Prelude
(Click video to play)
Welcome
Below you will find prayers, songs, readings, and a message to help you experience worship. You can light a candle, like we do at church, to remind you of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we find creative ways to worship together, even though we are not in the same building. One good thing about virtual worship is that if you really like a song, you can listen to it again! Do what you need to do to worship God wherever you are.
congregational call to worship
(Click video to play)
Opening Song All Glory, Laud, and Honor
(Click video to play)
All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosanas 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 hosanas 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 hosanas 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 hosanas 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 hosanas ring.
Their praises you accepted; accept the prayers we bring,
great author of all goodness, O good and gracious King.
Prayer of the Day
Loving God, you have showed us how to serve you through the life of Jesus Christ. By your Spirit, keep us in the joyful 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
(Click video to play)
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.
Anthem
(Click video to play)
children’s moment
(Click video to play)
Reading and Message Matthew 21: 1-11
(Click video to play)
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 Just As I Am, without One Plea
(Click video to play)
Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come,
Just as I am; thy love unknown has broken ev’ry barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Prayers
Praying separately in our homes and together in the Spirit, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need, each petition ends with the words “Lord, hear our prayer.”
Loving God, hear our prayers: for the church around the world, that the faithful be nourished by your presence in the word; for pastors and bishops, that they be strengthened for their tasks of ministry; for all those who are assisting the digital sharing of worship materials; for guidance in keeping this Holy Week in devout prayer and praise; Lord, hear our prayer.
For the earth, that it be saved from pollution and disregard; for endangered animals, that they and their habitats be protected; for scientists, that their knowledge of your earth will direct our society’s choices; Lord, hear our prayer.
For peace through the world, for an end to terrorism and religious violence; for all elected leaders, that they see our crisis rightly and make judgments wisely; for wisdom in distributing governmental economic aid; Lord, hear our prayer.
For our distraught world facing the coronavirus; for countries hardest hit, especially China, Italy, Spain, and the United States; for those who grieve their dead; for the sick and their families; for those fearful of an unknown future; for the millions of unemployed; for children at home, that they be safe from abuse; for those who have been led to rely on empty remedies; for hospitals, in their desperate need for supplies; Lord, hear our prayer.
For all who are facing the criminal justice system; for those falsely accused of crime; for those who are incarcerated, that they be kept safe; for those who face isolation or execution; Lord, hear our prayer.
For those whose needs we know, for those whose needs are hidden; for those with prior illnesses whose treatments are now postponed; for all who today will die;
for those who are homeless; for all who are sick; especially for those we name now….
Lord, hear our prayer.
We give thanks for the technology by which we stay connected; thanks for the support of our community of faith; thanks for the saints who struggled through life and died in you, especially those Christian artists whose work has enriched our faith, 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
(Click video to play)
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.
Franciscan Sending
(Click video to play)
Read this out loud. If you are with other people, take turns reading the parts out loud.
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And the Blessing of God, who Creates, Redeems, and Sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forevermore. Amen.
Benediction
We have gathered with the crowds crying Hosanna! And now we follow the crowd as it leads out to the cross, and yet even as the world grows dark, we cannot lose hope. Because God is with us. God will be with us. Whatever happens. We are not alone. And so we watch the crowd and we follow…
Closing Song Go to Dark Gethsemane
(Clilck video to play)
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.
Early hasten to the tomb, where they laid his breathless clay;
all is solitude and gloom. Who has taken him away?
Christ is ris’n! He meets our eyes. Savior, teach us so to rise.
Online Offering (click below)
Virtual worship assistant sign up (click below)
Call to worship written by Pastor Shannon Keeney at First United Methodist Church in Littleton, NH.
Adapted by Pastor Kristin Berglund.
Benediction written by Rev Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings. http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/.
Adapted by Pastor Kristin Berglund.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2005 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #22432. 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 with permission. CCLI#116214