Gathering

Silent Prayer of Preparation

Merciful God:  as we enter Holy Week, turn our hearts again to Jerusalem; that united with Christ and all the faithful, we may one day enter in triumph the city not made by human hands.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Chimes and Organ Prelude           “Hosanna to the King”         Yvonne Barnes, Organist

Choral Introit                      

Call to Worship    

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ? Hosanna in the highest!

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! ? And shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

For lo, your king comes to you – triumphant and victorious ? Humble and riding on a donkey.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ? Hosanna in the highest!

 *Processional Hymn     Blue Hymnal #89      “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”        ellacombe

 *Opening Prayer  (Unison – please remain standing, as able)

God of all:  you gave your only-begotten Son to take the form of a servant, and to be obedient even to death on a cross.  Give us that same mind that was in Christ Jesus; that sharing his humility, we may come to be with him in his glory; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.   

 *Congregational Response Blue Hymnal #89 v. 1 only - printed “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”

Hosanna, loud hosanna, The little children sang;  Through court and pillared 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.

 *Sharing the Peace of Christ

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. ? Hosanna in the highest!

The peace of Christ be with you. ? And also with you.    [Please share this same greeting.]

Welcome and Concerns of the Church & Mileposts to Renewal

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. [Phil. 3:14]

     *Renewal Hymn Blue Hymnal #344 (v.1) “Christ of the Upward Way”

 

The Word

Prayer for Illumination

First Reading                                  Matthew 21:1-11                              Pew Bible, p. 802

The Gospel of the Lord. ? Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Choral Anthem       “The Messiah Has Come” arr. by Pepper Choplin       Chancel Choir

 *The Passion of Our Lord                Luke 23, selections                          Pew Bible, p. 859

Jesus, Lamb of God, ? Have mercy on us.? Jesus, bearer of our sins, ? Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world, ? Grant us peace.

Children’s Moment                                                                              Patty Neidert, DCE

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world:  red and yellow, black and white,

they are precious in his sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Sermon                                      “A New Vision of Success”                                 Dr. Nash

 *Hymn    Blue Hymnal #91     “Ride On!  Ride On In Majesty!”                   St. drostane

As the hymn is sung, the church’s colors will be changed from purple to “martyrs’ red,”

reminding us of the great sacrifice to come on Good Friday.

 

Prayers of the People, Litany of Christ’s Passion and Lord’s Prayer

Lord’s Prayer – Traditional – Blue Hymnal p. 16

[The litany follows here – after Prayers of the People]  Our Redeemer suffered death, was buried and rose again for our sake.  With love, let us adore him, aware of our needs.  Christ our Teacher, for us you were obedient even unto death:

Teach us to obey God’s will in all things.

Christ our Life, by dying on the cross, you destroyed the power of evil and death:

Enable us to die with you, that we may also rise with you to new and glorious life.

Christ our Strength, you were despised, and humiliated as a common criminal:

Teach us the humility by which you saved the world.

Christ our Salvation, you gave your life out of love for us: 

Help us to love one another.

Christ our Savior, on the cross you embraced all time with your outstretched arms:

Gather all the scattered children of God into your embrace.

Jesus, Lamb of God, ? Have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins, ? Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world, ? Grant us peace. 

Eternal God, as we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, so give us the grace of repentance, that we may pass through the grave with him, and be born again to eternal life.  For he is the One who was crucified, dead, and buried, and rose again for our sake – Jesus our Savior, who taught us to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…. [Choral Response]

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory Anthem       “Calvary Invitation” arr. by Craig Courtney      Chancel Choir

*Congregational Response  “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow”    doxology

*Prayer of Dedication

Sending

 *Holy Week Hymn   Blue Hymnal #101    “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”     hamburg

 *Pastoral Blessing and Choral Response

Organ Postlude                     “Were You There?”                       Yvonne Barnes, Organist

 

Today’s Liturgical Color

Today’s liturgical colors are violet/purple and martyrs’ red.  Violet or purple is the color for Lent,
and a deep color, calling us to search the depths of our souls. Martyrs’ red is the color for Holy Week, reminding us of the great sacrifice of Good Friday.

Today’s Liturgist-  Deborah Rutan

 

Choral Anthem- “The Messiah Has Come”

Bring your palm branches, there’s joy in the street.  “Hosanna, hosanna,” the voices repeat.
 There is shouting and waving to this blessed one.  For this is the day the Messiah has come.
 Join the procession and burst into song and join with the voices of heaven’s great throng.
 There’s praising, celebrating, that never is done.  For this is the day the Messiah has come.
 Sing hosanna, hosanna to the Son.  Sing hosanna, the great Messiah come.
 Look in the faces, the pain melts away, for years of praying are answered today. 
The crying and grieving for now, it is done.  For this is the day the Messiah has come.
 Lay down your pain, lay down your grief.  Rest from your burdens, find relief.
Finish your prayers of worry and fear.  Lift up your head, the Lord is here! 
Join the procession and burst into song and join with the voices of heaven’s great throng. 
There’s praising, celebrating, that never is done.  For this is the day the Messiah has come.
 Lift up your head, the Messiah has come.

 

Choral Anthem- “Calvary Invitation”

Come and see the Lamb of God, O come to Calvary, Linger for a moment more and see the twisted tree,
Come and hear the hammering, come hear it nail His feet, Linger for a moment more, O come to Calvary. 
Come and taste the tears that fall, O come to Calvary, Linger for a moment more and taste His lonely grief,
Come and feel the angry thorns, come feel His agony, Linger for a moment more, O come to Calvary. 
Though you long to turn away you can not seem to leave, Rooted to the ground you stand as firmly as the tree,
 In His face you recognize what draws you to the place, Written on each line of pain and suffering is grace.
 Come and see the Lamb of God, come hear the hammer ring, Come and taste the tears that fall,
 come feel His agony, Come and look into His face, come stand beneath the tree,
Linger for a moment more, O come to Calvary, Linger just one moment more, O come to Calvary.