PALM PROCESSION / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION | 4-2-23
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
PALM PROCESSION / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
04-02-2023 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ PROCESSION WITH PALMS +
PALM SUNDAY OPENING RITE (see Matthew 21:1-11): Pastors + Congregation
L Outside the city of Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples. They borrowed a donkey and a baby donkey.
C The prophet said the king would arrive like this, riding in humility.
L Into the city Jesus rode, surrounded by a large crowd. They came with branches, hosannas, and songs!
C Here comes our King, riding on a donkey!
Here comes our King, coming to save us!
Here comes our King, the Son of David!
HOSANNA, HOSANNA, HOSANNA in the highest!
L When he had entered the city, the whole city was in turmoil, and everybody wondered, “Who is this?”
C This is Jesus, the man from Galilee!
This is Jesus, the Son of David!
This is Jesus, the King of our lives!
HOSANNA, HOSANNA, HOSANNA in the highest!
L Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord!
C And blessed are we when we follow with humility, trust, and courage.
L Lord Jesus, bless these palms that we bear and the songs that we sing.
Bless these steps that we take in this procession and the journey that we make with our entire lives.
Take away our failings and our fears, and give us the faith and the faithfulness to follow You to Calvary and beyond.
We pray this with humbled hearts.
C HOSANNA in the highest heaven!
THE PROCESSION WITH PALMS… “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” The welcome the people call out to Jesus as he enters Jerusalem – an ancient quotation from Psalm 118 – is a greeting for kings. Here it the greeting for the long-awaited Messiah who will end the occupation and violence of the Roman Empire and the arrogance and corruption of the Jewish religious leadership. We know that the crowd on the road did not fully understand who Jesus was… and later rejected and jeered him. CAN WE JOIN THE PARADE OF THOSE WHO WELCOME JESUS WITH GENUINE JOY AND AUTHENTIC HOPE WITHOUT ALSO TURNING AWAY FROM HIM, TURNING AGAINST HIM? CAN WE SAY THAT HE IS “KING OF OUR LIVES” AND ALLOW IT TO BE?
PROCESSION SONG: “Victory Is Mine”
- Victory is mine… Victory is mine… Victory today is mine!
I told Satan, “Get thee behind!”… Victory today is mine!
- Joy is mine… (3) Peace is mine… (4) Jesus is mine…
PROCESSION SONG: “We Are Marching in the Light of God”
- We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching… we are marching, marching…
We are marching in the light of, the light of God.
We are marching, marching… we are marching, marching…
We are marching in the light of God.
- We are dancing… (3) We are praying… (4) We are singing…
PROCESSION SONG: “O When the Saints Go Marching In”
- O when the saints go marching in… O when the saints go marching in…
O Lord, I want to be in that number when the saints go marching in!
- O when the sun refused to shine…
- O when they crown him King of kings…
- And on that HALLELUJAH day…
THE PALM SUNDAY VERSE (when the palm procession has ended): Pastor + Congregation
L Blessed is the King!
C HOSANNA in the highest!
L Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
C HOSANNA, HOSANNA, HOSANNA in the highest!
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY: Congregation
Dear God, the Son of God emptied himself, took on our form, humbled himself, and became obedient to death on a cross for us. In gratitude and faith, let the mind of Christ be our mind. Help us to embrace the obedient way of the cross and to live in the power of your death-defying love, in the name and spirit and mission of Jesus. Amen.
! CELEBRATION !
A SONG OF TRANSITION: “All the Way to Calvary” led by All Saints Choir
All the way to Calvary, He went for me, Although I had so many, many sins,
He went for me, He went for me. Jesus took them all away
All the way to Calvary, He went for me, and He pardoned me.
He died to set me free. Although I had so many, many sins,
Jesus took them all away,
And He pardoned me.
+ SACRIFICE +
+ THE PASSION OF OUR LORD +
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 50:4-9a Ben Shipanga
[The obedient “servant of God” – representing the prophet Isaiah or his successor… or perhaps the nation of Israel itself during Israel’s exile in Babylon – sings about being equipped and empowered by God, and therefore not afraid to speak truth to power in the midst of persecution and to speak hope to those who are weary and suffering. The early Church saw a close connection between the “servant song” passages in the book of Isaiah and the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. How was Jesus like the servant? What is the word of God that helps and sustains you?]
SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir
SECOND READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Pastor John Gottschall
[Using an early Christian hymn that celebrated Christ’s humble, unselfish, and obedient suffering and death – a path that carried Jesus to ultimate glory as Lord of all – Paul urged his readers to have the same mind, the same humility, and the same life path of obedient faithfulness. What would the effect be on our lives if we acted as servants to others, imitating Christ all the way to potential death on a cross?]
GOSPEL VERSE: “The blood that Jesus shed for me, way back on Calvary,
the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never lose its power.
IT REACHES TO THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN! IT FLOWS TO THE LOWEST VALLEY!
THE BLOOD THAT GIVES ME STRENGTH FROM DAY TO DAY,
IT WILL NEVER LOSE ITS POWER!
It soothes my doubts and calms my fears, and it dries all my tears;
the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never lose its power.
IT REACHES TO
THE PASSION OF JESUS: MATTHEW 26:14 – 27:6
(1) Tanya Morris, 26:14 – 35 (2) Madison, 26:36-56 (3) Cecil Webb, 26:57 -75
(4) Ida Swindle, 27:1-26 (5) David Johnson, 27:27-44 (6) Christina Crawford, 27:45-66
[The passion narrative in Matthew emphasizes the rejection of Jesus by the religious and political institutions of the day and even by his own band of followers. His last days involved betrayal and denial, spitting and shame, a crown of thorns, and a cruel cross. Jesus accepted his suffering and death because he loved God and he loved the world. With more explicit references to Old Testament material, Matthew highlights the theme of Jesus’ objective to carry out God’s plan of salvation. Even the soldiers who crucify Jesus recognize him as “the Son of God”! Thus, he is not just one more teacher or prophet or nice guy put to death and martyred by human injustice. His blood – which is not only innocent but powerful and cleansing – is what will save God’s people from the power of sin… what will establish a new relationship between God and humankind. In the end this “King who wasn’t” – a man branded as an imposter whose dead body was sealed by a stone and secured by guards – overcame the forces of evil and the powers of death. Humanity has done its worst, but what humans intended for evil, God intended for good. The Son of God saved others by not saving himself.]
SONG RESPONSE: “We Walk His Way” [traditional South African song]
We walk His way… We walk His way.
We walk His way… We walk His way. [repeat the chorus]
- Unarmed He faces forces of demons and death. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
- He breaks the bonds of hell dying on the cross. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
- The tree of freedom blooms by His empty grave. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
THE PRAYERS – A LITANY OF THE PASSION: Pastor Gwen + Valerie Taylor Samuel
L Lord Jesus, by your death and resurrection You brought life to the world! The hour of your cross draws near, when Satan was defeated and death was destroyed. You are our only hope, our only salvation, our only glory! We now pray that You might deliver us from sin, despair, and death…
L O Christ, bearing our sins: C Save us, we pray.
L O Jesus, sold for thirty pieces of silver: C Remind us of the great price you paid for us.
L O Jesus, washing feet and breaking bread: C Lead us in the way of humility and sacrifice.
L O Jesus, in agony in the garden: C Teach us to watch and to pray.
L O Jesus, betrayed by the kiss of a friend: C Save us from deceit and betrayal of You.
L O Jesus, bound like a lamb for slaughter: C Free us from the chains of sin.
L O Jesus, opposed by swords and anger: C Spare us from the sword of war and hatred.
L O Jesus, forsaken by your disciples: C Keep us from abandoning You.
L O Jesus, humiliated and tortured: C Let us never bring shame and pain to You.
L O Jesus, rejected for Barabbas: C Keep us from ever rejecting You.
L O Jesus, condemned to die: C Pardon us through your saving grace.
L O Jesus, crowned with thorns: C Pierce our hardened hearts.
L O Jesus, carrying your cross: C Thank you for bearing our sins and our shame.
L O Jesus, delivered to be crucified: C Deliver us from the gates of hell.
L O Jesus, nailed to the cross among the condemned: C Take your place among us sinners.
L O Jesus, commended to the Father’s hands: C Gather us in your Kingdom like a hen.
L O Jesus, breathing your last on this earth: C Fill us with the breath of true life.
L O Jesus, lifeless and buried in a tomb: C Put to death the sin and despair within us.
L O Jesus, sealed away to be forgotten: C Remember us when You come into your Kingdom.
L O Lord, it would be easy to try to wash our hands of all guilt and declare our innocence in Your suffering, yet the finger of betrayal, desertion, and denial points at all of us. We cannot cry out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken us?” because it is we who have done the forsaking. We are horrified by the suffering we cause – to You, to ourselves, to others, and to the world You have created. O Jesus, we cannot live with the burden of our sin; we cannot bear the guilt and the shame; we cannot save ourselves from despair and death by our own good deeds. O Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!
C Lord, I do want to live the life of faith! Lord, I do want to be yours forever! I bow my head and my heart before the cross of Jesus and ask for your mercy. Amen.
+ THE LORD’S SUPPER +
OFFERING [Jesus gave himself to death for the life of the world, for my life and your life! With humble hearts so very grateful for his saving love… with willing hearts seeking to pass on the good news we have been taught… let us offer our time, our money, our abilities, and our very self in trust and service.]
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or money order to |
SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “I Know It Was the Blood” ( Brown #75 )
- I know it was the blood… I know it was the blood… I know it was the blood for me.
One day when I was lost, he died upon the cross… I know it was the blood for me.
- It was my Savior’s blood… (3) They pierced him in the side… (4) He’s coming back again…
OFFERING PRAYER (from PSALM 51) led by the Communion Assistant: Linda Gillum
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with your bountiful spirit.
Then I will teach other sinners your ways; and I will eagerly sing of your goodness. Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L The Lord delivers us from sin and death… C … and grants us salvation and eternal life!
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous distribution” with wafers and either wine or grape juice.
COMMUNION SONGS: Brown #234 Brown #73
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant. Lisa Tillison
+ DEPARTURE TO PRAY AND SERVE +
CLOSING RITE: Pastor + Congregation
L God forbid that I should glory,
C except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
L through whom the world is crucified to me,
C and I to the world.
L We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You:
C By your cross You have redeemed the world.
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God calls us to “return home” to faithful discipleship!
CLOSING SONG: “Lead Me to Calvary” Brown #86