Order of Service / Palm Sunday / March 27, 2026

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

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

Sing: Hosanna, loud hosanna the happy children sang;

through pillared court and temple the 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 crowd that 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 city riding 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 heaven rode on in lowly state,

content that little children should 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!

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 him with heart and life and voice,

and in his humble presence eternally rejoice!

 

One: Yet this Palm Sunday, we receive palm branches, a reminder of the welcome offered to Jesus as 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 & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: This day brings with it joy and celebration, uncertainty and anticipation.

  All: This day brings us to a new place of discernment and preparation.

One: This day leads us into the realities of Holy Week, into the truth and challenges of living the promise of faith and hope.

  All: This day leads us beyond the past and into a future that is yet to be revealed.

One: This day we are led into worship with palms and hosannas. Let us worship.

*Bill Steadman. Gathering LE 2026. Page 34.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn Come, Children, Join to Sing (#345 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

O Lord, as we remember your triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we remember your model of humility: no chariot, no golden laurel wreath of victorious warfare, but humbly, riding on a donkey. Forgive us when we have been proud; help us find quiet contentment in our lives and meaning in always doing your will. Give us courage this week to face the events of Good Friday, to overcome our fears and desires for self-preservation. Keep us strong when the price of discipleship is high. Forgive us our sins, as we remember the price you paid for them. In silence, we bring to God our own confessions and our hope for a new beginning. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*Taylor Croissant, Gathering L/E 2022. Page 37.

Words of Assurance

One: God’s love is more powerful than we can comprehend. Holy Week proclaims: God’s love is great. God’s power is outrageous. Truly we are blessed, forgiven, and made new by God’s powerful love.

All: Thanks be to God.

*Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Gathering L/E 2026. Page 35.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (VU p. 837 | P 1,3,4) The stone that the builders rejected.

Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus enters Jerusalem.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Jesus Came, a Child like Me (#583 VU)

*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)
On this day when Jesus arrived riding a donkey, we don’t offer our power and our privilege; we offer our humility at your call. We don’t offer the talents we hire; we offer our talented selves. We don’t offer empty words; we offer our hearts to Jesus’ Way of loving justice. Bless us and all we offer, O God, that we may be transformed through our sharing. Amen.

*Gord Dunbar, Gathering L/E 2026. Page 35.

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

One: God be with you.

  All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

  All: We lift our hearts in prayer.

One: Let us give thanks to God.

  All: It is good to give God thanks and praise.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thanks and 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 pilgrims praising 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:

Doxology Great 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 presence in the simplicity and splendour of this holy meal. Unite us with all who are fed by the life of Christ that we may faithfully proclaim the Good News of your love and that your church may be a rainbow of hope

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

*Closing Hymn One More Step Along the World (#639 VU)

*Commissioning

One: God moves with us through the streets of Jerusalem.

All: We walk with Jesus through this holy week.

One: We are not called by power or greed.

  All: We are called to love and compassion.

One: We turn from indifference and domination.

All: We turn toward mercy, justice, and peace.

One: The way of the cross stands before us.

All: We follow in the way of acceptance and forgiveness.

One: Go into this week with courage and hope.

All: We will walk the way of Christ.

*Adapted from Laura Turnbull. Gathering L/E 2026. Page 35.

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

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

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

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