Prelude Ride On King Jesus
Land Acknowledgement
Welcome (Susan)
“Blessed is the one, who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” Welcome home to St Paul’s Fort Garry on this final Sunday of Lent, known as the Sunday of the Passion (with the Liturgy of the Palms), or simply as Palm Sunday. Today, we will commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, and then we will accompany Jesus on our Saviour’s final journey, by reading the passion narrative from the Gospel of Mark, which recall some of the events of the last week of Jesus’ life.
Gathering Hymn 183 Into Jerusalem Jesus Rode
Into Jerusalem Jesus rode,
Triumphant king acclaimed;
Palm branches spread to honour his way,
Garments laid down as tokens of praise;
Shouts of “Hosanna” surged through the throng
In Jerusalem.
With Jerusalem Jesus stood,
Masquerade king reviled;
Thorns made a crown (grim satire of truth),
Robe like a wound thrown over his back;
Echoes of “Crucify” filled the air
Within Jerusalem
Outside Jerusalem Jesus hung,
Crucified King despised;
Wood formed a cross suspending his life;
Soldiers cast lots to deal out his clothes;
His lonely cries; my God”; “it is done,”
Outside Jerusalem
(an adapted form of the ‘Call to Worship’ on p. 39 of ‘Bread for the Journey’ by Ruth C. Duck)
Come! From the city streets.
Join the happy throng that gathers to honour Jesus!
Come! From your homes, from near and far.
Put down your work, in joyful celebration!
Come! Lay down your sorrows and worries.
Let us join together in joyful song.
Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is Jesus Christ, who comes in God’s name. Amen.
Collect (Adapted from BAS, p. 297 and from Bread for the Journey’ by Ruth C. Duck)
Dear friends in Christ, during Lent, we have been preparing for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery.
On this day our Lord Jesus Christ entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph. The people welcomed Jesus with palms and shouts of praise, but the path before Jesus led to self-giving, suffering, and death.
Today we greet Jesus as our King, although we know Jesus’ crown is thorns and Jesus’ throne a cross.
We follow Jesus this week from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection by way of the dark road of suffering and death.
We follow Jesus this week, first from hosanna, then through horror, and finally to hope.
United with Jesus in suffering on the cross, may we share in the resurrection and new life.
Let us pray.
God of infinite power, we praise you for Jesus Christ, who came riding into the city of Jerusalem on a lowly beast, victorious through love and not through violence. Help us to learn the meaning of power and of glory through Christ, who, though being one with you, took on the form of a servant and shared our human life and sufferings. May we truly participate in the life and struggles of the world’s peoples, and fulfill the promises that we made during our baptism, including our commitment to strive for justice and peace among all people, even if or when it means we are called to go against the crowd. Amen.
Lenten Cross Liturgy (One purple candle and Christ candle are lit prior to worship)
Today we will extinguish the last purple candle. We have contemplated the barriers in our lives which separate us from God and which prevent us from living as children of the Covenant. The final barrier we reflect upon is that lack of commitment.
Like learning to play a musical instrument or riding a bike, being an active member of the family of God means hard work and practice. Sometimes we simply do not care enough to keep on trying. We get tired, or bored, or it gets too difficult and so we quit.
We can imagine how easy it must have been to shout hosannas with the rest of the crowd as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Most of us can also imagine how easy it might have been to shout "crucify Jesus" with the crowd only days later. Being a responsible person of faith takes commitment. It often means going against the crowd.
As we put out this candle, let us think of those times when we have not kept our word and failed to keep our promises. Today we remember Jesus, the light of our lives.
(6th candle is extinguished).
Let us pray:
God, our Saviour, we praise and adore you. In your mercy you have reached out to us. We want to be faithful, O God, yet our feet slip easily from your pathway. Transform our wavering steps into solid conviction. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Two Processions Entering Jerusalem
Two processions entering Jerusalem, two opposing kingdoms on display.
Which of these processions are we part of? Which one will we follow on its way?
Will we shout “Hail Pilate” or “Hosanna” when we have a choice whose praise to sing?
Will we trust the violent mighty ruler? Will we trust the peaceful peasant king?
Two processions entering Jerusalem, power of love against the love of power.
Will we choose the path of domination? Will we let compassion have its hour?
God has had a dream of joyful justice. Rome has spun a nightmare of neglect.
If we trust the commonwealth of servants, we may bring God’s joy and justice yet?
Two processions entering Jerusalem; Realm of hope dominion built on fear.
As we choose the path that love has opened, we will see the realm of hope draw near.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark: Mark 11:1-11
“When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.”
The Gospel of Christ. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Chris
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 This is the Day That The Lord Has Made (from Catholic Book of Worship III)
This is the day the Lord has made,
God calls the hours his own;
Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praise surround the throne.
Hosanna to the anointed King,
To David's holy Son;
Help us, O Lord; descend and bring
Salvation from thy throne.
Hosanna in the highest strains
The church on earth can raise;
The highest heavens, in which God reigns,
Shall give him nobler praise.
Oh give us all praise this holy day
To God, thee in One,
To creator, Son, and Spirit blest,
Who reign while ages run.
“The 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 the Lord wakens — wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I 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. The Lord God helps 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; the one who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Psalm 31:9-16 Creator, I Put My Life In Your Hands
In you O Lord, I take refuge
Let me never be put to shame
Into your hands I commend my spirit
You will redeem me, faithful God
Creator, I put my life in Your hands
For all my foes reproach me
Neighbours laugh and friends stand off
I am forgotten like dead unremembered
I am like a dish cast down
Creator, I put my life in Your hands
But my trust is in you, O Lord
I say "You are my God."
Into your hands I place my future
From the clutch of foes you rescue me
Creator, I put my life in Your hands
Let your face shine on your servant
O save me in your love
Be stouthearted, and come, take courage
All you who now hope in the Lord
A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:5-11
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though Jesus was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but was emptied, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, Jesus was humbled and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted Jesus and gave Jesus the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Creator.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn Judas and Mary
Said Judas to Mary, "Now what will you do
with your ointment so rich and rare?"
"I'll pour it all over the feet of the Lord,
and I'll wipe it away with my hair," she said,
"I'll wipe it away with my hair."
"Oh Mary, O Mary, O think of the poor-
This ointment, it could have been sold;
and think of the blanket and think of the bread you
could buy with the silver and gold,” he said,
" You could buy with silver and gold."
"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll think of the poor;
tomorrow," she said, "not today;
for dearer than all of the poor in the world
is my love who is going away," she said,
"My love who is going away."
Said Jesus to Mary, "Your love is so deep
today, you may do as you will.
Tomorrow, you say, I am going away,
but my body I leave with you still." he said,
" My body I leave with you still."
"The poor of the world are my body," he said,
"to the end of the world they shall be.
The bread and the blanket you give to the poor
you'll know you have given to me.
he said," You'll know you have given to me."
Dramatic Reading of The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark: 14.1 – 15.47
Homily
The Apostles’ Creed
Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say,
I believe in God almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer,
Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary,
Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried,
And who descended to the dead.
On the third day Jesus rose again, ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Creator.
Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
(Based on the poem ‘Have Mercy on Us’ from “Kneeling in Jerusalem” by Ann Weems)
O God, from whose eyes the measure of our faith is not hidden, wrench from us all religiosity, all rules and regulations of our selves that separate us from your Holy Spirit.
O God, who calls each of us by name to be the Church, give us love enough to make a difference, give us vision enough to follow, give us endurance enough to hold steadfast in the face of the unholy.
O God, who claims us as disciples, bless us now and touch us with your holiness that we might have enough commitment to be good news to the oppressed, to the vulnerable and to the marginalized.
O God of the bruised and of the broken, we pray for healing and wholeness. Comfort those who cry in dark corners: the lonely, the strangers, the weary, the fearful, the disappointed, the anxious, the depressed, the forsaken, the dispirited, the grieving, and those who live in sickness and in pain. Open our eyes to those around us who scream in silence in the depth of their despair.
O God of the hungry, we pray for those who have no bread. Remove, O God, the bondage of hunger by removing our shackles so that we might share our bread.
O God of the homeless, we pray for those who have no land, and for those whose land has been stolen. Open the doors of our hearts and let your people in.
O God of the captives, have mercy on those who are enslaved to someone else because of their race or politics or economics or faith. Loosen our bonds that we might risk our own securities on their behalf.
O God who gave us the rainbow of covenant and parted the Red Sea, give us the courage to dare to pray for miracles for the powerless. Open our hearts to tenderness and ignite the fire of justice within us.
O God of compassion and grace, give peace to our hearts, our community, our nation and our world.
O God have mercy upon us! Amen
Confession and Absolution
Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them to this table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
God of steadfast love and purpose, you know how we love to serve you in the sunshine of our success and popularity, and how we tend to shrink away when you ask us to walk through the fire of trial of suffering. Forgive our unfaithfulness, and teach us to walk with steady obedience in both joy and suffering, through Jesus Christ, your faithful servant.
Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace
As God has poured out the grace of forgiveness and love and peace through Christ, let us also share that same grace amongst ourselves, through sharing a socially distanced sign of peace. Peace be with you.
Offertory Hymn Communion song
In the upper room, twelve men are sitting round the lord as he stands to share the meal they hear him say;
This is my body which is broken for you and for you I’ve known the pain.
This wine you drink recalls my blood that is shed, please don’t let it be in vain.
For two thousand years believers have remembered still that a Saviour died and rose and calls today;
This is my body which is broken for you and for you I’ve known the pain.
This wine you drink recalls my blood that is shed, please don’t let it be in vain.
Everyone through all of time is dead or dying now; what this good gift means: that we can live again
This is my body which is broken for you and for you I’ve known the pain.
This wine you drink recalls my blood that is shed, please don’t let it be in vain.
Prayer over the Offering (from BAS Propers 300)
Gracious God, the suffering and death of Jesus, makes us pleasing in your sight. Alone we can do nothing but through Jesus’ sacrifice, may we receive your love and mercy. Amen
Eucharist Prayer (adaptation of the Anglican Church of Canada Supplementary Eucharistic Prayer 1)
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy God, Lover of creation, we give you thanks and praise for in the ocean of your steadfast love you bear us and place the song of your Spirit in our hearts. When we turn from your love and defile the earth, you do not abandon us. Your Spirit speaks through prophets, sages, and saints in every age, to confront our sin and reveal the vision of your new creation.
Joining in the song of the universe we proclaim your glory singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Gracious God, in the fullness of time you sent Jesus the Christ to share our fragile humanity.
Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection you open the path from brokenness to health, from fear to trust, from pride and conceit to reverence for you. Rejected by a world that could not bear the Gospel of life, Jesus knew death was near. His head anointed for burial by an unknown woman, Jesus gathered together those who loved him.
He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it and gave it to his friends, saying, “Take and eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave you thanks, and said “Drink this all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” And now we gather at this table in response to his commandment, to share the bread and cup of Christ’s undying love, and to proclaim our faith.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Breathe your Holy Spirit, the wisdom of the universe, upon these gifts that we bring to you: this bread, this cup, ourselves, our souls and bodies, that we may be signs of your love for all the world and ministers of your transforming purpose. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, Creator of all, and we bless your holy name for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread
Communion in Christ’s body once broken.
Let your Church be the wheat which bears its fruit in dying.
If we have died with Christ, we shall live with Christ; if we hold firm, we shall reign with Christ.
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Communion 386 Instrumental When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Prayer after Communion
God our help and strength, you have satisfied our hunger with this eucharistic food. Strengthen our faith, that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we may be led to salvation, for Jesus is Lord, now and for ever. Amen
Closing Hymn 482 Come and Journey
Come and journey with a Saviour
who has called us from our birth,
who has washed us in the waters,
and who loved us on the earth.
Come and journey, journey inward,
come and seek him deep within,
where he meets us in our living,
in our striving and our sin.
Refrain
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one.
Come and journey, journey outward,
telling others of his name,
telling others of his glory,
of his cross and of the shame.
Come and journey, journey outward,
where that cross calls us to care,
where injustice and where hunger
and the poor call us to share.
Refrain
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one.
Come and journey, journey upward.
Sing his praises, offer prayer.
In the storm and in the stillness
find his presence everywhere.
Come and journey, journey onward;
all our gifts we now shall bring
to the building of a city
that is holy, Christ its King.
Refrain
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one.
Blessing
Faithful God, we thank you for sending Jesus to be our King. We thank you that we are known by you, that we are made in your image, and that you have called us to go into the world to do your work. We thank you for the opportunity to recommit ourselves to service in your kingdom. And may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, be with us and remain with us, now and forevermore. Amen.
Go forth in celebration.
Jesus is present amongst us. Christ is here as promised.
Remembering how quickly we can change. We reject tomorrow the One whom we embrace today.
Go forth in joy.
Knowing that God is with us, our suffering is not in vain. Amen.
Postlude Could We Start Again Please
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