Palm Sunday
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
GATHERING MUSIC / PRELUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“The March to Calvary” ~ Colin Curtis
“The Palms” ~ Jen-Baptiste Faure, arr. Harold DeCou
CONGREGATIONAL CENTERING
Pastor Jeffrey
CHORAL INTROIT
Chancel Choir
David Herberg, Directing“Hear the Glad Sound”
WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Jeffrey
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Christina Capps
L: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P: And also with you.
L: Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
P: That he may teach us his ways and walk his paths.
L: We come to prepare for the holiest of weeks.
P: We will journey through praise, with joy on our lips; we will travel through betrayal and death, cradling hope in our hearts.
L: Jesus leads us through this week, and we will follow, for he is the life we long for, he is the One who sustains us.
P: We wave palm branches in anticipation, and we lay our love before him.
L: Setting aside all power, glory, and might, he comes: modeling humility and obedience for all of us.
P: Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.*OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
Christina Capps
God of steadfast love, we celebrate the coming of your Messiah with glad songs and hosannas. May we wholeheartedly celebrate the life, love, and grace that this day symbolizes, even while clouds gather on the horizon. As we hear a familiar story told once again, open our hearts to receive these words anew, that they may shape our lives and faith. Amen.
*HYMN
“All Glory Laud and Honor” ~ UMH #280CHILDREN DEPART FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
Parents are invited to accompany their children to Sunday School, sign them in, and return to the sanctuary for worship. After the worship service, parents are asked to return to the classroom and sign their children out.
THE COMMUNITY PROCLAIMS AND HEARS THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
Christina Capps
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
Christina Capps
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; 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 the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. The LORD is God, and he 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 the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.HYMN
“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” ~ UMH #559
JOYS AND CONCERNS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor Jeffrey
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Christina Capps
The depth of God’s love and the enormity of Christ’s offering for the world invite us to offer our gifts and our lives in gratitude. Let us offer our gifts with praise and thanksgiving.
OFFERTORY
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” – tune – “Ellacombe”
~ arr. Len D. Bobo
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ~ UMH #95
ANTHEM
Chancel Choir
David Herberg, Directing
“Hosanna to the King!”
~ Lloyd Larson
SCRIPTURE READING
Christina Capps
Matthew 21:1-11
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.”
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen. SERMON
Pastor Jeffrey
Hosannah!
THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THE WORD
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Pastor Jeffrey
COMMUNION MUSIC“Let Us Break Bread Together”
~ arr. Elmer Thomas
*BENEDICTION
Pastor Jeffrey
*CHORAL BENEDICTION
Chancel Choir
David Herberg, Directing
“Prepare the Way”
~ Brad Croushorn
POSTLUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Hosanna”
~ Paul Wachs
- Stand as you are able