Palm Sunday – April 5th Service

Palm Sunday April 05, 2020

WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS

“Welcome! To our online guests today. We are happy that you are joining us to worship Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords! We look forward to the day when we can meet you face to face.

1. As you know, the Order to Shelter in Place will NOT be lifted anytime soon, so we are planning to record Holy Week Services through Easter Sunday. We appreciate the input we have received on the recorded services and pray they are a blessing to you. We want to give a special “Thank You” to Eric Stake who has been indispensable to the recording of these services. Watch the website as we are also providing online opportunities for Bible study.

2. We continue to pray for all those suffering due to the Corona virus asking our heavenly Father for relief. We know our God is reaching out to us to call upon Him in the day of trouble. We have been blessed so far with a relatively small number of people who have been infected in our area but the numbers are increasing. We should pray that God would help those in need but, we should also pray God to remember us in His mercy so that we may not become calloused or complacent in faith because the virus has not touched our doors. God humbles the proud, but lifts up the humble. So let us remember what a great privilege has been given us to go to God in prayer.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God says, “ If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

3. Today because of the Order to Shelter in Place we cannot re-enact the Triumphal Entry of our Lord as He came into Jerusalem. We must use our sanctified imaginations of that great day. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week which flows from joyous celebration to a lonely cross and then to the glorious resurrection of Jesus. As we are able, let us make a special place in our hearts to know God’s love more fully this week, as we watch His Son “set His face like flint” and march to the cross for the salvation of the world.

GREETING

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: Amen.
P: Hosanna to the Son of David!
C: Hosanna in the highest!

P: Blessed is He who comes,
C: who comes in the name of the Lord.

P: Hosanna!
C: Hosanna in the highest!

PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL

John 12:12–19
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twelfth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, 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 about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ!

BLESSING OF PALMS

(If you picked up some palms from the church front door, let us take a moment to bless them. After the service as a witness to Christ, consider hanging them on your front door or using to decorate your mailbox.)

P: We praise You, God, for redeeming the world through our Savior Jesus Christ. Today we remember that He entered the holy city in triumph and was proclaimed Messiah and King by those who spread garments and palm branches along His way.

Bless these palm branches and grant us grace to follow our Lord in the way of the cross, so that, joined to His death and resurrection, we may enter into life with You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

P: Most merciful God,
C: whose Son Jesus Christ was tempted in every way, yet without sin, we confess before you that we have sinned; we have hungered after that which does not satisfy; we have compromised with evil; we have doubted your power to protect us.

Forgive our lack of faith; have mercy on our weakness. Restore in us such love and trust that we may walk in your ways and delight in doing your will.

P: People of God, hear this good news. God’s covenant with us is true. God is faithful even when we fail. Through the Holy Spirit, God gives us the gift of faith and makes us righteous. Believe in the good news: you are set free to live as children of God.
C: Amen. Thanks be to God!

SHARING THE PEACE

(Extend the peace to those who are with you at home, but also consider giving someone a call to let them know they are loved too!)

SONGS OF PRAISE

“O Praise Him (All This For a King)”

Verse 1
Turn your ear to heaven
and hear the noise inside,
The sound of angel’s awe,
the sound of angel’s songs,
And all this for a King.
We could join and sing,
All to Christ the King.

Bridge
How constant, how divine,
this song of ours will rise.
O how constant, how divine,
this love of ours will rise, will rise.

Chorus
O praise Him, O praise Him;
He is holy. He is holy,

Verse 2
Turn your gaze to heaven
and raise a joyous noise,
The sound of salvation comes,
the sound of rescued ones,
And all this for a King.
Angels join to sing
All to Christ the King.

Chorus
O praise Him, O praise Him;
He is holy. He is holy,
O praise Him, O praise Him;
He is holy. He is holy,

Bridge
How infinite and sweet,
this love so rescuing
O how infinitely sweet,
this great love that has redeemed.
As one we sing.

Chorus
Alleluia, Alleluia; He is holy, He is holy.
O praise Him, O praise Him,
He is holy. He is holy (2x)
O praise Him, O praise Him;
He is holy. He is holy, (2x)

W&M by David Crowder
© 2003 worshiptogether.com songs
CCLI #691913

“How He Loves”

Verse 1
He is jealous for me loves like a hurricane
I am a tree bending beneath
The weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of
These afflictions eclipsed by glory
And realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

Chorus:
Oh how He loves us, oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Verse 1
He is jealous for me loves like a hurricane
I am a tree bending beneath
The weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of
These afflictions eclipsed by glory
And realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me
Oh How he loves us

Chorus 1
(Yes) He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves

Verse 2
We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way

Oh how He loves us, oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
How he loves

Chorus 1
(Yes) He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves (repeat)

CCLI Song No. 5032549
© 2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
John Mark McMillan

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Isaiah 50:4–9a (Isaiah foretells One who would “give His back to those who strike” and His “cheeks to those who pull out the beard.” Yet Jesus sets His face like flint to secure our salvation.)
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.
I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.
Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty?

L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE

Philippians 2:5–11 (Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE

Philippians 2:8b
L: He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
C: even death on a cross.

HOLY GOSPEL

John 12:20–43 (Jesus says that the hour is near for the Son of Man to be glorified.)
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twelfth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN No. 543

“What Wondrous Love is This”

SERMON

“What Price Love!”
Philippians 2:5-11 Pastor Vern

CONFESSION OF FAITH – THE NICENE CREED

Please stand
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made,
being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made;
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man;
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.

And the third day rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

OFFERING

P: All things come from you, O God, and with gratitude we return to you what is yours.
You created all that is, and with love formed us in your image. When our love failed,
Your love remained steadfast. You gave your only Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior.
All that we are, and all that we have, is a trust from you.
And so, in gratitude for all your gifts, we offer you ourselves, and all that we have,
in union with Christ’s offering for us.
By your Holy Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

LORD’S PRAYER

(Matthew 6:9-13)
All: 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 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 and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.

BLESSING OF THE LORD

Hebrews 12:2
P: Let your eyes be fixed on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen.

SENDING

P: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
C: Thanks be to God!

SONG OF PRAISE

“The Lamb”
The Lamb, the Lamb, O Father, where’s the sacrifice?
Faith sees, believes God will provide the Lamb of price!

Refrain
Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me His own!
The Lamb is reigning on His throne!

The Lamb, the Lamb, One perfect final offering.
The Lamb, the Lamb, Let earth join heav’n His praise to sing. Refrain

The Lamb, the Lamb, As wayward sheep their shepherd kill
So still, His will On our behalf the Law to fill. Refrain

He sighs, He dies, He takes my sin and wretchedness.
He lives, forgives, He give me His own righteousness. Refrain

He rose, He rose, My heart with thanks now overflows
His song prolong Till ev’ry heart to Him belong. Refrain

W&M by Gerald Coleman
© 1987 MorningStar Music
Used by permission