Passion/Palm Sunday March 28th, 2021 - Calvary ...
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Passion/Palm Sunday March 28th, 2021
Gathering
Welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: The winds of God blow strong and compelling
through the stagnant atmosphere of our neglect.
People: We feel the insistent warmth of God’s presence
and seek to awaken from our lethargy.
Leader: God invites us to join the parade of the faithful,
to demonstrate for justice, truth, and righteousness.
People: We are drawn to the pageantry of Palm Sunday
and to the One who comes in life-changing peace.
Leader: Whatever our state of mind or condition of life,
we are welcomed to this time of self-searching and worship.
People: Blessed is the One who comes in God’s name.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
Leader: Let us join in the Hosannas and prepare for the singing of
Hallelujah.
Opening Hymn#89 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
1 Hosanna, loud hosanna, 3 “Hosanna in the highest!”
The little children sang; That ancient song we sing,
Through pillared court and temple For Christ is our Redeemer,
The joyful anthem rang; The Lord of heaven our King.
To Jesus, who had blessed them O may we ever praise Him
Close folded to His breast, With heart and life and voice,
The children sang their praises, And in His blissful presence
The simplest and the best. Eternally rejoice.
2 From Olivet they followed
‘Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving,
And chanting clear and loud;
The Lord of earth and heaven
Rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children
Should on His bidding wait. 2Poem “Procession” by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
A procession through the streets.
Crowd riled up,
peasants crying out.
Lots of symbolism:
royal power, humility.
Chatter among the onlookers.
Who is this? What is his story?
Murmuring of a king.
The One Who Is There.
Momentous, yet promising
more to come.
A current of fear and wonder,
a current of shifting loyalties,
a river changing course.
Shouting. Passion.
An energy moves through the crowd,
a wave, a disturbance,
like ocean waves,
crashing in, washing out.
The feeling of being caught up, carried,
borne.
We wield our palm branches,
our crowns of thorns,
shout out with the crowd,
“Hosanna!”
“Crucify!”
The waves move through us,
the river, sparkling, flows.
3Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
We surround ourselves with crosses, O God; yet we confess that we
shrink back from the awareness that your glory is revealed in the
criminal’s cross of Jesus Christ. Help us to know your presence. There
is suffering in our world; may we be channels of your love and healing,
so that you may not suffer needlessly. We pray these things in the name
of Jesus Christ. (Silent Prayers)
Assurance of Pardon
The good news is that we depend not on ourselves, but on the Spirit of God
to give us strength. God promises to forgive and to write God’s law on our
hearts. Thanks be to God!
Response “Take, O Take Me As I Am” (sung twice)
4Passing of the Peace of Christ
Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
The Word
Prayer for Illumination
Scriptures: Philippians 2: 5-11; John 12: 20-26
Philippians 2: 5-11
5
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
John 12: 20-26
20
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some
Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to
him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and
Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the
Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much
fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and
5 those who hate their life in this worldwill keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I
am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
Leader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Seeing Jesus”
Hymn “Hymn of Promise” by Natalie Sleeth
1 In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
2 There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
3 In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
6The Response to The Word
Time for Response to the Sermon
Sharing of the Joys and Concerns of the Congregation
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, And forgive us our debts,
hallowed be thy Name, as we forgive our debtors
thy kingdom come, And lead us not into temptation,
thy will be done, but deliver us from evil.
on earth as it is in heaven. For thine is the kingdom,
Give us this day our daily and the power, and the glory, for ever.
bread. Amen.
Sending
Announcements
Call for Offering: Offerings can be mailed to the office, or if you wish to donate
online, you can go to our website’s giving page. We are most grateful for your
faithful giving through this time of pandemic and are appreciative of your
continued support of this ministry.
Benediction
Sending Song#599 “Jesus, Remember Me” (sung 3 times)
Jesus, remember me
when You come into Your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me
when You come into Your kingdom.
We welcome all who worship with us this day. May you experience God’s presence and find
inspiration for your journey of faith. This morning the leaders in worship are: Diane Ritzdorf,
Liturgist; Dean Stalnaker, Music Director; Rev. Bill Sanders, Guest Preacher;
Ruth McCollum Huff, Zoom Host.
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