Prelude
Introit – Let Happy Hosannas Ring -Bell Choir
Hymn of Praise – All Glory, Laud and Honor, v1,3,5 (UMH #280)
All glory, laud, and honor,
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
thou David’s royal Son,
who in the Lord’s name comest,
the King and Blessed One.
All glory, laud, and honor,
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
The people of the Hebrews
with psalms before thee went;
our prayer and praise and anthems
before thee we present.
All glory, laud, and honor,
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou didst accept their praises;
accept the prayers we bring,
who in all good delightest,
thou good and gracious King.
All glory, laud, and honor,
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
Call to Worship:
Pastor: Let us humble ourselves before the Lord,
People: For God will lift up those who are humble.
Pastor: The call of Christ points us toward the cross.
People: Following Christ requires sacrifice and self-denial.
Pastor: Come, let us walk in the ways of Lord,
People: Let us leave behind the world’s ways and worship Christ.
Prayer
Almighty God,
We praise you and thank you for the great acts of love by which you redeemed us
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
As we enter into this Holy Week,
strengthen us to follow Jesus beyond the festive parade of palms,
and into the way of the cross.
May the Holy Spirit cleanse and prepare us,
so that as we are united with Christ we may share in his obedience to your will
and in the glorious victory of resurrection.
Amen.
Affirmation of Faith
I believe in the Christ, who entered Jerusalem in triumph, who is also the same Christ who died on Calvary. I believe in the God who speaks in fire and storm, who is also the God of the still, small voice. I believe in the Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost, who is also the Spirit that guides my life. I believe that being a Christian involves more than coming to worship and being “nice”; I believe it means being faithful at home, in leisure times, and in school or business.
I believe that many of the triumphs of Christ are small, even unnoticed, and occur in the lives and decisions of people whose names will never appear in the newspaper. And I believe I am called to live out my belief in love and justice for others each and every day. For Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of truth and justice, established now and reigning forever. Amen.
Bell Anthem – Processional Alleluia
Pastoral Prayer
Anthem – The Palms
Join all and sing His name declare,
Let every voice resound with acclamation,
Hosanna! Praise to the Lord.
Bless Him who cometh to bring us salvation.
The Peace
Prayer of Thanksgiving / Lord’s Prayer
Anthem – Who is He?
Who is He? Who is He?
Who is He who comes in triumph?
Who is He who comes to die?
Comes in peace, comes in peace
comes in peace and comes in power
Hidden One now lifted high?
See Him there, See Him there,
See Him there in humble splendor,
Hear them shouting all around.
Joy explodes! Joy explodes!
Joy explodes in wild procession;
Praise is now the Victor’s crown!
Jesus, Jesus, Lord, Messiah,
Mighty Master of the grave!
See Him ride, the King of Glory!
God Himself has come to save!
Rise and join, rise and join,
rise and join the glad procession!
Hear them passing by again.
Jesus, Jesus, Lord, Messiah,
Mighty Master of the grave!
See Him ride, the King of Glory!
God Himself has come to save!
Rise and join, rise and join,
rise and join the glad procession!
Hear them passing by again.
All the ransomed, all the ransomed,
all the ransomed, all His children,
marching to Jerusalem!
Who is He? Who is He?
God Himself has come to save!
Meditation
Hymn – What Wondrous Love is This? v1,2 (UMH #292)
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this,
O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse
for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this,
O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of life
to lay aside his crown
for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul.
Closing Prayer/Benediction
Pastor: We have gathered with the crowds crying Hosanna!
People: Because even if we were silent, the stones themselves would have called out.
Pastor: We have shared the hope for a world about to be changed,
People: and then it changed completely.
Pastor: We have walked with another crowd.
People: One that called words of scorn and condemnation.
Pastor: And now we follow this crowd as it leads out to the cross. Yet even as the world grows dark,
we cannot lose hope.
People: Because God is with us, and God will be with us.
Hymn – Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross, v3 (UMH #301)
Near the cross! O Lamb of God
bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o’er me.
In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find rest
beyond the river.
Postlude/Dismissal
Accompanist: Brian Barber
Special Music: Celebration Ringers and GENesis Bells
Amy Cons, Valerie Haenn, Erin Maurer, Alissa Nelson,
Peter Nelson, Roy Nelson, Lynne Tomlinson, Garry Warlow,
Instrumentalists: Virginia Hermann, James Day, Chris Simon, Emily Guglielmi
Directors: Alissa Nelson and Roy Nelson