"Intentional Humility"

Our Palm Sunday Prayer of Confession

 O Holy God, we blame you when the hosannas die and the parade turns into a mob scene. We heap our doubts on you even though our inaction adds power to those who shout, “Crucify.” We rebel against the risks of discipleship. Why raise our voices against the evil we see? One voice simply becomes one more victim. O God, we protest, but we know down deep that the victim of our silence is the way of love, the way of life. Forgive our cowardice, and help us stand with Christ in a world that has forgotten humility and obedience to you. O God, we want to be faithful. Why must it be so costly? Help us. Guide us. Do forgive us.                                                                                                            Lavon Baylor, “Taught by Love”

 

Our scripture today is from Matthew, chapter 21 verses 1-11 from the Common English Bible.

1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. 2 He said to them, "Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anybody says anything to you, say that the Lord needs it." He sent them off right away. 4 Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, 5 Say to Daughter Zion, "Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey's offspring." 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had ordered them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them. Then he sat on them. 8 Now a large crowd spread their clothes on the road. Others cut palm branches off the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. "Who is this?" they asked. 11 The crowds answered, "It's the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

A BRIEF GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR GENERAL USE

This is for you to use when you are at home and ready to receive communion. The bread and juice have already been blessed. These words are similar to those that we share in worship. They remind us of God’s empowering presence as we are apart.

Lift up your hearts and give thanks to God.

Blessed are you, O God, who with your Word and Holy Spirit
created all things and called them good.
In Jesus Christ your Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Through Jesus' suffering and death
you took upon yourself our sin and death
and destroyed their power for ever.
You raised from the dead this same Jesus, who now reigns with you in glory,
and poured upon us your Holy Spirit,
making us the people of your new covenant.

On the night before meeting with death
Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to the disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over Jesus took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to the disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ's offering for us.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts,
that in the breaking of this bread and the drinking of this wine
we may know the presence of the living Christ
and be renewed as the body of Christ for the world,
redeemed by Christ's blood,
until Christ comes in final victory
and we feast at your table for ever.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

1. Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang; through pillard court and temple the lovely anthem rang. To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

2 From Olivet they followed mid an exulteant crowd, the victor palm branch waveing, and changting clear and loud. The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state, nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.

3. "Hosanna in the highest!" that ancient song we sing, for Christ is our Redeener, the Lord of heaven our King. O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice, and in his blissful prescence eternally rejoice!