The Gathering of the Community
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
And also with you.
Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
O my God, in you I trust.
You are the God of my salvation;
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
In you I hope all the day long.
O my God, in you I trust.
Remember, Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
O my God, in you I trust.
Hymn 181: All Glory, Laud and Honour
The Collect
Let us pray,
Lord God, your Son our Saviour gave his body to be whipped and turned his face for men to spit upon. Give your servants grace to accept suffering for his sake, confident of the glory that will be revealed, through Jesus Christ our Lord who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Introduction
Reading: Mark 11:1-11
Introduction
Reading: John 2:1-11
Introduction
Reading: John 12:20-36
Introduction
Reading: John 13:21-32
Introduction
Reading: John 31b-35
Conclusion
Choir Anthem: Sing Hosanna
Prayers of the People
With confidence and trust let us pray to the Father.
For the one holy catholic and apostolic Church…
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
For the mission of the Church,
that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel
to the ends of the earth,
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
For those preparing for baptism…
and for their teachers and sponsors,
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
For peace in the world…
that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow
among nations and peoples,
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick,
and all who suffer…
for refugees, prisoners, and all in danger;
that they may be relieved and protected,
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
For those whom we have injured or offended,
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
For grace to amend our lives
and to further the reign of God,
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
In communion with all those who have walked in the way of holiness …
let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion,
in your mercy hear us.
God our Father, in your love and goodness you have taught us to come close to you in penitence with prayer, fasting and generosity; accept our Lenten discipline, and when we fall by our weakness, raise us up by your unfailing mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against him. Let us then renounce our wilfulness and ask his mercy by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith turn to him: have mercy on you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Liturgy of the Palms
Members of the Sunday School distribute the palms.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The priest then greets the people and invites them to participate in the celebration.
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 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 him 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 way of the dark road of suffering and death. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life.
Let us pray.
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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right to praise you, almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Hebrews acclaimed Jesus as Messiah and King, with palm branches in their hands, crying, Hosanna in the highest. May we also, carrying these emblems, go forth to meet Christ and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
The Procession
Let us go forth in peace.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Procession of the Palms: The Donkey Song
At a suitable place, the procession may halt while the following is said.
Almighty God, whose Son was crucified yet entered into glory, may we, walking in the way of the cross, find it is for us the way of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements & Transitions
Hymn at-the-offertory: This is the Day
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Gracious God, the suffering and death of Jesus, your only Son, makes us pleasing in your sight. Alone we can do nothing, but through his sacrifice, may we receive your love and mercy. Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Why is it right to give thanks and praise?
Listen, and we will hear.
Lord of all life, you created the universe, where all living things reflect your glory. You give us this great and beautiful earth, to discover and to cherish. It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise, almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son.
And now we give you thanks because, for our salvation, he was obedient even to death on the cross. The tree of shame was made the tree of glory; and where life was lost, there life has been restored.
As we prepare to celebrate the Easter feast with joyful hearts and minds we bless you for your mercy and join with saints and angels for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
God of power and might,
heaven 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.
We thank you, loving Father, because, when we turned away, you sent Jesus, your Son. He gave his life for us on the cross and shows us the way to live. Send your Holy Spirit that these gifts of bread and wine may be for us Christ's body and his blood.
Why do we share this bread and wine?
Listen, and we will hear.
On the night before he died, when darkness had fallen, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with his disciples, saying: 'This is my body, given for you. Do this to remember me.'
After they had eaten, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and shared it with his disciples, saying: 'This is my blood, poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.'
So Father, with this bread and this cup we celebrate his love, his death, his risen life. As you feed us with these gifts, send your Holy Spirit, and change us more and more to be like Jesus our Saviour.
How do we follow Jesus Christ?
Listen, and we will hear.
Help us, Father, to love one another, as we look forward to that day when suffering is ended, and all creation is gathered in your loving arms. And now with all your saints we give you glory, through Jesus Christ, in the strength of the Spirit, today and for ever. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray,
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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread - 7 Lent and Holy Week
We break this bread,
Communion in Christ’s body once broken.
Let your Church be the wheat
which bears its fruit in dying.
If we have died with him,
we shall live with him;
if we hold firm,
we shall reign with him.
The Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Anthem: Lamb of God
Hymns-during-Communion
- 183: Into Jerusalem Jesus Rode
- Hosanna
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Junior Choir: He Comes
or We Cry Hosanna, Lord
The Prayer after Communion
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ's body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing
Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him; and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
Hymn: Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
Scattering
Go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
