Bulletin – Sunday, April 13, 2025 – Palm Sunday / Communion
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday / Communion
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Announcements
Call to Worship
One: Here he comes!
All: Who?
One: The Messiah! The Christ! God’s chosen One! Hosanna!
All: Hosanna! Hallelujah!
One: He’s at the gate now. He’ll be arriving any minute. Have your palm branches ready!
All: Hosanna! Hallelujah!
One: That’s right! Here comes our king! Hey, ho, away we go. Riding on a donkey…
All: Wait! Why is a king riding on a donkey? What does he look so quiet in the middle of our parade? Where is his army? Has he come to save the people?
One: Riding o a donkey, no shouts of rebellion. No army. Just a message.
All: “God’s kingdom is coming and God’s kingdom is here”
One: Just a message.
All: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
One: Let us worship this Servant King. Let us worship our God.
(Richard Bott, Gathering 2022)
Hymn – “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” (VU #123)
Hosanna, loud hosanna the happy children sang;
Through pillared court and temple the joyful anthem rang;
To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast,
The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
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.
“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 this humble presence eternally rejoice!
Lenten Candle Tenebrae
One: Crowds of people lined the streets to welcome Jesus from Nazareth riding into town on a donkey.
All: On the other side of Jerusalem, some others went to see a proper Roman military parade.
One: They watched Pontius Pilate riding on a war horse accompanied by battle-hardened foot soldiers with their swords, shields, helmets, and war drums.
All: They were the enemy. They were impressive and fearful.
One: At Jesus’ parade, the people were shouting, “Hosanna, save us, we pray.”
All: Save us from the tyranny of the Romans who rule over us.
One: Save us, so that we may live in peace.
All: Save us, so that we can live with our dignity.
One: Save us, so that we can live as ones created in God’s image.
All: We shout. We pray. And we wait.
One: When will the day of God, the kingdom of God, come?
The sixth candle is extinguished
Sung Response – “Don’t Be Afraid” (MV #90)
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.
One: Let us pray:
All: O God, who rules over the universe please do not let the fools of this world destroy your world. Do not let them gloat over you and us. Do not let them have the last say or the last laugh. May justice and peace prevail. May we truly know that we live and move and have our being in you and through you. So, we pray in Jesus name. Amen.
(Won Hur, Ebenezer United Church, Gathering L/E/ 2023)
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Holy One, in the midst of celebration and joy of experiencing your blessings poured out on us, we pause to give thanks. Like the crowds who cheered for Jesus, today it is easy to trust the future. But when tomorrow comes, with more news of bombs and violence, with earthquakes and disaster, with its ordinary demands, when tomorrow comes, and the crowds have moved on to something else, somewhere else, someone else, will we remember you?
Will we notice your presence in the pictures of those suffering? Will we be attentive to your hands serving soup and wrapping wounds? Holy One, strengthen our faith and direct our path as we travel with you, and when we get tired and fear makes us stumble, renew our conviction to follow you; and if we forget, may surprising messengers remind us through their simple confidence in you. Amen.
(Wendy MacLean, Brockville, ON Gathering 2025)
Words of Assurance
One: Family of Faith, I don’t know what this past week has looked like for you, but I do know this there is a seat at God’s table saved for you. And that is the case: even if you overlooked your neighbour, even if you doubted God’s love for you, even if you chose scarcity over abundance, or fear over joy. God has a seat reserved for you. Trusting this good news, join me in these words of forgiveness.
All: We are known. We are loved. We are forgiven. We begin again. Thanks be to God for a love like that.
Sung Response – “And When You Call for Me” (MV #96)
And when you call for me, I have already answered.
And when you call for me, I am already there.
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (VU #837, Parts 1, 3, and 4)
One: Let Israel now say:
All: “God’s love endures for ever.”
One: Let the house of Aaron say:
All: “God’s love endures for ever.”
One: Let those who fear God say:
All: “God’s love endures for ever.”
One: Open to me the gates of the temple, that I may enter and give thanks to God.
All: This is the gate of God; through it the righteous shall enter.
One: I thank you for you have answered me; you have become my salvation.
All: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
One: This is God’s doing, marvellous in our eyes.
All: This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
One: Save us, O God, we pray;
All: God, we pray, give us success.
One: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
All: We bless you from the house of God.
One: God, our God, has given us light;
All: with palm branches in hand let us march to the altar.
One: You are my God, and I will thank you;
All: you are my God, and I will extol you.
Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Scripture Reading: Luke 22:14-20
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “From the East the Poor are Marching
From the east the poor are marching, spreading branches as they come;
From the west the sound of soldiers marching, marching far from home.
Jesus on a colt come riding down a dusty city street,
With a ragtag peasant chorus—hopeful, shouting as they meet.
Pilate comes imposing order on the festival each year-
Warhorse, drumbeat, armoured soldiers. Silent crowds look on with fear.
Two processions to the city—shepherd staff and Roman spear-
Blessed is the Son of David who will bring God’s kingdom here.
Meditation
Anthem – “Burdens are Lifted at Calvary”
Days are filled with sorrow and care, hearts are lonely and drear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.
Cast your care on Jesus today, leave your worry and fear,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.
Troubled soul, the Saviour can see every heartache and fear,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.
We Respond to God’s Word
An Invitation to Share
One: God of the Journey, we travel to Jerusalem knowing that it is a noisy, busy community. We gather with the crowds that we too might share the holy meal. In preparation we present gifts – our very best and our very selves. The offering will now be brought forward.
Offering Sung Response – “These Lenten Gifts We Bring”
These Lenten gifts we bring, our living faith expressed,
We offer them most lovingly, and thus our hearts are blessed.
O loving God receive these gifts we gladly give,
That show our faith and hope and trust; your way we seek to live
Offering Prayer
All: Loving God, the world we have fashioned with your good Creation is incomplete and flawed – yet ripe for renewal. In Jesus, you show us the path to mending the world. Bless these gifts we offer in Jesus’ name, we pray, using them to transform woundedness into healing, here among us and through out the world. Amen.
Hymn – “An Upper Room Did Our Lord Prepare” (VU #130)
An upper room did our Lord prepare for those he loved until the end:
And his disciples still gather there to celebrate their risen Friend.
A lasting gift Jesus gave his own: to share his bread, his loving cup.
Whatever burdens may bow us down, he by his cross shall lift us up.
And after supper he washed their feet, for service, too, is sacrament.
In Christ our joy shall be made complete: sent out to serve, as he was sent.
No end there is! We depart in peace. He loves beyond the uttermost:
In every room in our Maker’s house Christ will be there, as Lord and Host.
Communion
Passing the Peace
One: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give thanks and praise.
One: It is indeed right and just, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy One, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For as the time of his passion and resurrection draws near the whole world is called to acknowledge his hidden majesty. We have walked through the season of Lent with Jesus and his followers. Today we celebrate his entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey colt as the crowds cheer with loud Hosannas. Save us God! The Messiah is here!
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
One: On the night before he was betrayed, Jesus shared a meal with his disciples – whom he called friends, and he ate with them once again. Sharing this Passover meal for each around the table. He took bread and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
One: In the same way, after the meal was over, he took a cup and again gave thanks, to you O God. He gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. Therefore, Loving God, we remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross; we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of your kingdom, and with this bread and this cup we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord. Great is the mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.
One: Holy Spirit bless this bread and this cup as we share in the sacred meal. Through him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you God, in songs of everlasting praise.
All: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for every and ever. Amen.
One: Let us pray for confidence as our Saviour has taught us
All: 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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
One: Faithful God, may we who share this banquet glory in the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ, our salvation, life and hope, may Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience, keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his cross. May the Spirit, who strengthens us to suffer with Christ that we may share his glory, set our minds on life and peace.
All: Amen.
The Elements
One: Bread for the Journey – Wine of the new covenant.
One: Let us share in this Communion meal together. Please open your cup and we will eat and drink together.
One: Bread for the Journey – Wine of the new covenant.
One: Let us share in this Communion meal together. Please open your cup and we will eat and drink together.
One: The Bread of Life.
One: The Cup of Blessing.
Prayer after Communion
All: Holy One, we are thankful for the strength and commitment we have received through Your Grace and love. We began with a hopeful parade and now as we walk together towards Jerusalem, in sadness and pain with Jesus, we move into in-between time of Holy Week. Thank you for the nourishment of this sacred meal. Amen.
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “O Christ, What Can it Mean for Us”
O Christ, what can it mean for us to claim you as our king?
What royal face have you revealed whose praise the church would sing?
Aspiring not to glory’s height, to power, wealth, and fame,
You walked a different, lowly way, another’s will your aim.
You came, the image of our God to heal and to forgive,
To shed your blood for sinners’ sake that we might rise and live.
To break the law of death you came, the law of love to bring:
A different rule of righteousness, a different kind of king.
Though some would make their greatness felt and lord it over all,
You said the first must be the last and service be our call.
O Christ, in workplace, church, and home, let none to power cling;
For still, through us, you come to serve, a different kind of king.
You chose a humble human form and stunned the world’s renown;
You died for us upon a cross with thorns your only crown.
But still beyond the span of year, our glad hosannas ring,
For now at God’s right hand you reign, a different king od king!
Benediction
Sung Response – “May the Christ who Walks on Wounded Feet”
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet travel with you all your journey through.
May you see Christ’s face in all you meet and may all you meet see Christ’s face in you.
