Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 10th 2022
PRELUDE “Hosanna” arr. Christian Gregor
GATHERING
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
ACCLAMATION
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
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 into the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph. The people welcomed him with palms and shouts of praise, but the path before him led to self giving, suffering and death.
Today we greet Jesus as our King, although we know His crown is thorns and His throne a cross. We follow Him this week from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection by the dark road of suffering and death, knowing that as we are united with him in his suffering on the cross we also share with him in the resurrection.
Assist us mercifully with your help, Lord God of our Salvation, that we may enter with joy into the celebration of those mighty acts whereby you give us life and immortality; through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL – Luke 19:28-40
29When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Let us add our song to the multitude of disciples. Hosanna in the highest.
GATHERING SONG “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” ELW 344
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME
BLESSING OF PALMS
Almighty and loving God, it is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through Christ Jesus our Savior. The Hebrews acclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and King with palm branches in their hands, crying “Hosanna in the highest”. We pray you, O Lord, bless these branches for our use. May we also, carrying them forth from this place and crying out “Hosanna in the Highest” and “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord’, acclaim Jesus as our Messiah and King and follow Him in the way that leads to eternal life.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 50:4-9a
A reading from Isaiah.
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 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;
8he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
9aIt 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
9Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;
my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing;
my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11I am the scorn of all my enemies, a disgrace to my neighbors, a dismay to my acquaintances;
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12Like the dead I am forgotten, out of mind;
I am as useless as a broken pot. R
13For 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.
14But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord.
I have said, “You are my God.
15My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.” R
PASSION READING: Luke 22:14–23:56
HOMILY – Pastor Eric Trozzo
HYMN OF THE DAY “Ah, Holy Jesus” ELW 349
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Drawn close to the heart of God, we offer these prayers for the church, the world, and all who are in need. (please kneel)
Response after each prayer: Receive our prayer.
Accept the prayers we bring, O God, on behalf of a world in need, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
MOMENT FOR MISSION – Hopeworks ‘N Camden
Our offering is a form of worship, taking part in God’s transforming mission in this world. Each dollar we give contributes to changing lives. Each week we will take a moment to remember one way that our offerings do that. This week, we remember Hopeworks ‘N Camden, which assists youths in Camden ages 14-25 to return to school and to achieve gainful employment. We will now receive our offering.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
MEAL
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
GREAT THANKSGIVING
DIALOGUE
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.
PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ.
You call your people to cleanse their hearts
and prepare with joy for the paschal feast,
that, renewed in the gift of baptism,
we may come to the fullness of your grace.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (ELW p. 153)
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
O God most mighty,
O God most merciful,
O God our rock and our salvation,
hear us as we praise,
call us to your table,
grant us your life.
When the earth was a formless void,
you formed order and beauty.
When Abraham and Sarah were barren,
you sent them a child;
When the Israelites were enslaved,
you led them to freedom.
Ruth faced starvation, David fought Goliath,
and the psalmists cried out for healing,
and full of compassion, you granted the people your life.
You entered our sorrows in Jesus.
He was born among the poor,
he lived under oppression,
he wept over the city.
With infinite love, he granted the people your life.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup,
gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering his death, we cry out Amen. [Amen.]
Celebrating his resurrection, we shout Amen. [Amen.]
Trusting his presence in every time and place, we plead Amen. [Amen.]
O God, you are Breath: send your Spirit on this meal.
O God, you are Bread: feed us with yourself.
O God, you are Wine: warm our hearts and make us one.
O God, you are Fire: transform us with hope.
Grant us life,
the life of the Father to the Son,
the life of the Spirit of our risen Savior,
life in you, now and forever.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER (Sung)
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come to the banquet, for all is now ready.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace, grant us peace.
COMMUNION
Anthem “In All Our Grief and Fear We Turn to You” – arr. Thomas Keesecker (Congregation is invited to follow the text of ELW 615)
COMMUNION HYMN My Song is Love Unknown” ELW 343
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING
May the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. Amen
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray. Compassionate God, you have fed us with the bread of heaven. Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage: may our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms, a making of peace; and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
BLESSING
Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.
SENDING SONG“Go To Dark Gethsemane” ELW 347
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Remember the poor. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE “O Christ, Thou Lamb of God” – arr. Paul Manz