Blog

Palm Sunday

Prelude

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Paul Bunjes

Gathering

Please stand as you are able.

Invitation

P:  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

C:  Hosanna in the highest.

Blessing of Palms

The people hold their palm branches aloft for the blessing.

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  Let us pray.
We praise you, O God, for redeeming the world through our Savior Jesus Christ. Today he entered the holy city in triumph and was proclaimed messiah and king by those who spread garments and branches along his way.

  Bless these branches and those who carry them. Grant us grace to follow our Lord in the way of the cross, so that, joined to his death and resurrection, we enter into life with you; through the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:  Amen.

Opening Hymn #108 (green hymnal)

“All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

Greeting

P:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C:  And also with you.

Kyrie

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 78)

L:  In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

L:  For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

L:  For the peace of the whole world, for the well‐being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

L:  For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

L:  Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C:  Amen.

Hymn of Praise

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 79)

L:  Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  Let us pray.
O God of mercy and might, in the mystery of the passion of your Son you offer your infinite life to the world. Gather us around the cross of Christ, and preserve us until the resurrection, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:  Amen.

The Word

Blessing of the Lector

P:  Let us pray.
Oh, that today we would hear God’s voice. May we hear your voice today, Lord, as Linda reads to us the scriptures. Let not our hearts be hardened, but open to the word of life.

C:  Amen.

Please be seated.

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a

 ⁴ 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 he wakens—
  wakens my ear
  to listen as those who are taught.
 ⁵ The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
  and I was not rebellious,
  I did not turn backward.
 ⁶ 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.

 ⁷ 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;
  ⁸ he who vindicates me is near.
 Who will contend with me?
  Let us stand up together.
 Who are my adversaries?
  Let them confront me.
 ^9a It is the Lord GOD who helps me;
  who will declare me guilty?    

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Psalmody

“Into Your Hands” (Psalm 31)
Tony Alonso

Refrain (Leader)
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,
into your hands, into your hands,
into your hands I commend my spirit.

Refrain (All)
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,
into your hands, into your hands,
into your hands I commend my spirit.

Leader
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
You will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.

Refrain (All)

Leader
Because of all my foes I have become a reproach,
an object of scorn to my neighbors, and of fear to my friends;
they who see me in the street flee from me.
I am forgotten like someone dead;
and have become like a broken vessel.

Refrain (All)

Leader
But as for me, I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.
My lot is in your hands,
deliver me from the hands of my enemies
and those who pursue me.”

Refrain (All)

Leader
“Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your merciful love.”
Be strong, let your heart take courage,
all who hope in the LORD.

Refrain (All)

Leader
…into your hands I commend my spirit.

Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
 ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God,
  did not regard equality with God
  as something to be exploited,
 ⁷ but emptied himself,
  taking the form of a slave,
  being born in human likeness.
 And being found in human form,
  ⁸ he humbled himself
  and became obedient to the point of death—
  even death on a cross.

 ⁹ Therefore God also highly exalted him
  and gave him the name
  that is above every name,
 ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus
  every knee should bend,
  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 ¹¹ and every tongue should confess
  that Jesus Christ is Lord,
  to the glory of God the Father.

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Please stand as you are able.

Gospel Acclamation

♫ LBW Setting I
(green hymnal, p. 63)

Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and abounding in steadfast love.

Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

♫ LBW Setting I
(green hymnal, p. 63)

P:  The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 21st chapter.

C:  Glory to you, O Lord.

¹ When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” ⁴ This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
 ⁵ “Tell the daughter of Zion,
 Look, your king is coming to you,
  humble, and mounted on a donkey,
   and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; ⁷ they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
 “Hosanna to the Son of David!
  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
 Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” ¹¹ The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

P:  The Gospel of the Lord.

C:  Praise to you, O Christ.

Please be seated.

Children’s Sermon

Sermon

Silence for reflection and meditation

Hymn of the Day #115 (green hymnal)

“Jesus, I Will Ponder Now”

Please stand as you are able.

The Nicene Creed

A:  Let us confess our common faith with all Christians throughout time and place, using the words of the Nicene Creed.

We believe in one God,
 the Father, the Almighty,
  maker of heaven and earth,
  of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
 the only Son of God,
 eternally begotten of the Father,
 God from God, Light from Light,
 true God from true God,
 begotten, not made,
 of one Being with the Father.
 Through him all things were made.
 For us and for our salvation
  he came down from heaven;
  by the power of the Holy Spirit
   he became incarnate from the virgin Mary,
   and was made man.
 For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
  he suffered death and was buried.
  On the third day he rose again
   in accordance with the Scriptures;
  he ascended into heaven
   and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
 He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
  and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
 who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
 With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
 He has spoken through the prophets.
 We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
 We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
 We look for the resurrection of the dead,
  and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Please kneel or sit as you are able.

Prayers of Intercession

A:  Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

After each petition:

A:  Lord, in your mercy,

C:  Hear our prayer.

After the final petition:

A:  Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen.

Please stand as you are able.

Peace

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:  And also with you.

The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace.

Invitation to Offering

A:  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus: empty yourself by giving your offering so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend in heaven and on earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:7, 10-11).

Offertory: Hymn #296 (green hymnal)

“Just As I Am, without One Plea” vv. 1, 4-5

1  Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4  Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

5  Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Offering Prayer

A:  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.

C:  Amen.

The Meal

The Great Thanksgiving

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 88)

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  We lift them to the Lord.

P:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

P:  It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord; who on the tree of the cross gave salvation to all, that, where death began, there life might be restored, and that he, who by a tree once overcame, might by a tree be overcome. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Sanctus

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 89)

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.

P:  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.

The Lord’s Prayer

P:  Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to 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;
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
 and the power, and the glory,
 forever and ever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion

P:  Come and receive Jesus, our strength in the wilderness.

Please be seated.

Agnus Dei

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 92)

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

P:  The Body of Christ, broken for you.

  The Blood of Christ, shed for you.

Those who wish to commune at the altar rail may either bring forward their individual Communion kit, or receive the wafer and wine/grape juice by intinction (dipping) from the Communion Ministers, when they are directed forward by the usher. Those who wish to commune in their seat with their individual Communion kit may remain seated.

Communion Hymn #123 (green hymnal)

“Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended”

1  Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended
that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

2  Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.

3  Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinnèd, and the Son hath suffered;
for man’s atonement, while he nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.

4  For me, kind Jesus, was thine incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.

5  Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee;
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.

Communion Hymn #94 (green hymnal)

“My Song Is Love Unknown”

1  My song is love unknown,
my Savior’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown,
that they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh and die?
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

2  He came from his blest throne,
salvation to bestow;
but men made strange, and none
the longed-for Christ would know.
But, oh, my friend, my friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend;
who at my need his life did spend!

3  Sometimes they strew his way
and his sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day
hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry,
and for his death they thirst and cry.

4  Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
themselves displease, and ’gainst him rise;
themselves displease, and ’gainst him rise.

5  They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save,
the prince of life they slay.
Yet cheerful he to suff’ring goes,
that he his foes from thence might free;
that he his foes from thence might free.

6  In life, no house, no home
my Lord on earth might have;
in death, no friendly tomb
but what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was his home;
but mine the tomb wherein he lay;
but mine the tomb wherein he lay.

7  Here might I stay and sing–
no story so divine!
Never was love, dear King,
never was grief like thine.
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend!
I all my days could gladly spend!

Table Blessing

P:  The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

C:  Amen.

Post-Communion Canticle

♫ LBW Setting I
(green hymnal, p. 73)

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people:
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Prayer after Communion

A:  Let us pray.
God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may commit all of our lives into your hands, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen.

Sending

Announcements for God’s Mission in the World

Please stand as you are able.

Blessing

P:  You are what God made you to be: created in Christ Jesus for good works, chosen as holy and beloved, freed to serve your neighbor.

  God bless you ☩ that you may be a blessing, in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity.

C:  Amen.

Closing Hymn

“Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” vv. 1-2, 4-5

1  Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry.
O Savior meek, pursue your road,
With palms and scattered garments strowed.

2  Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
O Christ, your triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.

4  Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Your last and fiercest strife is nigh.
The Father on his sapphire throne
Awaits his own anointed Son.

5  Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
Bow your meek head to mortal pain,
Then take, O Christ, your power and reign.

Dismissal

A:  Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Postlude

“Ride On, Ride On, in Majesty!”
Hans Arnold Metzger

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Worship Leaders

The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director
Kate Wollenburg, Organist
Nancy Erbeck, Assisting Minister
Linda Miller, Reader
Donny Cathcart, Acolyte
Liam Cathcart, Book Bearer

Upcoming Events

Copyright Notices

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross: Music by Paul Bunjes © Concordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968.

Into Your Hands: Text © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Music by Tony Alonso © 2012 World Library Publications.

My Song Is Love Unknown: Setting © 1969 Concordia Publishing House.

Ride On, Ride On, in Majesty!: Music by Hans Arnold Metzger © Concordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968.

Hymns/anthems: Music reprinted and streamed by permission under ONE LICENSE #A‐726103 and CCLI Licenses #21045423 and #21045416. All rights reserved.

Liturgical texts and service music: From SundaysandSeasons.com. Copyright © 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.