The Celebration of the Gospel
March 20, 2016 Palm / Passion Sunday
Look! Your king comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey.
— Zechariah 9.9
————————————— The Palms —————————————
GREETING
PROCESSION
Palm Sunday Passacaglia Cynthia Dobrinski (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
The Praise and Procession Luke 19. 28-40
[ Jesus enters Jerusalem in a bit of street drama. The donkey and the acclamations imply Jesus’ royal stature.]
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.”
+
* SONG Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Blue hymnal #278 vv. 1, 3
CHILDREN’S TIME
THE WORD IN SONG The King of Glory Joseph M. Martin
* PSALTER Psalm 118
[A festival Psalm (probably from an ancient worship service) proclaiming trust in God’s kindness and protection despite the onslaught of enemies.]
Yahweh is my strength and my might;
God has become my salvation.
There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly;
the right hand of God is exalted;
the right hand of the Holy One does valiantly.”
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of God.
God has punished me severely,
but did not give me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to God.
This is the gate of Yahweh;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the day that God has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O Yahweh!
O God, we beseech you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
We bless you from the house of God.
Yahweh is God, and God has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to Yahweh, for God is good,;
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
+
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! God of love, we thank you that you have given us Jesus, the ruler of our lives. In the midst of violence, he reigns in peace. In the face of judgment he reigns in love. Suffering our sin, he reigns in forgiveness. He is Lord of Love, the Crucified and Risen One, the Gentle One who overcomes all power, Servant who is our Master, Victim who is our King. May Christ always be sovereign over our hearts. By your Spirit in us, we praise! We worship! We follow! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven! Hosanna in the highest! Amen.
THE WORD IN SONG Hosanna! Jason Krug (Ringtones)
—————————————The Passion—————————————
[The abrupt movement from the praise and confidence of the Service of the Palms to the dark, confessional Service of the Passion follows the Gospel story of Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem, from the festal procession to the awful reality of the cross and the tomb. This progression also reflects God’s presence for us and with us not just in the happy, triumphant times but also in our suffering. And it invites our humility: our praise easily turns to sin, our loyalty to betrayal. (So, in the traditional manner, the palms we wave today will be burned to provide the ashes for our Ash Wednesday worship next year.)
Most importantly, it reflects the setting and the movement of the Gospel: Christ confronts the violence of our social, political and religious systems as its victim. He exposes the evil of our violence, and meets it with nonviolence and forgiveness, setting us free to renounce all violence and live in his spirit of mercy and love. It is only in the cross—in the context of our suffering and our evil—that the grace of God’s life-giving love and forgiveness can honestly promise resurrection. ]
The Preparation Luke 22. 1-13
[As in the scene of Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem, Luke portrays Jesus, though he accepts the fate of a victim, as being fully in control and having arranged many details of which the disciples have been unaware.]
Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
+
NEW TESTAMENT Philippians 2. 5-11
[Paul quotes a hymn from the beginnings of Christianity, celebrating the incarnation, or embodiment, of God’s presence in Jesus. Christ, though divine, came among us as a humble, vulnerable, suffering human, in order to be present with us in all things.]
Have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though divine,
did not cling to equality with God
but became utterly empty,
born a human, choosing the place of a slave,
and in complete humility became obedient to death
— even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted Christ
with a 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 confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Giver of Life.
+
SERMON
SONG Goodness Is Stronger than Evil Black hymnal #2219
The Meal Luke 22. 14-20
[The meal was a Passover seder, the celebration of the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery, and an enactment of hope for the freedom of all who are oppressed. Part of the seder is the blessing of the bread and the cup of wine.]
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the Empire of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Empire of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
+
SONG This Is the Passover Steve G-H
This is the Passover you have desired to share
as you deliver us out of our slavery and fear.
This is the new living covenant sealed in your blood.
Grant that it may be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.
Stripped in our suffering of all but our need for your grace,
join us to you in your dying and rising, O Christ.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant us new life in our Lord.
gather us into your Body, made new by your Word.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER … THE LORD’S PRAYER … THE PEACE
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL
The Prayers Luke 22. 31-34, 39-46
Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your sisters and brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me”
Jesus came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
+
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The Arrest Luke 22.47-53
While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”
+
SONG What Wondrous Love Is This Blue hymnal #292 vv. 1-2
The Betrayal (Luke 22. 54-62)
Narrator: Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him.
Servant Girl: This man also was with him.
Narrator: But he denied it.
People: I do not know him.
Narrator: A little later someone else also saw him.
Bystander: You also are one of them!
People: Listen: I am not!
Narrator: Then about an hour later still another spoke up.
Bystander: Surely you were with him! You look like his kind.
People: No! I do not know what you are talking about!
Narrator: At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
+
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we have betrayed you. We are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you wholeheartedly; we have not loved our neighbor as you have loved us. By the grace of our gentle Christ Jesus, have mercy upon us, O God. Heal us, forgive us, renew us and lead us so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
RESPONSE Bless The Lord, My Soul Black hymnal #2013
The Mocking Luke 22. 63-71
Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” They kept heaping many other insults on him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Human One will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”
+
PSALTER from Psalm 31
[The prayer cries out for God’s help in suffering, especially facing the judgment and hate of others. Even in such deep sorrow, the Psalm expresses profound trust in God.]
In you, O Love, I seek refuge. In your faithfulness, deliver me!
You are my rock and my fortress. Lead me and guide me.
You have redeemed me, O faithful God. Into your hand I commit my Spirit.
Be gracious to me, O God, for I am in distress.
My eye is wasted from grief; my soul and body also.
I hear whispering of many—terror all around!—
as they scheme against me, as they plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, O Love. I say, “You are my God.”
Into your hands I commit my spirit.
+
THE OFFERING Jesus Paid It All — John T. Grape, arr: Phillip Keveren
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Pastor: Blessed are the poor in spirit.
People: Theirs is the Realm of God.
Blessed are those who mourn.
They will be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle.
They will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
They will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful.
They will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart.
They will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
They will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Theirs is the Realm of heaven.
Loving Christ, grant your blessing to those who suffer for our sins.
Lord have mercy.
Lamb of God, take away the sin of the world.
Christ have mercy.
Crucified Christ, grant us the blessing of your way.
Lord have mercy.
The Trial Before Pilate Luke 23.1-5, 13-25
Narrator: The whole company of elders arose and brought Jesus before Pilate.
People: We found this man subverting our nation. He opposes paying taxes to the emperor, and claims to be the Messiah, a king!
Pilate: Are you king of the Jews?
Jesus: You have said so.
Pilate: I find no crime in this man.
People: But he stirs up the people, teaching throughout Judea, from Galilee all the way here!
Narrator: Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people.
Pilate: You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your
charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
People: Away with him! Release to us Barabbas!
Narrator: Barabbas has been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.
Pilate: What shall I do with the man whom you call King of the Jews?
People: Crucify him! Crucify him!
Pilate: Why, what evil has he done? This man has done nothing deserving death. I will therefore have him flogged him and release him.
People: Crucify him! CRUCIFY HIM!
Narrator: So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus
over as they wished.
+
The Cross Luke 23. 26-31
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
+
SONG O Sacred Head Now Wounded Blue hymnal #286
The Crucifixion Luke 23. 32-49
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Abba God, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “My God, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
+
THE STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR
The Burial Luke 23. 50-56
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
+
SONG Who Is This King? Lloyd Larson
[The service is ended. Go in silence.]