Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026 - Episcopal Church of Our Saviour

The Liturgy of the Palms

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

Let us pray.

Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please hold up your palms.

A reading from the gospel according to Matthew.

When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You’ll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!’ He will send them with you.”

This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet:

Tell Zion’s daughter,
“Look, your king’s on his way,
poised and ready, mounted
On a donkey, on a colt,
foal of a pack animal.”

The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in highest heaven!”

As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?”

The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Processional

Let us go forth in peace.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

Hymn H-154 “All glory, laud, and honor:

1: Thou art the King of Is-ra-el, thou Da-vid’s royal Son, who in the Lord’s Name com-est, the King and Bless-ed One. (Refrain)

2: The com-pa-ny of an-gels is prais-ing thee on high; and we with all cre–a-tion in cho-rus make re-ply. (Refrain)

3: The peo-ple of the He-brews With palms be-fore thee went Our praise and prayers and an-thems Be-fore thee we pre-sent. (Refrain)

Text: Theodulph of Orleans (d. 821); tr. John Mason Neale (1818-1866), alt.; Music: Melchior Teschner (1584-1635), alt. This selection is in the public domain. Copyright Holder (Arrangement): William Henry Monk (1823-1889) Licenses for Use: Copyright CCLI #20716203; CCLI Streaming # 20716210

The Collect of the Day

Our God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Ministry of the Word

Isaiah 50: 4-9

A reading from Isaiah

The Master, God, has given me
    a well-taught tongue,
So I know how to encourage tired people.
    He wakes me up in the morning,
Wakes me up, opens my ears
    to listen as one ready to take orders.
The Master, God, opened my ears,
    and I didn’t go back to sleep,
    didn’t pull the covers back over my head.
I followed orders,
    stood there and took it while they beat me,
    held steady while they pulled out my beard,
Didn’t dodge their insults,
    faced them as they spit in my face.
And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me,
    so I’m not disgraced.
Therefore I set my face like flint,
    confident that I’ll never regret this.
My champion is right here.
    Let’s take our stand together!
Who dares bring suit against me?
    Let him try!
Look! the Master, God, is right here.
    Who would dare call me guilty?
Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare
    socks and shirts, fodder for moths!

Hear God’s message for our community. It is awesome!

Psalm 31: 9-18

I hate all this silly religion,
but you, God, I trust.

I’m leaping and singing in the circle of your love;
you saw my pain,
you disarmed my tormentors,

You didn’t leave me in their clutches
but gave me room to breathe.

Be kind to me, God—
I’m in deep, deep trouble again.

I’ve cried my eyes out;
I feel hollow inside.

My life leaks away, groan by groan;
my years fade out in sighs.

My troubles have worn me out,
turned my bones to powder.

To my enemies I’m a monster;
I’m ridiculed by the neighbors.

My friends are horrified;
they cross the street to avoid me.

They want to blot me from memory,
forget me like a corpse in a grave,
discard me like a broken dish in the trash.

The street-talk gossip has me
“criminally insane”!

Behind locked doors they plot
how to ruin me for good.

Desperate, I throw myself on you:
you are my God!

Hour by hour I place my days in your hand,
safe from the hands out to get me.

Warm me, your servant, with a smile;
save me because you love me.

Don’t embarrass me by not showing up;
I’ve given you plenty of notice.

Embarrass the wicked, stand them up,
leave them stupidly shaking their heads
as they drift down to hell.

Gag those loudmouthed liars
who heckle me, your follower,
with jeers and catcalls.

Philippians 2: 5-11

A reading from Philippians

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Listen to what the Spirit is saying to our church! We are all ears!.

The Passion Narrative: A Living Script

(Adapted from Matthew 26:14 – 27:66)

CAST

Narrator
Jesus
Judas
Peter
Pontius Pilate
Religious Leaders
Servant Girl / Bystanders
Congregation (All)

SCENE 1: THE BETRAYAL BEGINS

Narrator:
The story turns in shadow.
The air is thick with tension.
The tables are set. So are the traps.

Judas:
What will you give me…
if I hand him over?

Religious Leaders:
Thirty pieces. Silver.
Done.

Narrator:
And from that moment —
he watched.
Waited.
For the right time to betray love.

SCENE 2: THE LAST SUPPER

Narrator:
The table is laid. Bread. Cup. Friends gathered close.
But something deeper is happening.

Jesus:
Truly I tell you—
one of you will betray me.

Congregation (All, softly):
Surely not I, Lord?

Jesus:
The one who dips his hand with me…
he will betray me.

Judas:
Surely not I, Rabbi?

Jesus (quietly):
You have said so.

Narrator:
And then — he takes bread.
Not just bread.
Something more.

Jesus (slow, intentional):
Take. Eat.
This is my body.

Narrator:
And the cup—

Jesus:
Drink from it, all of you.
This is my blood of the covenant,
poured out for many…
for the forgiveness of sins.

SCENE 3: GETHSEMANE

Narrator:
A garden. Night air. Olive trees.
And a soul under unbearable weight.

Jesus (distressed):
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow…
Stay here. Stay awake with me.

Narrator:
He goes a little farther. Falls to the ground.

Jesus:
My Father…
if it is possible…
let this cup pass from me.
Yet—
not what I want.
What You want.

Narrator (rhythmic, spoken word):
Pressure.
Fear.
Sweat like sorrow on skin.
He prays alone—
while his friends sleep again.

Jesus (returning):
Could you not stay awake one hour?

SCENE 4: THE ARREST

Narrator:
Torches. Weapons.
A crowd moving like a storm.

Judas (approaching):
Greetings, Rabbi.

Narrator:
And he kisses him.

Jesus:
Friend… do what you came for.

Narrator:
Hands seize him.
Fear scatters the rest.

SCENE 5: THE TRIAL

Narrator:
False witnesses. Twisted words.
Truth on trial.

Religious Leaders:
Tell us — are you the Messiah?

Jesus:
You have said so.
But from now on…
you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power.

Religious Leaders (outraged):
Blasphemy!

Congregation (All, shouting):
He deserves death!

Narrator:
They spit.
They strike.
They mock.

Servant Girl / Bystanders:
Prophesy to us, Messiah!
Who hit you?

SCENE 6: PETER’S DENIAL

Narrator:
Outside. Cold night. Firelight flickering.
And Peter — watching from a distance.

Servant Girl / Bystanders:
You were with him.

Peter:
I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Servant Girl / Bystanders (another):
This man was with Jesus!

Peter:
I swear—I do not know the man!

Narrator:
And then—

Congregation (All, softly):
The rooster crows.

Narrator:
And Peter remembers.
And breaks.

SCENE 7: JUDAS’ REGRET

Narrator:
Judas sees what he has done.

Judas:
I have sinned.
I have betrayed innocent blood.

Religious Leaders:
What is that to us?

Narrator:
Silver hits the floor.
But it cannot buy back what is lost.

SCENE 8: BEFORE PONTIUS PILATE

Pontius Pilate:
Are you the King of the Jews?

Jesus:
You say so.

Narrator:
Accusations fly.
But he does not answer.

Pontius Pilate (to crowd):
Whom shall I release—
Jesus… or Barabbas?

Congregation (All, loud):
Barabbas!

Pontius Pilate:
Then what shall I do with Jesus?

Congregation (All, shouting):
Crucify him!
Crucify him!

Narrator (rhythmic, building):
Voices rise—
justice drowned in noise.
Truth stands silent—
while power makes its choice.

Pontius Pilate:
I am innocent of this man’s blood.

Congregation (All):
His blood be on us—
and on our children!

SCENE 9: THE MOCKING

Narrator:
A robe. A crown of thorns.
A king made into a joke.

Congregation (All, mocking):
Hail, King of the Jews!

Narrator:
They strike him.
Spit on him.
Laugh at him.

SCENE 10: THE CROSS

Narrator:
A hill called Golgotha.
The place of the skull.

Congregation (All, taunting):
Save yourself!
Come down from the cross!

Religious Leaders:
He saved others—
but he cannot save himself!

Narrator:
Darkness falls.
Noon becomes night.

Jesus (crying out):
My God, my God—
why have you forsaken me?

Narrator:
A final breath.

Jesus:
It is finished.

SCENE 11: THE MOMENT

Narrator (slow, reverent):
The earth shakes.
The curtain tears.
Heaven and earth… collide.

Servant Girl / Bystanders (in awe):
Truly—
this was the Son of God.

SCENE 12: THE TOMB

Narrator:
A borrowed tomb.
A stone rolled heavy.

Narrator (soft, closing):
The story is not over.
But for now—
silence.
Stillness.
Waiting.

Congregation (All, quiet, unified):
We wait.

The Gospel of Our Saviour. Praise to you, our Jesus Christ.

Sermon

The Prayers

A Contemporary Creed

We believe in one God, the Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
Source of all life and all love.
We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son,
Fully God, fully human,
Savior of the world,
The risen Ruler of all realms.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
The breath and power of God,
Sustainer of our life in Christ.
We believe in the church, Christ’s body,
God’s family for the spiritually homeless,
Called to be Love and Light,
To pursue justice and show mercy,
To proclaim the Good News of Christ,
To work for the common good of humanity.
Amen.

Prayers of the People

At this time of great crisis for so many of your children and for our precious planet, we come to you God, imploring your help and inspiration.

In Lent, we remember how Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to pray. We pray that during this Lent we, too, take the time to look into our own values and our relationship with God.
We pray to you, God.