April 10, 2022 – Palm Sunday
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Welcome
Call to worship
One: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
All: Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
One: Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
All: Hosanna! Blessed is our King who comes in the name of the Lord!
One: Therefore, God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name.
All: Blessed is Jesus, our Saviour and our friend! Glory to the Creator and the Spirit, ever three and ever one!
Lighting of the Christ Candle
This is the Christ Candle. We light the candle to help us remember that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is with us in every place and every time.
Opening Hymn
“Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” (Book of Praise 1997, hymn 217). Words (1820) by English historian and ecclesiastic Henry Hart Milman (1791–1868). Music (tune: “Winchester New”) first appeared in Musikalisches Handbuch der geistlichen Melodien, published in 1690 in Hamburg, Germany, by Georg Wittwe. It was rearranged in 1864 by English Anglican clergyman and composer William Henry Havergal (1793–1870) to create the present tune. Words, music and arrangement in the public domain.
Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)
Great and good God, Give us pure hears that we may see you, Humble hearts that we may hear you, Hearts of love that we may serve you, Hearts of faith that we may live in you, Reverent hearts that we may worship you, here and in the world out there, through Jesus Chris our Lord.
Lord Jesus, though our intention and desire is to be faithful and true followers of your way, we confess now how foolish and fickle we often are. We praise you with Sabbath singing, and deny you in daily living. When personal and public pressures assail us, we count the cost of owning our discipleship and turn away from following up. We confess how slow we are to put our life on the line for you. Forgive us for failing to give you the full-hearted praise and loyalty of our calling, and to honor you, the Prince of Peace, by living in your way.
We pray in Jesus’ name, and continue to pray as he taught:
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.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
Declaration of Pardon
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3: 16–17). The glorious, forgiving love of God has broken through to save us. Thanks be to God!
The Peace
The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Fun with the young at heart (children’s story)
(Practicing faith)
The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)
Scripture reading
Luke 19: 28–40 <– this links to on-line text of the NRSV bible
Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Sermon
Today is Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus coming into the city of Jerusalem…. I wonder how long Jesus was planning his entry to the city of Jerusalem. I don’t think Jesus woke up one morning and said, “today, I feel like going to Jerusalem. You know what? I am going to Jerusalem…. But after years of ministry, prayers, reflection, and listening…. I wonder how long God was planning to send Jesus into Jerusalem…. When did God start planning this visit? Was it from the moment Adam and Eve decided to do their own thing and blamed each other for their mistake? Or was it from the moment Cain and Abel disagreed on how to worship God? Or was it when people stopped listening to Noah, Moses, Elijah, and Jeremiah? Or was it when people valued money more than people when people appreciated power more than compassion? I am not sure when perhaps a lot longer than we could imagine…. Perhaps God was waiting a lot longer than we could ever imagine….
On this Palm Sunday not only we celebrate the coming of Jesus to the city of Jerusalem two thousand years ago, but also the coming of Jesus to our Jerusalem today.
Jerusalem in the Bible represents the center of the universe for the people of Israel. It represents the center of their socio, political and religious world. Celebrating Jesus coming to the city of Jerusalem is about celebrating God who breaks into the center of our hearts and our life. One thing that hasn’t changed is that we were not ready two thousand years to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, and we are still not ready to welcome this Christ Jesus into our Jerusalem today.
Yes, Christ can visit us at the church on Sunday morning. We don’t mind Christ visiting us when we listen to a sermon on Sunday. No, we have no problem welcoming Christ at a coffee shop. No, we have no problem welcoming Christ at our living room with our family… No, we have no problem welcoming Christ when we are free…
But, we have a problem when Christ is ready to break into our Jerusalem filled with our needs, plans, ego, wants, and questions…. No, we are not ready to allow Christ to be our Lord, our creator and our guide…. We have no problem letting our ambition to be our Lord, we have no problem allowing our regret and fear to dictate our life, but we are not sure about allowing this loving and forgiving God to rule our hearts.
I struggle with it daily… Jesus is ready to come to my Jerusalem, but I keep saying, “Not today, not here, but there.”
I don’t know when or how long Jesus was planning or preparing to visit Jerusalem two thousand years ago. Neither do I know how long Jesus was planning to visit me.
But one thing I know is that Jesus did not enter the city of Jerusalem to be praised or to be liked. Jesus did not come to the city of Jerusalem to succeed or to win, but to serve God and to serve the people of God.
Jesus did not go into the city of Jerusalem to dominate or control the people of God, But to love the people of God with humility, to love them beyond his death…. Jesus went to the city of Jerusalem not to be honored but to carry his cross. Or Perhaps Jesus was already carrying his cross all this time…
Jesus desires to come to our hearts today, not to judge or blame us or question us, but to love us more, forgive us more, and share the questions and concerns we have….
Dear friends, may we remember our risen Christ comes to us with humility and love…. We have no reason to be afraid of the risen Christ… what is waiting for us.
Musical Reflection
Offertory
We remind everyone that we must continue to pay our bills; in the absence of being present at Sunday worship, you may sign up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR), donate online, or drop off your offering envelope in the mailbox at the church. Do not leave a cash donation unattended in the mailbox; instead, please call the office (416.261.4037) to ensure someone will be there to receive it. The building will be checked daily for mail and phone messages. If you are not comfortable leaving an envelope, you are welcome to contact the office (once again, 416.261.4037) and someone will pick up your offering.
Dedication of our Gifts
Prayer of dedication
Gracious God, when we look at what you have done for us in Jesus Christ, our offering seems so small. What difference can our little bit make in the grand scheme of your eternal purposes? Yet the story of Jesus tells us otherwise: five loaves and two fish can feed a multitude; a man condemned to death on a cross becomes Living Bread for a hungry world. So accept the gifts we offer you today, no matter how small they seem to us. Use them to ensure that Jesus’ story continues to be told for generations to come. Amen.
Responsive Prayers of Thanksgiving and Hope
Holy One, we give you thanks for the great deeds of salvation that you have done and continue to do. Bless these offerings of thanksgiving that they may further your kingdom in this world; through Jesus Christ we pray.
God in the highest, you came to us in a human being who humbled himself like a slave.
We pray for the victims of human tragedies and disasters of nature.
We pray for those who are in prison the repentant and unrepentant and those falsely accused. We pray for those who are ill or infirmed or are rejected because they are seen to be weak. God of compassion, through Jesus Christ you have come to us and shared our common lot. Mold us into people who show your mercy and keep us obedient to him whose name is above all other names-Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. AMEN
Closing Hymn
“Great is thy faithfulness” (Book of Praise 1997, hymn 324). Words (1923) by American songwriter Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960). Music (1923) by his friend, American composer William M. Runyan (1870–1957). Words and music in the public domain.
Benediction
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you always. AMEN.
Choral Amen
- “Go Now in Peace”. Words by American educator, lyricist and composer Don Besig (1936–) and American lyricist Nancy Price (1958–). Music by Don Besig. Words and music copyright © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, a division of Shawnee Press; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.
- Performed by Rachelle Risling (keyboard) and the GCPC Senior Choir. Audio and video production by Rachelle Risling.
- Audio and video recording copyright © 2021 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church.
Prayers in the service are adopted from:
Kimberly Bracken Long. “Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 1”. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition. ISBN 978-0664238056.
Copyright © 2022 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church
Last updated 2022-04-13 – Update lives stream recording info.