You can watch today’s service here.
If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
One: The story of faith is a story of courage.
All: It took courage for John the Baptist to prepare the way.
One: It took courage for Mary to say, “Here I am. Use me.”
All: It took courage for the disciples to drop their nets and follow Jesus.
One: It took courage for the paralyzed man’s friends to lower him through the roof.
All: It took courage for Peter to walk on water.
One: It took courage for Zacchaeus to give half of his possessions to the poor.
All: It took courage for Jesus to enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
One: Faith has never been easy. It is a journey of courage.
All: Again and again, God, show us the way.
One: Let us worship a brave and courageous God.
OPENING PRAYER (PRESBYTERIAN BOOK OF COMMON WORSHIP)
We praise you, O God, for your redemption of the world through Jesus Christ, who entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph and was proclaimed Messiah and king by those who spread garments and branches along his way. Let these branches be signs of his victory, and grant that we who carry them may follow him in the way of the cross, that, dying and rising with him, we may enter into your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
Glennon Doyle, a famous author and writer, frequently uses the phrase, “We can do hard things.” It’s one of her many mottos in life. As a result, this declaration, “We can do hard things,” has become an anthem for so many. You can buy these words on poster prints, on greeting cards, and even on coffee mugs. These five simple words aren’t particularly radical, so when I stop to think about why they have caught hold for so many, I can only assume that it is because life and faith require courage.
Vulnerability requires courage.
Relationships require courage.
Advocacy and justice require courage.
Facing our privilege requires courage.
Faith requires courage.
Even confession requires courage.
So friends, let us do hard things.
Let us confess together, trusting that God is always there, cheering us on, in every courageous act.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you confess this week?
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
God of palm branches and hosannas:
We confess—we love a good Palm Sunday celebration.
We love the sound of a joyful parade.
We love shouting, “hosanna!”
We love that Palm Sunday means Easter is just around the corner.
We love good news.
However, if we slow down and pay attention,
We know that Palm Sunday was not a walk in the park for you.
There was risk. There was fear. There was the threat of violence.
You were leading a peaceful protest against an unjust empire,
And the whole world knew it.
Forgive us for glossing over the courage this day took.
Remind us that the story of faith is a story of courage,
And even we can do hard things.
With hope we pray. Amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
One: Family of faith,
Even when we gloss over the truth,
Even when our courage fails us,
Even when we doubt that we can do hard things,
God believes in us. God loves us. God forgives us.
Hear and believe this truth:
All: We are known.
We are loved.
We are forgiven.
Again and again and again. Amen.
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
If we could buy our way closer to you, we’d sell everything we have.
If we could work our way to you, we’d never take a day off.
If we could walk our way to you, we’d keep our tennis shoes on tight.
But I know—we know—we cannot buy, or work, or walk our way closer to you.
We must listen our way closer to you.
So holy God, as you have so often done again and again,
Open our ears.
Clear out the self-talk that keeps us from you.
Dust out the negativity and distractions.
Remove any doubt hindering our way. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (NRSV)
Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good;
God’s mercy endures forever!
Let Israel now declare,
‘God’s mercy endures forever.’
Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
here the righteous may enter.
I give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and you have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
By the Lord this has been done;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Hosanna! O Lord, save us!
We pray to you, Lord, prosper our days!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God and has given us light.
Form a procession with branches,
up to the corners of the altar.
You are my God, and I will thank you;
you are my God, I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good;
God’s mercy endures forever.
HYMN All Glory, Laud, and Honor
lyrics by Theodulph of Orleans, c.820
translated by John Mason Neale, 1851
music by Melchior Teschner, 1614
arranged by William Henry Monk, 1861
Refrain:
All glory, laud, and honor
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring!
1 Thou art the King of Israel,
thou David’s royal Son,
who in the Lord’s name comest,
the King and blessed One. [Refrain]
2 The people of the Hebrews
with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayers and anthems
before thee we present. [Refrain]
3 To thee, before thy passion,
they sang their hymns of praise;
to thee, now high exalted,
our melody we raise. [Refrain]
4 Thou didst accept their praises;
accept the prayers we bring,
who in all good delightest,
thou good and gracious King! [Refrain]
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
JOHN 12:1-19 (NRSV)
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
the King of Israel!’
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!’
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’
Consider:
-
How do you define courage? How do you access it? What events in your life have required the most courage?
-
In this scripture reading, note each character who draws on courage and each character who avoids it. What does each character risk and what do they gain?
-
What message is Jesus signaling—to the empire, to his followers, and to the ones plotting to kill him? Those within the crowds who are devoted to—or at minimum, sympathetic to—Pilate are surely deluded by this act. Why does Jesus choose this public (and subversive) display? Why not avoid those plotting against him, entering Jerusalem quietly?
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Again and Again, We Draw on Courage,” here.
HYMN The Lord Is My Light
lyrics: Taize Community, 1991
music: Jacque Berthier, 1991
© 1991 Les Presses de Taizé (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.)
Used with permission under ONE LICENSE # 738214-A
in God I trust; in God I trust.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
On this Palm and Passion Sunday, we come with praise and leave with passion. Help us, O God, to be ever attentive to your presence in our midst during Holy Week. Help us to see that the crucifixion we remember on Good Friday is present in small and large ways throughout our communities and world. And enable us to stand with the crucified among us, we pray to you, O God: Hear our prayer.
O God, we see so much bloodshed in our world. Senseless violence, racialized violence, violence again women, violence against Blacks, Asians, and immigrants. Help us to be nonviolent resisters of hate and malice and prejudice. And enable us to be agents of your love in all that we do, we pray to you, O God: Hear our prayer.
O God, we pray for the elected leadership in our local governments, state legislatures, Congress and our president. We pray that they would have the courage to work for the common good for all the people of this country, and that they would put aside differences in order to serve the greater good, we pray to you, O God: Hear our prayer.
O God, we continue to pray for those struggling during this pandemic. Help us support those delivering needed aid and vaccines, and let us be witnesses to the benefits of receiving the vaccine ourselves. And help us all take responsibility for every measure that protects us, we pray to you, O God: Hear our prayer.
We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying,…
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN Lord, I Need You
music and lyrics by Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, and Matt Maher
© 2011 sixsteps Music, Sweater Weather Music, Thankyou Music, Valley Of Songs Music, worshiptogether.com songs (admin. Capitol CMG Publishing)
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
Bowing here, I find my rest
Without You, I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart
Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay
Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
You’re my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Oh God, how I need You
INVITATION TO OFFERING (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
We come with palms to praise God and to lift up the way God has set before us in Christ. Christ has opened our eyes and hearts to God’s redeeming presence in our midst. Let us give in return for what has been given to us in Christ.
MORNING OFFERING
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them off in the mail slot. Alternatively, there is a link at the top of this page that will take you directly to a secure page where you can make a one-time donation. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community during this difficult time.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
O God, may these gifts be a sign of our faith in Christ and a pledge of the loving service empowered by the Spirit of Christ. May these gifts enable your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
I refuse to believe that I am powerless.
I refuse to believe that injustice and hatred are simply the way it has to be.
I refuse to believe that I am better or more deserving than my neighbor.
I refuse to believe that my self-worth is rooted in my accomplishments or appearance.
I refuse to believe that the Church is dying, because I see God all around me.
I refuse to believe that the traditions of old are the only path for moving forward.
I refuse to believe that I cannot make a difference.
So with hope in my heart, I will strive to live a life of courage, conviction, and compassion, just as Jesus taught us. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION (Cheryl Lawrie)
And now we lay down the palm branches.
And with them we lay down our belief
that there is another way for you to be God.
As the last echo of the final hosanna fades,
so does our hope that this journey can end
in any other way.
The week stretches ahead
glory-less
and pain-full
Whether we walk with all faith or none
we look towards the cross,
knowing it is both the most human
and most divine
of all journeys
travel the road with courage,
with love,
and with the uneasy peace that is the gift of faith
into this holiest of weeks.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us after the benediction with THIS LINK. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003. You can find other events throughout the week on our CALENDAR.