Welcome
In this time of world-wide crisis, congregations throughout this church are not able to gather safely for worship as the body of Christ. While we cannot be together in person, we can hear the word of God and hold each other in prayer. This coming week is Holy Week, the center of the church’s year. It starts today, on Palm Sunday, as Jesus rides into Jerusalem surrounded by shouts of glory.
Our worship includes prayers, songs, readings, and a message. You can worship by viewing the videos, reading the words, singing the songs, or simply listening. Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we worship together.
announcements
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Call to worship
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Opening Song
all glory, laud, and honor
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All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer, king, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the king of Israel and David’s royal Son, now in the Lord’s name coming, our King and Blessed One. All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer, king, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
The company of angels are praising you on high; creation and all mortals in chorus make reply. All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer, king, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
The multitude of pilgrims with palms before you went; our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present. All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer, king, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
To you, before your passion, they sang their hymns of praise. To you, now high exalted, our melody we raise. All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer, king, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
Their praises you accepted; accept the prayers we bring, great author of all goodness, O good and gracious King. All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer, king, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray. Loving God, you have showed us how to serve you through the life of Jesus Christ. By your Spirit, keep us in the procession of those who 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.
Reading
Isaiah 42: 1-9
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Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
The Story of Palm Sunday – Confirmation Class
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Gospel and Message
Matthew 21: 1-11
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1When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying 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. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
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.”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The 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!”
10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Hymn of the Day
What Wondrous Love
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What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing; to God and to the Lamb I will sing; to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM, while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing God’s love for me, and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and through eternity I’ll sing on.
Prayers
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Held together in one body by the Spirit of Christ, let us pray for the church and the world, and all who are in need.
O God of majesty, mercy and might, hear and heed our fervent prayers: for the church around the world, that the faithful be nourished by your presence in the word. Lord, hear our prayer.
For peace throughout the world; for an end to terrorism and religious violence; for an end to racism and hate; for all elected leaders, that they serve the common good. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus; for the fearful and the sick and their families; for medical personnel and hospitals. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all who are facing the criminal justice system; for those wrongly accused of crime; for those who are incarcerated, that they be kept safe, for law enforcement, first responders and all who protect others, that they may be safe and healthy. Lord, hear our prayer.
For those whose needs we know, for those whose needs are hidden; for all who are sick, for the hungry, for the dying. Lord, hear our prayer.
With thanks for this Holy Week; with thanks for the support of our community of faith; with thanks for the saints who struggled through life and died in you; we praise your salvation now and unto our end. Lord, hear our prayer.
Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
You are what God made you to be: created in Christ Jesus for good works, chosen as holy and beloved, freed to serve your neighbor. God bless you that you may be a blessing, in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity. Amen.
Dismissal
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
Closing Song
Go to Dark Gethsemane
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Go to dark Gethsemane, all who feel the tempter’s pow’r;
your Redeemer’s conflict see. Watch with him one bitter hour;
turn not from his griefs away; learn from Jesus Christ to pray.
Follow to the judgment hall, view the Lord of life arraigned;
oh, the wormwood and the gall! Oh, the pangs his soul sustained!
Shun not suff’ring, shame, or loss; learn from him to bear the cross.
Calv’ry’s mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at his feet,
mark that miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete.
“It is finished!” hear him cry; learn from Jesus Christ to die.
Worship Assistants
Music: Lori
Message: Pastor Kristin
Reader: Dawn, Abby, Confirmation Class, Sully
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2005 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted and streamed by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS002432. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted and streamed with permission. CCLI#1162147.