The Bulletin is at: 04-09-2017 Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 04-09-2017 Palm Sunday
or the service is as follows:
PALM SUNDAY
April 9, 2017
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AS WE GATHER………..So it all comes down to this: “It all” is the history of our Lord’s incarnation, birth, preaching, teaching, healing, calling disciples, and now, “to this”—Jesus coming to His goal in Jerusalem. This Sunday is so full of meaning that it cannot even be succinctly summarized. The meaning of it all unfolds before us as we spend an entire week, cheering the King at His triumphal entry, then gathering with Him in the suspenseful quiet of the Upper Room, then the garden, then His arrest, then the trials, and ultimately the cheers turn into jeers and He reaches His goal in Jerusalem. He dies. Only knowing who Jesus really is and the reason for His death, and only in knowing the purpose of God’s Law can we discover the joy of the Gospel, the good news of the forgiveness of sins, new birth and new life—eternal life! That spiritual knowledge gives us the stamina to endure this week and the rest of our lives.
Pastor: The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: Amen.
OPENING HYMN Green Book 108 “All Glory Laud and Honor”
All glory, laud and honor to you, redeemer, king
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas 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 hosannas 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 hosannas 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 hosannas ring.
To you, before your Passion, they sang their hymns of praise.
To you, now high exalted, our melody we raise.
People: Gracious God, we admit that we are sinners, and that we have gone against your loving will in thoughts, words, and actions. We do not want to hear your word challenging us in our lives and our priorities. We ask for your forgiveness, so that we are freed from our sin to live in your gracious love.
SONG OF CONFESSION “White as Snow”
White as snow, white as snow, though my sins were as scarlet,
Lord I know, Lord I know, that I’m clean and forgiven.
Through the power of your blood, through the wonder of your love,
Through faith in you I know that I can be white as snow. (Repeat)
Pastor: Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Gracious Lord, you entered Jerusalem with sounds of human praise, but you knew what was set before you. We thank you for your love that took you from Hosannas to crucifies. May we honor you as King of our hearts always, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4-9a The servant’s obedience
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty?
Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11 Christ’s example of humility
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
CHOIR ANTHEM “Hosanna! Sing a Loud Hosanna!” By Mark Hayes
GOSPEL: John 12: 12-19 The triumphal entry
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written:
“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
SERMON HYMN Red Book 135 “Majesty”
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory power and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne
unto His own who His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify. Come glorify Christ Jesus the King.
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory power and praise.
Majesty, worship His majesty,
Jesus who died now glorified, King of all kings.
SERMON “Hitting the Campaign Trail”
People: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit And was born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. Was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy Christian Church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
(We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—ourselves, our time, our possessions.)
OFFERING SONG Green Book 410 (vs. 1 and 4 only) “We Give Thee but Thine Own”
We give thee but thine own, What e’er the gift may be;
All that we have is thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from thee.
To comfort and to bless, To find a balm for woe,
To tend those lost in loneliness, Is angels’ work below.
Pastor: Almighty God, we give thanks for all Your goodness with which You bless Your whole creation. Above all, we give You thanks that You sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to be our true King, Your Suffering Servant whose death delivers us and all believers from sin, death, and hell. Give us Your grace that we may be faithful in our walk and in our hope, love, and worship. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Give Your grace and forgiveness, wisdom, blessing, and guidance to all who bear the offices of government in our nation and throughout the world. Lead them to the faithful exercise of their authority for the peace, justice, defense, and liberty of all people, especially the most vulnerable. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Give peace and patience, comfort and healing to all who suffer illness or adversity or who are in sorrow or need, (especially…….). Deliver all who endure persecution for faith in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING BLESSING
Pastor: Go with the Suffering Servant who died to make us righteous and gives us new life to rise with Him to eternal life. The blessing of God the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you and go with you forever.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG “Red Book” 118 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
Joyful, joyful we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee, Praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.
All thy works with joy surround thee, Earth and heav’n reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee, Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird, and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother, All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine!