Palm Sunday
The week's newsletter uses the genre of a worship service to present its content. You will encounter liturgies, hymns, anthems, a sermon, and a benediction through a carefully curated set of videos and other resources.
Call to Worship
Leader: Hosanna! The King is Coming! Hosanna! Lift up your palms!
People: We see you Lord Jesus enter the city, walking intently toward its gates.
Leader: Hosanna! The King has come! Hosanna! Lay down your palms.
People: We see you Lord Jesus ride on that donkey, smiling at our spectacle. Leader: Hosanna! The King is coming! Hosanna! Lift up your palms!
Hymn - Ride On! Ride On In Majesty!
Prayer of Confession
We confess, O God, we often do not recognize the things that make for peace. We disagree in militant ways, and we fail to listen to our siblings. Fear captures us and insecurity twists our thoughts into words that hurt. Do not hide your peace from us. Instead, offer us your grace. While we wave our palms with exuberance now, later in the garden we leave you alone. Divisive whispers and worry cloud our solidarity. Teach us to trust one another as we are agents of your Son's peace. Grant us this peace, your peace, so that we may promote peace. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is God's steadfast love. You are forgiven.
Passing of the Peace
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people waved their palms and shouted for peace. In a world of constant war, we are in need of God's peace.
May the peace of Christ be with you! And also with you!
Anthem - Ride on King Jesus
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
O give thanks to our God, for God is good; God's steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say, "God's steadfast love endures forever."
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to our God.
This is the gate of our God; the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is our God's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that our God has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O God! O God, we beseech you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God. We bless you from the house of our God.
The LORD is God, and God has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to our God, for God is good, for God's steadfast love endures forever.
(my revision of the NRSV)
Hymn - Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Luke 19:28-38
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'"
So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said, "The Lord needs it."
Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.
As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!"
Sermon
Benediction - May God Bless You and Keep You
A Benediction (Or Miscellaneous Thoughts)
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