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The service begins at the Prayer Garden for those who are able.
Palm branches are distributed before the service begins
ACCLAMATION
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest.
CALL TO WORSHIP
The procession walks to the sanctuary with shouts of “Blessed is theone who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Please rise as you are able.
THE PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL
The holy gospel according to Matthew 21:1-11.
Glory to you, O Lord.
1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage,
at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 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. 3 If
anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’
And he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfill what
had been spoken through the prophet:
5 “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.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they
brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and
he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the
road. 9 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!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking,
“Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus
from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
BLESSING OF THE PALMS
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
We praise you, O God, for redeeming the world through our
Savior, Jesus Christ. Today he entered the holy city in triumph,
and was proclaimed messiah and king by those who spread
garments and branches along his way. Bless these branches
and those who carry them. Grant us grace to follow our Lord in
the way of the cross, so that, joined to his death and resurrection,
we enter into life with you; through the same Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen
The procession enters the sanctuary as the hymn is sung.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” Hymn # 344
Refrain: All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
1. You are the king of Israel and David’s royal Son,
Now in the Lord’s name coming, Our King and Blessed One.
Refrain
2. The company of angels are praising you on high;
Creation and all mortals in chorus make reply. Refrain
3. The multitude of pilgrims with palms before you went,
Our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present.
Refrain
4. To you, before your Passion, they sang their hymns of praise.
To you, now high exalted, our melody we raise. Refrain
5. Their praises you accepted; accept the prayers we bring,
Great author of all goodness, O good and gracious King. Refrain
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest.
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Sovereign God, you have established your rule in
the human heart through the servanthood of Jesus Christ. By
your Spirit, keep us in the joyful procession of those who with
their tongues confess Jesus as Lord and with their lives praise
him as Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please be seated.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING OF THE BELL
CHOIR ANTHEM “A Celebration of Palms”
WORD
FIRST READING Isaiah 50:4-9a
The servant of the Lord expresses absolute confidence in his final
vindication, despite the fact that he has been struck and spit upon.
This characteristic of the servant played an important role in the
early church’s understanding of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
4 The Lord God has given me a trained tongue, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens, wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I did not turn backward.
6 I gave my back to those who struck me
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
7 The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
8 he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand in court together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
9a It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Word of God, Word of Life Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:14-27:66
The Passion of our Lord according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
(If you would like to follow along in your pew bibles which have a slightly different
translation, you may turn to page 1543.)
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” Hymn #335
APOSTLES’ CREED
Together with the whole church, we confess our faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
. . .Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
SHARING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Please share Christ’s peace with one another.
OFFERING
OFFERING MUSIC “Christ the Life of All the Living” Hymn #339
Please rise on the third verse as the offering is brought forward.
Let us pray. O God, maker of heaven and earth, your steadfast love
embraces all creation. You send rain and sunshine to nourish the
earth and bring forth its bounty. Through these gifts of bread and
wine, draw us into the death and life of your Son, who calls us to
bear witness to his saving work. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
MEAL
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and
in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join their unending hymn:
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,
and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all
to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for
you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from
death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come to the table. Feast on God’s goodness and mercy.
Communion Distribution---All are welcome to receive Holy Communion
at the Lord's table. If you'd like to receive a blessing instead, you may
simply come forward and cross your arms over your chest. If you are
unable to come forward, please notify an usher and we will bring the
sacrament to you. The communion cups contain wine (red) or grape
juice (white). Gluten-free wafers are available upon request.
Communion Hymns
Hymn #353 “Were You There”
Hymn #338 “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”
POST COMMUNION BLESSING
Please stand as you are able.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray. God of our salvation, we give you thanks for this
meal that restores our souls, reconciles us to you, and
strengthens us for the journey. Through the body and blood of
your Son, may we become Christ’s body in the world, bearing
witness to your love for all creation, through Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord. Amen.
BENEDICTION
Receive the blessing of the holy Trinity: God, who calls all things into
existence, Jesus Christ, who redeems us, and the Holy Spirit, whose
breath sustains creation, bless you now and always.
SENDING HYMN “The Old Rugged Cross”
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Believe the good news. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Announcements/Reminders
Holy Week commemorates the final week of Jesus’ life, starting with
Palm Sunday’s entry into Jerusalem and concluding with the Easter
resurrection. Each service throughout the week draws us into greater
appreciation and holy wonder of Jesus’ loving sacrifice and God’s
promises for all who believe in him. We invite you to join us in worship
as we remember what God has done for us and for the world through
the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Holy Week Services
• Maundy Thursday @ 7PM— this service marks Jesus’ last supper
when he instituted the Lord’s Supper and commanded his follows to
love one another. We will celebrate first communion for several of
our young people at this service.
• Good Friday @ Noon and 7PM– this service reflects on the betrayal,
arrest, and crucifixion of Jesus. The lights of the sanctuary are
dimmed as we remember the shadows that surrounded Jesus in his
death on the cross.
• Easter Services @ 8AM and 10:30 AM– in this service we celebrate
Christ’s resurrection from the dead with joyful proclamation that
Jesus is alive! He has conquered death and sin, and we know that
we too have been given the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Please bring fresh flowers on Easter morning to place on the cross
on the porch at the entrance to the sanctuary.
For children and parents
After the children’s sermon, children are invited to go with
Mrs. Stacy Murphy to the fellowship hall for Sunday school
children’s time.
There are “busy bags” at the sanctuary entrance to help keep
children engaged during services.
There is a cry room in the back of the sanctuary with a changing
table and a large nursery space down the hallway past the fellow
ship hall available for families with young children. Each of the
spaces include access to listen to the worship service.
Please join us for fellowship time after worship in
our fellowship hall!!!
Church Staff and today’s worship leaders:
Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing
Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller
Communion Assistants—Judy Hillegeist
Our Reader—Judy Hillegeist
Our Liturgist—Claire Roberts
Crucifer—Cooper Youngdahl
Organist/Pianist—Jimmy Cheung