Sunday Worship – March 25, 2018

  • CONSIDERING PALM SUNDAY: 2018
    • We’ve noted all Lent that, unlike the Christmas season with all its parties, running around, buying presents, baking cookies, and decorating, this season of Lent is a slower time, a time of reflection, self-examination, and commitment.
    • On Palm Sunday, things begin to speed up. The service begins with a parade, a processional, but by its end we are turning our gaze toward the cross.
    • Consider, as you wait for the Ringing of the Bell, how we so easily and regularly shift our focus in this age of “posts” and “tweets.”
    • What will it take to keep our eyes and hearts focused on the Love of God?
  • “Between Parades” by Ann Weems (from “Kneeling in Jerusalem”)
    • We’re good at planning! Give us a task force and a project and we’re off and running! No trouble at all! Going to the village and finding the colt, even negotiating with the owners, is right down our alley.
    • And how we love a parade! In a frenzy of celebration we gladly focus on Jesus and generously throw our coats and palms in his path. And we can shout praise loudly enough to make the Pharisees complain. It’s all so good!
    • It’s between parades that we don’t do so well. From Sunday to Sunday we forget our Hosannas. Between parades the stones will have to shout because we don’t.

PART 1:  

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • CALL TO WORSHIP – Ashia Stoess
  • Leader: Hosanna!
    People: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Leader: Hosanna! Loud Hosanna!
    People: Blessed is the Kingdom of our God!
    Leader: Hosanna in the highest heaven!
    ALL: WE HAVE ENTERED THE TEMPLE! LET THE PROCESSION BEGIN. HOSANNA, LOUD HOSANNA!
  • PROCESSIONAL HYMN NO. 88:  “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” – VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
  • CALL TO CONFESSION
    • Leader: We come before you, O God, in the in the midst of the parade, grateful for your great love for us.
      People: As you came to us in Jesus, reveal yourself among us still. Hear our prayer…
    • O God, even as we sing, we know we are like the people of Jerusalem so long ago. We are hungry for a hero. We crave some glimpse of greatness. We are starving for the spectacular. We are gathered here like those who watched the first Passion
      Parade, craning our necks to catch a glimpse of our Messiah. But we are easily distracted and disillusioned. As we wait for a Savior to come, let us not be disappointed when the special one appears, though we are certain to be surprised. Give us the courage to follow where the one on the donkey leads us. In Christ’s name, hear our prayers …
  • KYRIE, Hymn No. 574
    • Lord, have mercy upon us.
      Christ, have mercy upon us.
      Lord, have mercy upon us.
  • ASSURANCE OF PARDON
    • Leader: Our hearts are washed anew in the healing waters of God’s love.
      People: For the steadfast love of God endures forever …
      Leader: Through the Holy Spirit, God nourishes us into life.
      People: For the steadfast love of God endures forever …
      ALL: WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS?
  • CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE, HYMN NO. 85
    • What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
      What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
      What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
      To bear the heavy cross for my soul, for my soul,
      To bear the heavy cross for my soul!

PART 2:  

  • TIME WITH THE YOUNGER DISCIPLES – Shawn Harmon

PART 3:  

  • MUSICAL OFFERING:  The Chancel Choir – “Hosanna!” – Victor C. Johnson

PART 4:  

  • SCRIPTURE LESSON:  Genesis 8:1-5 (Page 6, OT, Pew Bible)
    • The Word of the Lord.
      Thanks be to God.
  • SERMON:  LAND, HO! – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 5:  

  • PROCLAMATION HYMN NO. 298:  “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” – IN BABILONE
  • AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from THE IONA COMMUNITY)
    • With the whole church … We affirm that we are made in God’s image, befriended by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit.  With people everywhere … We affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity, planted more deeply than all that is wrong.  With all creation … We affirm and celebrate the miracle and wonder of life and the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world. Amen.

PART 6:  

  • TIME OF GIVING THANKS CELEBRATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.

PART 7:  

  • OFFERTORY:  “Like the Troubled Sea” – E.L. Diemer
  • DOXOLOGY
  • PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison)
    • God of all true power and glory, we thank you that once again we have arrived with Jesus in Jerusalem, not with a sword to challenge the powers of this world, but with love to transform them. May these gifts be a sign of the offering of our whole selves in this season. Amen.

PART 8:  

  • CLOSING HYMN NO. 97:  “Go to Dark Gethsemane” – REDHEAD 76
  • CHARGE AND BENEDICTION – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 9:  

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • POSTLUDE:  “Largo in C minor” – F. Chopin

HEAR OTHER SERVICES…

HEAR CUSTOM PLAYLISTS CREATED FROM WORSHIP SERVICE MUSIC…