Palm Sunday – Saturday, April 9
The Liturgy of the Palms
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given 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 God 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. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, 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.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Opening Sentence
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
His mercy endures forever.
The Collect for Palm Sunday
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lesson from the New Testament—Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death–
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Your word is a lantern to our feet.
And a light upon our path.
The Psalm—31:9-16
The 31st Psalm was obviously written by someone who was in deep trouble, who feared for his life, and yet who had faith that God could save him. This psalm is the psalm that the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine has asked Christians and Jews all over the world to pray.
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For 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.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *
I have said, “You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me.”
The Gospel Lesson—Luke 19:28-40
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “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. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.'” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As 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, saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
The Prayers of the People
Officiant Christ, we pray that you would hear our prayers, and graft in our minds the same mind that is in you, that we might be vessels of your humility and grace.
Intercessor Lord Jesus, you emptied yourself, trading in the form of God for the form of a slave; we pray for the Church, and all her people and ministers. Form us into a Church that empties itself for others, and for you.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, you were born in human likeness, and found in human form; we pray for the whole human family, for the nations of the earth, and for all who live in the midst of disaster, famine, or terror.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, even after humbling yourself in your incarnation, you humbled yourself even to the point of death; we pray for our nation, our leaders, and all the people who live within these borders. Bless us with your humility.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus your humility and your love for us was so broad and deep, it cost you your life. We pray for those who we love who have died, especially Mattappallil Thomas, and as you were highly exalted, may they rest with you in glory.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In your exaltation, O Lord, you were given the name that is above every name; we pray in your name for those who are poor, those who are hungry, and those who are hurting in any way. Give them your grace.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We also pray, in your name O Lord, for those who are sick (especially…); give them the gift of healing, strength, and life.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are celebrating their birthdays this week, especially, John Wojnar, Katy Denechaud, Rick Sheppard, Ripley Luongo, River Luongo and Bonnie Omick and for the anniversary of Phoebe & Bucky Menter.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And we pray for those who are serving our country at home or abroad, especially, Christopher, Garrison, Richard, Stephen, Patrick, Esteban, Jeremy, Dan, Stewart, Wyatt, and Andrew.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Officiant You humbled yourself in the manger, and you humbled yourself on the cross; and to you O Lord we bend our knee with those above and those below, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Confession of Sin
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
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 neighbors 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 have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
The Eucharistic Prayer
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 God thanks and praise.
It is truly right, and good and joyful,
to give you thanks, all-holy God,
source of life and fountain of mercy.
You have filled us and all creation with your blessing
and fed us with your constant love;
you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ
and knit us into one body.
Through your Spirit you replenish us
and call us to fullness of life.
Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels
and with the faithful of every generation,
we lift our voices with all creation as we say:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, 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.
Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of the universe and giver of life.
You formed us in your own image
and called us to dwell in your infinite love.
You gave the world into our care
that we might be your faithful stewards
and show forth your bountiful grace.
But we failed to honor your image
in one another and in ourselves;
we would not see your goodness in the world around us;
and so we violated your creation,
abused one another,
and rejected your love.
Yet you never ceased to care for us,
and prepared the way of salvation for all people.
Through Abraham and Sarah
you called us into covenant with you.
You delivered us from slavery,
sustained us in the wilderness,
and raised up prophets
to renew your promise of salvation.
Then, in the fullness of time,
you sent your eternal Word,
made mortal flesh in Jesus.
Born into the human family,
and dwelling among us,
he revealed your glory.
Giving himself freely to death on the cross,
he triumphed over evil,
opening the way of freedom and life.
On the night before he died for us,
Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread,
and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said:
“Take, eat:
This is my Body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine,
and when he had given thanks,
he gave it to them, and said:
“Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant,
which is poured out for you and for all
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Remembering his death and resurrection,
we now present to you from your creation
this bread and this wine.
By your Holy Spirit may they be for us
the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Grant that we who share these gifts
may be filled with the Holy Spirit
and live as Christ’s Body in the world.
Bring us into the everlasting heritage
of your daughters and sons,
that with [ ___________ and] all your saints,
past, present, and yet to come,
we may praise your Name for ever.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
to you be honor, glory, and praise,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as 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,
forever and ever. Amen.
The Fraction
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
The gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
The Post-Communion Prayer
God of abundance,
you have fed us
with the bread of life and cup of salvation;
you have united us
with Christ and one another;
and you have made us one
with all your people in heaven and on earth.
Now send us forth
in the power of your Spirit,
that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world
and continue for ever
in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Blessing
The Dismissal
Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.