Order of Service / Palm Sunday / March 24, 2024

 *Gathering Hymn and Words Hosanna, Loud Hosanna(#123 VU)

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (v.1 | #123 VU)

Sing: Hosanna, loud hosannathe happy children sang;

through pillared court and templethe lovely anthem rang:

to Jesus, who had blessed them,close folded to his breast,

the children sang their praises,the simplest and the best.

 

One: We join with the crowdthat eagerly awaited the coming of Jesus.

  All: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!Hosanna in the highest!

One: Fulfilling prophecy, Jesus entered the cityriding humbly on a donkey.

All: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!Hosanna in the highest!

 

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (v.2 | #123 VU)

Sing: From Olivet they followed'mid an exultant crowd,

the victory palm-branch waving,and singing clear and loud;

the Lord of earth and heavenrode on in lowly state,

content that little childrenshould on his bidding wait.

 

One: Jesus’ followers were excited, filled with anticipation.Yet, within a few short days,they were scattered, disillusioned, and frightened,unwilling to follow as far as Christ would have them go.

  All: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!Hosanna in the highest!

One: We, too, long to join the triumphal procession,only to find ourselves burdened by the past, fearful of the future,reluctant to accept the way of the cross.

All: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!Hosanna in the highest!

 

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (v.3 | #123 VU)

Sing: "Hosanna in the highest!"That ancient song we sing,

for Christ is our Redeemer;earth, let your anthems ring.

O may we ever praise himwith heart and life and voice,

and in his humble presenceeternally rejoice!

One: Yet this Palm Sunday, we receive palm branches,a reminder of the welcome offered to Jesusas he travelled toward the cross.

  All: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!Hosanna in the highest!

One: Like the crowd in Jerusalem 2000 years ago,we take our palm branches and greet Jesus, shouting:

All: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!Hosanna in the highest!

*Celebrate God’s Presence. Page 165.

Welcome&Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: Crowds of people lined streets to welcome Jesus from Nazareth riding into town on a donkey.

  All: On the other side of Jerusalem, some others went to see a proper Roman military parade.

One: They watched Pontius Pilate riding on a war horse accompanied by battle-hardened footsoldiers with their swords, shields, helmets, and war drums.

  All: They were the enemy. They were impressive and fearful.

One: At Jesus’ parade, the people were shouting, “Hosanna, save us, we pray.”

 All: Save us from the tyranny of the Romans who rule over us.

One: Save us, so that we may live in peace.

All: Save us, so that we can live with our dignity.

One: Save us, so that we can live as ones created in God’s image.

All: We shout. We pray. And we wait.

*Won Hur. Gathering LE 2023. Page 68.

Opening Prayer (Unison)

O God, who rules over the universe, please do not let the fools of this world destroy your world. Do not let them gloat over you and us. Do not let them have the last say or the last laugh. May your will be done. May justice and peace prevail. May we truly know that we live and move and have our being in you and through you. So, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

*Won Hur. Gathering LE 2023. Page 68.

*Opening HymnAll Glory, Laud and Honour(#122 VU | vs. 2,3,4)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Mighty God, your gift of our human nature has given us such power:power of language, power of thought, power of pattern,and yet we can use these gifts for ill:in the unkind word,in the thoughtless prejudice,in the clinging to prestige and privilege at the expense of others.We lift up to you our failings and those of the culture in which we live (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*Anna Atkinson. Gathering L/E 2021. Page 18.

Words of Assurance

One: Christ refused to give up on love.

  All: And Love never gives up on us.

One: We live in abundant forgiveness, grace,and gratitude as followers of Christ.

  All: We enter this time of difficult conversations knowing we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

*Seasons of the Spirit L/E 2020. Page 80.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Mark 11:1–11 Jesus’ joyful entry into Jerusalem.

Psalm118:1-2, 19-29 (VU 837 P1,3,4) The stone that the builders rejected.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn He Came Riding on a Donkey(#124VU | vs. 1,2)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#581 VU, v. 2 | When We Are Living)

Through all our living, we our fruits must give.

Good works of service are for offering.

When we are giving, or when receiving,

We belong to God, we belong to God.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Gracious God, as we offer these gifts today, we do so with joy and thanksgiving, knowing that they are a symbol of our commitment to your kingdom. May these offerings be used to further your work in the world, spreading love, compassion, and justice to all.Bless the hands that give and the hearts that receive. Amen.

Sacrament of Communion

< All are welcome to this table.>

*This order of the communion is attributed to Advent Communion Liturgy of the United Church & Celebrate God’s Presence

Invitation to Communion

As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is the table of Jesus Christ, a banquet prepared for everyone.All who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith,all who seek wholeness and compassionate paths to peace and justice,are welcome here.  

Call to Give Thanks

God be with you.

  And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

  We lift our hearts in prayer.

Let us give thanks to God.

  It is good to give God thanks and praise.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thanksand praise be to you, O God, for you create life out of the dust,and sustain us even in the desert.We thank you that in the face of every temptation and trial,every principality and power,you are present to direct and guide,to renew and revive.We praise you for sending us Jesus,your Suffering Servant,to walk before us the way of the cross,to turn us to you and to one another.Therefore, we join your long procession of pilgrimspraising you along the way:

The Song of Creation (#203 MV)

O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.

Hosanna in the highest heav'n, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

The Story Remembered

On the night before he died, it was Jesus who took a loaf of bread, gave you thanks, broke it, and said, “Take and eat; whenever you do this, remember me.”Likewise, after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This is the new covenant; remember me.”

Prayer of Self-Giving

Remembering your boundless love for us in Jesus Christ, we offer you our praise, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Affirmation of Memory and Hope (#204 MV)

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! (X 2)

Prayer for Transformation

Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,that all who share in this bread and cup may be the body of Christ:

DoxologyGreat Amen (#205 MV)

Amen, Amen, O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen! (X2)

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

Sharing of Bread and Wine

Prayer after Communion (Unison)

Life-giving God,we give you thanks for the gift of our Saviour’s presencein the simplicity and splendour of this holy meal.Unite us with all who are fed by the life of Christthat we may faithfully proclaim the Good News of your loveand that your church may be a rainbow of hope

in an uncertain world;through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.Amen.

*ClosingHymnRide On! Ride On in Majesty! (#127 VU | Tune VU 20)

*Commissioning

One: Let us go into this Holy Week trusting in the grace of God.

All: When our strength fails and we descend into horror and dread, may we still find the courage to turn toward the cross, to our king who wearsa crown of thorns, and serve his world with compassion.

One: Go and remember that all our lives are held in God’s gracious hand. Amen.

*Taylor Croissant. Gathering L/E 2024, page 37.

*Commissioning Song May God’s Sheltering Wings(#214MV)

May God’s sheltering wings, her gathering wings protect you,

May God’s nurturing arms, her cradling arms sustain you,

And hold you in her love, and hold you in her love.

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