Holy “Maundy” Thursday – March 28  @ 7:30 p.m.

This service for Holy (“Maundy”) Thursday is the first service in the celebration of the holy three days of Christ’s Passover, commonly known as the Triduum. The term "Maundy" comes from the Latin mendicare, Old French mendier, and English maund, which as a verb means “to beg” and as a noun refers to a small basket held out by maunders as they maunded. The name Maundy Thursday thus arose from a medieval custom whereby the English royalty handed out "maundy purses" of alms to the poor before attending Mass on this day. Holy Thursday concludes the Lenten period of preparation for Christ’s Passion and Resurrection and leads into His sacrifice on our behalf. As such, the service, like that for Good Friday, exhibits a mood of restrained joy. It consists of four parts: the Service of Corporate Confession and Absolution, the Service of the Word, the Service of the Sacrament, and the Stripping of the Altar