A Palm Sunday Service
The Marden Vale Team Ministry - Palm Sunday 2020
Welcome and Introduction
Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest
The Lord be with you
and also with you
Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again.
Let us go with him in our minds and in our hearts,
in faith and in love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his risen life.
Reading of the Palm Gospel - Matthew 21:1-11 NEB
Jesus and his disciples were nearing Jerusalem; and when they reached Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of them with these instructions: ‘Go into the village opposite, where you will at once find a donkey tethered with her foal beside her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone speaks to you, say, “Our Master needs them”; and he will let you take them at once.’ This was to fulfil the prophecy, which says, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, “Here is your king, who comes to you in gentleness, riding on an ass, riding on the foal of a beast of burden.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed, and brought the donkey and her foal; they laid their cloaks on them and Jesus mounted. Crowds of people carpeted the road with their cloaks, and some cut branches from the trees to spread in his path. Then the crowd that went ahead and the others that came behind raised the shout: ’Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the heavens!’
When he entered Jerusalem the whole city went wild with excitement. ‘Who is this?’ people asked, and the crowd replied, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.’
This is the Gospel of Christ
Praise to Christ our Lord
Blessing of the Palms
If you’ve managed to make your own palm cross or you have one from a previous year, hold it up for this blessing:
Bless these palm crosses, loving God. May they help us to praise you from our hearts today. May they help us to understand how much you love us especially during these difficult times. As we live through this Holy Week, may our crosses remind us that you have promised to be with us always. May we know your presence with us; and sing your praises as we follow you each day.
What a strange paradox; the King is coming, the people rejoice, singing ‘Hosanna in the highest!’ yet fail to understand that the King they welcome is the Servant King, the King who washes his disciples’ feet, the King who came not with an army but a weapon so powerful that not even death could resist, the sacrificial love of God laid out upon a Cross.
Lord God, as we sing our ‘Hosannas’ today may we remember also that which you were riding toward; the suffering and rejection, pain and humiliation, the cruel Cross.
The Collect Prayer for today
Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards humankind
sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example
of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading of the Passion
Musical Reflection…
Prayers…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom, 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,
the power and the glory
For ever and ever. Amen.
Final Prayer and Blessing
Lord, we tell your story
We follow in your footsteps
Lead us into Holy Week
We walk towards the city
We wait in the garden
Lead us onto Holy Ground
We journey towards death
We hope for resurrection
Lead us into Holy Joy. Amen.
As we honour Jesus as King today
May our praising hearts and obedient lives
bring him glory;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
be with you always. Amen.
Hymns
You might also like to listen to or sing along to some Palm Sunday hymns before or after the Service:
All Glory Laud and Honour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_plc0cpQA2k
My Song is Love Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv7OZSoA22w
Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAh1lzSQ3P4