We have moved the blessing of the palms and the procession to the end of the eucharistic liturgy as the act by which we enter into the events of the last week in Jerusalem. On Good Friday we will read the Johannine Passion narrative in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Christian community.
Palm
Sunday
25
March 2018
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..
When we willfully misuse your gifts of creation:
Holy God,
holy and mighty, holy immortal one,
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.
[2]
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Holy and immortal
God,
as we enter into this holy week
turn our hearts to Jerusalem,
so that, united with Christ and all the faithful,
we may enter the city not made with hands,
your promised realm of justice and peace,
The
Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Isaiah
50.4-9a
A reading from the prophet Isaiah.
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:
Philippians 2.5-11
A reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
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
‘Into Jerusalem Jesus Rode’
Common Praise #183 v. 1
The Gospel: Mark 11.1-11
The Lord be with you.
And also with
you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Glory to you,
Lord Jesus Christ.
When they were
approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives,
[Jesus] sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead
of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that
has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.
If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The
Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” They went away and found a colt tied near a
door, outside in the street. As they
were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing,
untying the colt?” They told them what
Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw
their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy
branches that they had cut in the fields.
Then those who
went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of
the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom
of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the
highest heaven!”
Then [Jesus]
entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at
everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to
you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Hymn after the Gospel
‘Into Jerusalem Jesus Rode’
Common Praise #183 v. 1
The Sermon
The Affirmation of Faith
Let us affirm our
faith.
We believe and trust in God the Author of creation,
source of all being and life, the one for whom we
exist.
We believe and trust in God the Word of redemption,
who took our human nature, died for us and rose again.
We believe and trust in God the Spirit of wisdom,
who gives life to all people and makes Christ known in
the world.
We believe and trust in one God:
The
Prayers of the Community
Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions
The Exchange of the Peace
May the peace of Christ, our servant Lord, be with you all.
And also with
you.
The
Holy Communion
The Offertory Hymn
‘Crown Him with Many Crowns’
Common Praise #378
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,
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.
Blessed are you,
gracious God,
creator of heaven
and earth;
we give you thanks
and praise
through Jesus
Christ our Lord,
who for our
salvation became obedient unto death.
The tree of defeat
became the tree of victory:
where life was
lost, life has been restored.
Therefore with
angels and archangels
and all the
heavenly chorus,
we cry out to
proclaim the glory of your name. [6]
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.
Blessed are you,
gracious God,
creator of the
universe and giver of life.
You formed us in
your own image
and called us to
dwell in your infinite love.
You gave the world
into our care
so that we might
be your faithful stewards
and show forth
your bountiful grace.
But we failed to
honour your image in one another and in ourselves;
we would not see
your goodness in the world around us;
and so we violated
your creation,
abused one another
and rejected your love.
Yet you never
ceased to care for us
and prepared a way
of salvation for all people.
Through Abraham
and Sarah you called us into covenant with you.
You delivered us
from slavery,
sustained us in
the wilderness
and raised up
prophets to renew your promise of salvation.
Then, in the
fullness of time,
you sent your
eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus.
Born into a human
family and dwelling among us,
he revealed your
glory.
Giving himself
freely to death on the cross,
he triumphed over
evil, opening the way of freedom and life.
On the night
before he died for us,
our Saviour Jesus
Christ took bread,
and when he had
given thanks to you,
he broke it, and
gave it to his friends, and said:
‘Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the
remembrance of me.’
As supper was
ending, Jesus took the cup of wine,
and when he had
given thanks, he gave it to them, and said:
‘Drink this all of
you: this is my blood of the new
covenant,
which is poured
out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me.’
Therefore we
proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Remembering his
death and resurrection,
we now present to
you from your creation this bread and this wine.
By your Holy
Spirit may they be for us the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Grant that we who
share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit
and live as
Christ’s body in the world.
Bring us into the
everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons,
so that with all
your saints, past, present and yet to come,
we may praise your
name for ever.
Through Christ and
with Christ and in Christ,
in the unity of
the Holy Spirit,
to you be honour,
glory and praise,
for ever and
ever. Amen. [8]
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.
The Breaking of the Bread
Jesus, Lamb of
God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of
our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of
the world,
give us your peace. [9]
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to
God.
The Communion
The Hymn after Communion
‘As We Gather at Your Table’
Common Praise #61
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
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.
[1] Common Praise #707.
[2] The
Litany was crafted from the Confession for ‘City, World and Society’ and the
Absolution from Common Worship
(2000), 127, 135 alt.
[3] Liturgy
Task Force (2016), 63.
[4] Common Worship (2000), 144 alt.
[5] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 64.
[6] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 221.
[7] Common Praise (1998), #735.
[8] Enriching Our Worship 1 (1998), 57-59 alt.
[9] Common Praise (1998), #747.
1 comment:
Thanks Richard! I've been missing "Palm Sunday!" This is so helpful. Allen+
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