This bulletin includes the order of service for Palm Sunday. The items in bold italics are intended for audience response.
Lessons: Henry
Psalm: Susan
Prayers of the People: Keishna
FLOWERS:
Lucille Russel by Family (We missed this one last week)
Howard Siegrist by Saurborn Family
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.
The Gospel of the Palm
Please hold up your palms.
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
The Lord 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 Lessons
Old Testament
Isaiah 50:4-9a
4The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7The Lord Godhelps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm
We follow the responsive recitation method for the Psalm, where the leader alternates verses with the congregation. In reading, a distinct pause should be made at the asterisk. The items in bold italics are intended for audience response.
Psalm 31:9-16
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and
even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *
I have said, “You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me.”
Epistle
Philippians 2:5-11
5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The Passion Gospel
The Passion Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Matthew: Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said
Judas: What will you give me if I betray him to you?
Matthew: They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying
Diciples: Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?
Jesus: Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”
Matthew: So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said
Jesus: Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.
Matthew: And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another
Diciples: Surely not I, Lord?
Jesus: The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”
Matthew: Judas, who betrayed him, said,
Judas:Surely not I, Rabbi?
Jesus: You have said so.
Matthew: While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said,
Jesus: Take, eat; this is my body.
Matthew: Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying
Jesus: Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
Matthew: When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.Then Jesus said to them
Jesus: You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Peter: Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.”
Jesus: Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.
Peter: Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.
Matthew: And so said all the disciples.Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples
Jesus: Sit here while I go over there and pray.
Matthew: He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them
Jesus: I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.
Matthew: And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed
Jesus: My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.
Matthew: Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter
Jesus: So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew: Again he went away for the second time and prayed
Jesus: My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.
Matthew: Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them
Jesus: Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.
Matthew: While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying
Judas: The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.
Matthew: At once he came up to Jesus and said,
Judas: Greetings, Rabbi!
Matthew: and kissed him.
Jesus: Friend, do what you are here to do.
Matthew: Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him
Jesus: Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?”
Matthew: At that hour Jesus said to the crowds
Jesus: Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.”
Matthew: Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said
False Witnesses: This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
Matthew: The high priest stood up and said
Caiaphas: Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?”
Matthew: But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him
Caiaphas: I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus: You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew: Then the high priest tore his clothes
Caiaphas: He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”
False Witnesses: He deserves death.
Matthew: Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him
False Witnesses: Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?
Matthew: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said
Servant-girl 1: You also were with Jesus the Galilean.
Matthew: But he denied it before all of them
Peter: I do not know what you are talking about.
Matthew: When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders
Servant-girl 2: This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.
Matthew: Again he denied it with an oath
Peter: I do not know the man.
Matthew: After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter
Bystanders: Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.
Matthew: Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath
Peter: I do not know the man!
Matthew: At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said
Jesus: Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.
Matthew. And he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew: When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.
Judas: I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.
Caiaphas: What is that to us? See to it yourself.
Matthew: Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said,
Chief Priests: It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.
Matthew: After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him
Pilate: Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus: You say so.
Matthew: But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.
Pilate: Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?
Matthew: But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them,
Pilate: Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
Matthew: For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him,
Pilate’s Wife: Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.
Matthew: Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them
Pilate: Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
Crowd: Barabbas.
Pilate: Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?
Crowd: Let him be crucified!
Pilate: Why, what evil has he done?
Matthew: But they shouted all the more
Crowd: Let him be crucified!
Matthew: So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd
Pilate: I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.
Crowd: His blood be on us and on our children!
Matthew: So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying
Soldiers: Hail, King of the Jews!
Matthew: They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.
(Please stand as you are able)
Matthew: And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying,
Passers-By: You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Matthew: In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying
Cheif Priests, Scribes, and Elders: He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’
Matthew: The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice
Jesus: Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?
Matthew: that is
Jesus: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Matthew: When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
Bystanders: This man is calling for Elijah.
Matthew: At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said
Bystanders: Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.
Matthew: Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.
(Silence is kept for a time)
Matthew: At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said,
Centurion: Truly this man was God’s Son!
Matthew: Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said
Chief Priests and Pharisees: Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.
Pilate: You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.
Matthew: So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
The Prayers of the People (Form VI)
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
Silence
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For Michael our Presiding Bishop, and Carlye our Bishop; and for all bishops and other ministers;
For all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of this congregation.
Silence. The People may add their own petitions
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence. The People may add their own thanksgivings
We will exalt you, O God our King;
And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence. The People may add their own petitions
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.
Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The Peace
The peace of our Savior be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements
The Holy Communion
Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2
During the Offertory, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.
Doxology
(Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), para. of Psalm 117; Music: Old 100th, melody from Pseaumes octante trois de David, 1551, alt.; harm. after Louis Bourgeois (1510?-1561?); Licensed for Use: CCLI Copyright License 20716203; CCLI Streaming License 20716210
Representatives of the congregation bring the people’s offerings of bread and wine, and money or other gifts, to the Altar. The people stand while the offerings are presented.
At the Presentation
All things come of you, O Lord;
And of your own have we given you.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Now let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
How good it is to give thanks and praise.
I invite all here who long for the grace and blessing of God through our Savior Jesus Christ, to join together in this Prayer for Communion.
Blessed Jesus, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I offer my praise and thanksgiving. I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
And now, in the words that Jesus taught us, we pray:
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.
Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
These are the gifts of God for you, the people of God.
(AT THE COMMUNION: We encounter the Real Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in this Sacrament of Holy Communion. All who desire a closer relationship with God are encouraged to come forward: for a Blessing or, if you are baptized, for the Bread and Wine. NOTE: Until all restrictions have been lifted, only the bread is offered for communion.)
(Please wait for an usher until forming a distanced line in the aisle and come forward to receive from the priest.)
Post-Communion Prayer
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor everyone; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God Almighty, (+) the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen
The Recessional
Hymn H-154 “All glory, laud, and honor:
4: To thee be-fore thy pas-sion they sang their hymns of praise; to thee, now high ex-alt-ed, our mel-o-dy we raise. (Refrain)
5: Thou didst ac-cept their prais-es ac-cept the prayers we bring who in all good de-light-est thou good and gra-cious King. (Refrain)
The Dismissal
Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Thanks be to God.