Worship Guide
April 2, 2023
Palm/Passion Sunday
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “Hosanna” Stefanie
Centering Words:
On the back of a donkey, Jesus came to save us. On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus came to heal us. In the joy of laughing children and the shouts of loud hosannas, Jesus came to show us the way.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
People: This is the Lord’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.
Leader: Line the festival procession with branches. This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Blessed One, our hearts sing with the children when we see you ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Our lips shout your praises, as you empty yourself to become servant of all. Open our hearts to the depth of your love, that we might walk faithfully with you during the long week ahead. Amen.
Hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
no turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
no turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
no turning back, no turning back.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
The one the builders rejected has become our cornerstone, the very foundation of our salvation.
Christ offers us forgiveness and fullness of grace.
Amen
*Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9
4 The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
6 I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
7 The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
8 he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
9 It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Jesus as King”
Hymn: “This is the Day”
This is the day, this is the day
that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made.
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
and be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day
that the Lord hath made.
This is the day, this is the day
that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath Made.
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
and be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day
that the Lord hath made.
Sermon: “This is the Day” Matthew 21:1-11
1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 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!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
THE SACRAMENTS OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation, Prayer of Confession and Pardon:
Christ our Lord invites to his table
all who love him,
who earnestly repent of their sin
and seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God
and one another.
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not loved you
with our whole hearts.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
we have broken your law,
we have rebelled against your love,
we have not loved our neighbors,
and we have not heard the
cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God's love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere
to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, creator of
heaven and earth.
In love you made us for yourself;
and when we had fallen into sin
and become subject to evil and death,
your love remained steadfast.
You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the Easter feast, that, renewed by your Word and Sacraments and fervent in prayer and works of justice and mercy,
we may come to the fullness of grace
that you have prepared for those
who love you.
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son
Jesus Christ, whom you sent in the fullness of time to redeem the world.
He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in our likeness.
He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
He took upon himself our sin and death and offered himself, a perfect sacrifice for the sin of the whole world.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over, he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it
in remembrance of me."
And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith
Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory,
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
now and forever. Amen
And now with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
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.
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 forever.
Amen
Sharing of the Cup and Loaf
Moment of Prayer and Meditation
Prayer of Thanks
Eternal God, we give you thanks
for this holy mystery
in which you have given yourself to us.
Grant that we may go into the world
in the strength of your Spirit,
to give ourselves to others,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
things I would ask him to tell me if He were here;
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the love light of Jesus’ face.
Into the city I’d follow the children’s band,
waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand.
one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
loudest hosannas, “Jesus is King!"
Benediction
