Palm Sunday/Passion of the Cross Sunday
PALM PROCESSION / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
Women’s History Month.
03-29-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ PROCESSION WITH PALMS +
PALM SUNDAY OPENING RITE (see Matthew 21:1-11):
L As they came near the city of Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples. They borrowed a donkey and a baby donkey.
C Long ago a prophet had said that the king would arrive like this, riding in humility.
L Into the city Jesus rode, surrounded by a large crowd. The people threw their cloaks on the ground to show respect,
They waved and laid branches down to give honor. They shouted out their hosannas and sang with hope and joy.
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! Amen!
We know that the crowd on the road did not fully understand who Jesus was…
and later rejected and jeered him. With genuine joy and authentic hope, can we
join the parade of those who welcome Jesus without also turning away and
against him? Can we say that he is “King of our lives” and allow it to be?
PROCESSION SONG: “Soon and Very Soon” Brown #38
(1) Soon and very soon we are going to see the King!
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King!
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King!
HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! We are going to see the King!
(2) No more crying there, we are going to see the King…
(3) No more dying there, we are going to see the King…
(4) Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King…
PROCESSION SONG: “O When the Saints Go Marching In” Brown #180
(1) 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!
(2) O when the sun refused to shine…
(3) O when they crown him King of kings…
(4) And on that HALLELUJAH day…
-2-
PROCESSION SONG: “Victory Is Mine” Brown #266
(1) Victory is mine… Victory is mine… Victory today is mine!
I told Satan, “Get thee behind!”… Victory today is mine!
(2) Joy is mine…
(3) Peace is mine…
(4) Jesus is mine…
! HOSANNA !
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
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, looking with faith and hope
to sharing in his resurrection victory. Amen.
+ THE PASSION OF OUR LORD +
SONG SELECTION: “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.
+CRUCIFY HIM+
FIRST READING: Isaiah 50:4-9a [lesson insert]
[Introduction: 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. In bleak times the prophet does not despair.
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?]
SECOND READING: Philippians 2:5-11 [lesson insert]
[Introduction: 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? Christ’s true vocation was not to build up himself, but to build up others. Our true vocation is
not to build up ourselves but to build up others.]
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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 GOSPEL: Matthew 26:24 – 27:66 (not read in worship today)
THE PASSION STORY… a “harmonized” Dramatic Reading
[The Passion Story of Jesus – the old Latin root word for passion means “to suffer, to endure pain” – lifts up how much God
loved us, how far Jesus was willing to go to save us. Today we are reminded of the images and emotions of Holy Week:
disappointment, betrayal, fear, guilt, despair. We must travel through them to get to the other images and emotions on the
other side: the confusion, joy, and gratitude of the empty tomb. JESUS WAS FORSAKEN SO THAT WE MIGHT NEVER BE
FORSAKEN! HE ACCEPTED HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH BECAUSE HE LOVED GOD AND LOVED THE WORLD!]
A BRIEF MEDITATION: Pastor Gwen
+
The events of HOLY WEEK make up the central story of our faith. The passion of Jesus becomes personal when we recognize that Jesus loved and loves us – dying an undeserved death on the cross.
THE PRAYERS – A LITANY OF THE PASSION:
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.
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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 and
others, and to the world You have created. O Jesus, we cannot live easy with the burden of our sin; we cannot bear the
guilt and the shame of what we have done or failed to do, and 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 +
THE PEACE GREETING… We are reconciled and united with each other by sharing GOD’S LOVE!
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS
Jesus gave himself to death for the life of the world, for my life and your life! With humble hearts grateful for his
serving love… with willing hearts seeking to pass on the good news we have received… 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. Those farther away can: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s
Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… or contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions for your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “I Know It Was the Blood” Brown #75
(1) 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.
(2) 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:
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 (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! This morning we will come up by
the center aisle and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come up if you want wine from the chalice;
we will also have a tray of poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles. CHRIST IS HERE IN BREAD AND WINE – HIS OWN BODY AND BLOOD – TO FORGIVE, UNITE, EMPOWER, AND PROMISE US!
COMMUNION SONGS: “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” Brown #234
“Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” Brown #73
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THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ DEPARTURE TO PRAY AND SERVE +
CLOSING RITE:
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: “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]
(1) Unarmed He faces forces of demons and death. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
(2) He breaks the bonds of hell dying on the cross. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
(3) The tree of freedom blooms by His empty grave. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]