An Ordo for Palm Sunday (9 April 2017)

Rationale for the Rite

• With the introduction of a full set of rites for Holy Week in The Book of Alternative Services in 1985, Passion Sunday (Lent 5 in the prayer book tradition) and Palm Sunday were merged into the current Palm/Passion Sunday (Lent 6).  In effect one rite now carries two foci:  the triumphal procession and the reading of the Passion narrative (Matthew in Year A, Mark in Year B and Luke in Year C).
• The Revised Common Lectionary recognizes that some congregations may wish to keep these foci separate, perhaps with a reading of the Passion in the morning and a palm procession in the afternoon or early evening.
• At Saint Faith's we have chosen to keep the palm procession at the 8.00 and 10.00 eucharists and, to emphasize the procession as our entry into Holy Week, the procession forms the core of the sending forth of the community at the end of the eucharist.  In place of the Passion from the Gospel according to Matthew, we read Matthew's account of the entrance into Jerusalem.
• For our community the reading of the Passion from the Gospel according to John on Good Friday has become the core of our Good Friday observances.

Palm Sunday

9 April 2017

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

Greeting and Litany

The Presider greets the Community from the door to the Nave.

Christ became obedient unto death for us,

even death upon a cross.

He was pierced for our sins,

bruised for no fault but ours.

His punishment has won our peace,

and by his wounds we are healed.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

to receive power and riches and wisdom,

strength, honour, glory and praise.  Amen.

During the procession to the Sanctuary, the biddings of the Litany are offered and the response is sung using Common Worship #707.

When we willfully misuse your gifts of creation:

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,

have mercy upon us.

When we see the ill-treatment of others

and do not go to their aid:

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,

have mercy upon us.

When we condone evil and dishonesty

and fail to strive for justice:

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,

have mercy upon us.

When we hear the good news of Christ

but fail to share it with others:

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,

have mercy upon us.

When we do not love you with all our hearts

nor our neighbours as ourselves:

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,

have mercy upon us.

The Presider then says the following,

May the God of love and power

forgive us and free us from our sins,

heal and strengthen us by the Spirit,

and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen. [i]

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

O God of eternal glory,

whose servant, Jesus Christ, bore our sins,

encouraged the weary, and raised up the fallen:

keep before our eyes his passion and resurrection,

so that our lives may be signs of his obedience and victory.

We ask this in the name of Christ, our liberator.  Amen. [ii]

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

A reading from Isaiah (50.4-9a).

            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.  The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.  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.

            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; he who vindicates me is near.  Who will contend with me?  Let us stand up together.  Who are my adversaries?  Let them confront me.  It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Here what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm of the Day

Psalm 31.9-16 with the Refrain from Songs for the Holy One alt.

Refrain (twice):  Holy One, may the light of your face shine upon us.

⁹ Have mercy on me, O Lord, *

            for I am in trouble;

my eye is consumed with sorrow, *

            and also my throat and my belly.

¹⁰ For my life is wasted with grief, *

            and my years with sighing;

my strength fails me because of affliction, *

            and my bones are consumed.

Refrain:  Holy One, may the light of your face shine upon us.

¹¹ I have become a reproach to all my enemies *

            and even to my neighbours,

a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *

            when they see me in the street they avoid me.

¹² I am forgotten like a corpse, out of mind; *

            I am as useless as a broken pot.

¹³ For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; *

            fear is all around;

they put their heads together against me; *

            they plot to take my life.

¹⁴ But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *

            I have said, “You are my God.”

Refrain:  Holy One, may the light of your face shine upon us.

¹⁵ My times are in your hand; *

            rescue me from the hand of my enemies,

            and from those who persecute me.

¹⁶ Make your face to shine upon your servant, *

            and in your loving-kindness save me.”

Refrain:  Holy One, may the light of your face shine upon us.

The Second Reading

A reading from the Letter to the Philippians (2.5-11).

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.

            Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Thanks be to God.

The Hymn before the Gospel

‘Prepare the Way’  Common Praise #107

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (21.1-11).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 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.  If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’  And he will send them immediately.”  This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “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.”

            The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.  A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

            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!”

            When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”  The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Hymn after the Gospel

‘Prepare the Way’  Common Praise #107

The Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen.

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of our servant Lord be with you all.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Before I Take the Body of My Lord’ Common Praise #610

The Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

God our provider,

you have not fed us with bread alone,

but with words of grace and life.

Bless us and these your gifts,

which we receive from your bounty,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [iii]

The Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right to give you thanks and praise, O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.  Glory to you for ever and ever.

At your command all things came to be:  the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home; by your will they were created and have their being.  Glory to you for ever and ever.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill; you made us the stewards of creation.  Glory to you for ever and ever.

But we turn against you, and betray your trust; and we turn against one another.  Again and again you call us to return.  Through the prophets and sages you reveal your righteous law.  In the fullness of time you sent your Son, born of a woman, to be our Saviour.  He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.  By his death he opened to us the way of freedom and peace.  Glory to you for ever and ever.

Therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in 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. [iv]

Blessed are you, Lord our God, for sending us Jesus, the Christ, who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, gave it to his friends, and said, “Take this, and eat it:  this is my body which is given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after supper, he took the cup of wine; he gave you thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you:  this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins.  Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”  Glory to you for ever and ever.

Gracious God, we recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ, we proclaim his resurrection and ascension, and we look with expectation for his coming as Lord of all the nations.  We who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring you these gifts.  Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this offering of your Church, so that we who eat and drink at this holy table may share the divine life of Christ our Lord.  Glory to you for ever and ever.

Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth and make it your new creation.  Gather your Church together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, where peace and justice are revealed, so that we, with all your people, of every language, race, and nation, may share the banquet you have promised; through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, all honour and glory are yours, Creator of all.  Glory to you for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.  Amen. [v]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread,

communion in Christ’s body once broken.

Let your church be the wheat

which bears its fruit in dying.

If we have died with him,

we shall live with him;

if we hold firm,

we shall reign with him.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

The Hymn after Communion

‘Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken’ Common Praise #54

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Blessing of the Palms

Dear friends in Christ,

during Lent we have been preparing

for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery.

On this day our Lord Jesus Christ

entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph.

The people welcomed him with palms and shouts of praise,

but the path before him led to self-giving, suffering and death.

Today we greet him as our Sovereign,

although we know his crown is thorns and his throne a cross.

We follow him this week from the glory of the palms

to the glory of the resurrection

by way of the dark road of suffering and death.

United with him in his suffering on the cross,

may we share his resurrection and new life.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right to praise you, almighty God,

for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us

through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Hebrews acclaimed Jesus as Messiah and Sovereign,

with palm branches in their hands, crying,

Hosanna in the highest.

May we also, carrying these emblems, go forth to meet Christ

and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life;

who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit,

now and for ever.  Amen.

The Distribution of the Palms

The Processional Hymn

‘All Glory, Laud and Honour’  Common Praise #181

The Dismissal

The Deacon then sends the community forth.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Let us go forth in peace.

In the name of Christ.  Amen.

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[i] The Litany was crafted from the Confession for ‘City, World and Society’ and the Absolution from Common Worship (2000), 127, 135 alt.  The Trisagion is Common Praise #707.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ 2016, 16.

[iii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:  Ash Wednesday to Palm/Passion Sunday’ (2015), 4.

[iv] ‘Sanctus’ by George Black in The Book of Alternative Services Altar Book.

[v] David Haas.