Palm and Passion Sunday - April 5, 2020
Palm and Passion Sunday
The videos for this worship service are posted on our Church’s youtube channel as a playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKBiEVOXnXWzNe1d7oUCTRQplpPchE0Bb
1) Welcome to Palm Sunday!
Click on the youtube link below to hear some welcoming words
“The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:9)
If you have children in your household, click the link below for a kid-friendly explanation of Palm Sunday
2) Opening Prayer
• Someone in your group can open with this prayer or another of their choice
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of Lord!
Gracious God, as we stand at the gates of the city,
give us grace to recognise the king we proclaim,
and courage to be a part of your kingdom -
even when it goes against our ways and the ways of the world,
even when it leads us where we do not want to go.
Empower us to free ourselves from the tempting alternatives of power and wealth and status, and embolden us to live lives of thanksgiving and praise, Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
3) Responsive Call to Worship
• Read this together. Choose a person to do the “one” part and everyone can do the “many” part.
One: This is the day that the Lord has made,
Many: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
One: Jesus is coming.
Many: Hosanna!
One: He comes to us, riding on a donkey.
Many: Hosanna!
One: Open wide the gates!
Many: Hosanna!
One: Let us welcome him with waving branches and open hearts.
Many: Hosanna!
One: Jesus is coming!
Many: Hosanna to the King of kings!
4) Praise Songs
• Sing these praise songs. Click on the links below for the youtube videos, which have the words and the music.
• “Hosanna in the Highest”
• “All Glory, Laud, and Honour”
5) Prayer of Confession (Litany):
• • Recite this responsive prayer together in your group. Choose a person to do the “One” part and everyone else can do the “Many” part.
One: The streets were crowded.
Many: A parade mood filled the air.
One: Shouts came from deep in the heart.
Many: Hosanna. Save us.
One: Save us from lukewarm faith.
Many: Hosanna. Save us.
One: Save us from callous indifference.
Many: Hosanna. Save us.
One: Save us from paltry hopes and petty dreams.
Many: Hosanna. Save us.
One: Save us from unquenchable greed.
Many: Hosanna. Save us.
One: Save us from lazy habits and faithless commitments.
Many: Hosanna. Save us.
One: Save us from soft-mindedness and hard-heartedness.
Many: Hosanna. Save us.
One: We cry from the depth of our hearts and the very pit of our souls.
6) Words of Assurance
• Hear the words of the assurance of forgiveness by clicking the link below
The Lord brings light to those in darkness, forgiveness to those who truly confess, and pardon to all who seek to follow Jesus. Rejoice that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever and ever. In the name of Jesus the Christ, receive the love that never dies and never fails. Amen.
7) Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 118:1-2; 19-29: Psalm 23
• Someone in your group can read this passage
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.[c]
25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.[d]
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.[e]
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
8) Prayers of the People
Spend some time praying for the world, your neighbourhood, your friends, your family, your church, and yourselves.
Pray for those who are most vulnerable at this time
Pray for those who are isolated, lonely, anxious or depressed
Pray for the health care/hospital workers in our congregation (Marla Slawter, Jill Watson, Heather Patttenden, Diane Storey, Nim Li)
Pray for those who are struggling financially at this time
If you wish, you can finish your time by praying the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed by thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done;
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, [and] the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen
9) Reflective Song: Open Our Eyes, Lord
• Sing this reflective song before we listen to the Gospel lesson. Click the link below for the youtube video, which has the words and music.
10) Gospel Lesson: Matthew 21:1-11
• Click the link below for the youtube video, which has a dramatized reading of the Gospel lesson.
11) Sermon: The Servant King
Click on the link to hear the sermon. A copy of the sermon is also attached to this email
• The full text of the message is an attachment below.
12) Prayer after the Message
Click the link below to hear this prayer
God of mercy, enter into our hearts and help us to be humble, loving people. Forgive us when we allow our desire to be praised to distract us from caring for the least, the last and the lost of this world. Help us to walk with you, leaving behind our selfish pride, and turning to you as the source of our affirmation and strength. Amen.
13) Sending Song: Servant King
Sing this song together. Click on the link below for the youtube video, which has the words and the music.
14) Blessing
Click the link below to hear the words of blessing
Go from here
singing hosannas
all the way home.
Do not fear,
For Jesus is walking with you.