Audio: Readings & Sermon for Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026

Audio: Readings & Sermon for Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026

Rev. Dr. Edward O. Grimenstein

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View the bulletin for Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026
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2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
7:00 p.m. - Worship Service

Old Testament Reading – Exodus 24:3-11 
Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 

Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. 

Epistle Reading – Hebrews 9:11-22 
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-sixth chapter
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” 

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

Stripping of the Altar + Psalm 22 (7:00 PM) 
The communion vessels are reverently removed from the altar, the altar is stripped, and the chancel is cleared in preparation for the solemn service of Good Friday. 

All leave the church in silence. 

Concordia’s Family of Locations Expand

Concordia Lutheran Ministries Signs Purchase Agreement to Acquire Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh 
The Boards of Directors for Reformed Presbyterian Home (RPH) and Concordia Lutheran Ministries are blessed and excited to announce that an asset purchase agreement has been signed to add RPH to Concordia’s family of locations and services. 

The closing process requires approval from several regulatory authorities and could take approximately 60-90 days to officially close and transfer the assets. While many details regarding the transition are still yet to be determined, Concordia plans to hold a number of town hall meetings with RPH employees, residents and families in the coming weeks, and plans to infuse significant capital resources into several substantial upgrades at the community. 

This historic location in Pittsburgh’s North Side provides skilled nursing, personal care and retirement living accommodations. The faith-based community has been serving the needs of older adults since 1897. Coincidentally, both Concordia and RPH initially served orphans in the Pittsburgh region, prior to focusing primarily on older adults. 

“We are humbled by the opportunity to adopt the mission of Reformed Presbyterian Home as it joins the Concordia family,” said Concordia’s President and CEO Keith Frndak. “RPH has a deep-rooted tradition of faith-based care, and we look forward to supporting this community, its people and its ministry in the years ahead.” Cara Todhunter will remain Executive Director, and Concordia plans to honor all resident contracts and obligations. The community serves approximately 350 – 400 residents and patients annually and employs approximately 110. 

Concordia has worked since 2009 to become a “Christian consolidator” in the industry, to protect and preserve organizations with Christian roots and aid in the long-term support of Christian health care ministries. RPH’s faith-based mission aligns well with Concordia’s, and the Board of Directors at both organizations are excited for the opportunity to extend this mission together. 

As one of the country’s largest nonprofit senior care providers, Concordia Lutheran Ministries serves 50,000 people annually through in-home care and inpatient locations. Concordia offers adult day services, home health care, hospice, physician and rehabilitation services, memory care, personal care, assisted living, respite care, retirement living, skilled nursing/short-term rehab, and medical equipment. 

Bulletin: Good Friday, April 3, 2026

View the bulletin for Good Friday, April 3, 2026
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1:30 p.m. - Prelude Music
2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
6:30 p.m. - Prelude Music
7:00 p.m. - Worship Service

Concordia Lutheran Ministries Care Expands

Concordia Lutheran Ministries Signs Purchase Agreement to Acquire Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh 
The Boards of Directors for Reformed Presbyterian Home (RPH) and Concordia Lutheran Ministries are blessed and excited to announce that an asset purchase agreement has been signed to add RPH to Concordia’s family of locations and services. 

The closing process requires approval from several regulatory authorities and could take approximately 60-90 days to officially close and transfer the assets. While many details regarding the transition are still yet to be determined, Concordia plans to hold a number of town hall meetings with RPH employees, residents and families in the coming weeks, and plans to infuse significant capital resources into several substantial upgrades at the community. 

This historic location in Pittsburgh’s North Side provides skilled nursing, personal care and retirement living accommodations. The faith-based community has been serving the needs of older adults since 1897. Coincidentally, both Concordia and RPH initially served orphans in the Pittsburgh region, prior to focusing primarily on older adults. 

“We are humbled by the opportunity to adopt the mission of Reformed Presbyterian Home as it joins the Concordia family,” said Concordia’s President and CEO Keith Frndak. “RPH has a deep-rooted tradition of faith-based care, and we look forward to supporting this community, its people and its ministry in the years ahead.” Cara Todhunter will remain Executive Director, and Concordia plans to honor all resident contracts and obligations. The community serves approximately 350 – 400 residents and patients annually and employs approximately 110. 

Concordia has worked since 2009 to become a “Christian consolidator” in the industry, to protect and preserve organizations with Christian roots and aid in the long-term support of Christian health care ministries. RPH’s faith-based mission aligns well with Concordia’s, and the Board of Directors at both organizations are excited for the opportunity to extend this mission together. 

As one of the country’s largest nonprofit senior care providers, Concordia Lutheran Ministries serves 50,000 people annually through in-home care and inpatient locations. Concordia offers adult day services, home health care, hospice, physician and rehabilitation services, memory care, personal care, assisted living, respite care, retirement living, skilled nursing/short-term rehab, and medical equipment. 

VIDEO: Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026
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2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
7:00 p.m. - Worship Service

Zion Youth News and Events

Zion youth are going on a Spring Retreat May 15-17, 2026 
Save the date for a fun-filled weekend retreat that your middle/high school aged-child won’t want to end! At Pioneer on the Lake -- a Lutheran Camp and Retreat Center on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie -- weekend retreats are packed with meaningful worship, relevant teaching, devotion time, a hands-on service project, and awesome Christian fellowship with friends, both new and familiar. Add in fun games and camp activities, and it’s a weekend that’s both spiritually impactful and incredibly memorable. 

More details to come !!! 

Bulletin: Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026

View the bulletin for Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
7:00 p.m. - Worship Service