sacrament You instituted on this day. You have promised to give me, with the bread & the cup, Your body & blood for the remission of all my sins. Oh, what amazing love! What riches of divine wisdom! In awe & wonderment I ponder this gracious gift. May I ever appreciate this blessed Sacrament that You have bidden me to use as a memorial of Your death & a monument of Your redemptive love. My I come worthily each time I approach Your altar.

O Savior, cast me not away from Your presence. Let not my sins remain with me because of impenitence of heart or because I doubt Your Word & promises. Let me become one with You & all Your saints as I receive with them this blessed Sacrament. Make me Yours, & give me strength to amend my sinful life & walk closer to You. 

Preserve in Your Church this blessed Sacrament, given on this sacred day. Let thousands & ten thousands find through it the assurance of forgiveness, peace, & salvation. And grant that I & all who are Yours may be faithful to Your Word & Sacraments, that Your name be glorified, Your will be done, & we at last live with You in Your eternal kingdom forevermore. Amen.

A HYMN FOR HOLY WEEK 

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, LW #115, Sts. 1 & 4

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!