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Invitation to Worship
The Lamb of God is slain for us:
Come, let us follow him on the Way of the Cross
O Holy One,+ open my lips.
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of Adonai;
~Hosanna in the highest.
Hymn for Palm Sunday
So lowly does the Savior ride A paltry borrowed beast,
No pomp, no show, no lofty pride, No boast above the least.
His scepter is his kindliness, His grandeur is his grace;
His royalty is holiness, And love is in his face.
Here’s how the great Messiah came To break the tyrant’s will,
To heal the people of their shame, their dignity instill.
Ride on, O Love, ride on your way, While those of low degree
Exalt and usher in the day Of peace we long to see.
Text: Almer Pennewell, (1876-1969); Tune: MORNING SONG, C.M.
PSALMODY
Antiphon/Refrain:
Although he was Son, Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered.
Psalm 42/43
Decide for me, O God,
and plead my case against the hateful;
defend me from liars and thugs.
For you are God my fortress.
But why have you forgotten me?
Why am I bent in half
under the weight of oppression?
O send forth your light and your truth,
let these be my guides;
Let them bring me to your holy mountain
to the place you have made your home.
Then I will approach the altar of God,
who gives me the joy of the young.
I will thank and praise you with my harp,
My Redeemer and my God.
Why are you sad, my heart?
Why do you grieve and groan?
Wait for Adonai, whom I will always praise,
my Savior and my God.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
READING Isaiah 50:4-7
Adonai Elohim has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning God opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.
Adonai Elohim is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
Responsory
R. Hosanna! God bless the Son of David. V. Blessed the one who comes in the Name of Adonai * God bless the Son of David. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
O Christ our Love, all Jerusalem greets you. You have conquered death and so we cry:
Hosanna! Blessed in the Name of Adonai, is the One who comes!
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To Guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
O Christ our Love, all Jerusalem greets you. You have conquered death and so we cry:
Hosanna! Blessed in the Name of Adonai, is the One who comes!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
While imperial forces entered cities displaying military might and dominating power and were welcomed by the rich and powerful, you entered Jerusalem on a beast of burden, greeted only by the powerless and the poor; help us to recognize the greater power of genuine humility and love;
~Hosanna in the highest.
Like the prophets of old, you were given a well-trained tongue to speak to the weary a word to rouse them; teach us to speak the truth in love and call us today to follow you on the way that leads to fullness of life;
~Hosanna in the highest.
Your compassion led you to live and work in solidarity with all those who suffer from injustice, oppression, and evil; may our compassion move us to accompany those who experience suffering where God’s compassion is most needed in our world today. ~Hosanna in the highest.
Like those who cannot clothe themselves in the privilege of wealth, gender, race or power, you were condemned to death, stripped, and executed for the sake of maintaining religious and political power; awaken in us a deep sense of equality and solidarity with all humanity and all Earthkind so that we can join you building your reign on Earth as it is in heaven . ~Hosanna in the highest.
In naked vulnerability you stretched out your arms in all-inclusive, unconditional love and breathed forth your indomitable Spirit into a world gasping for life; fill us with your Holy Spirit to live and love this world into freedom and the fullness of life;
~Hosanna in the highest.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer
Gracious God of all Compassion, you sent Jesus as an example of unselfish love whose way of life would free us from sin and whose way of dying would destroy the power of death. May our celebration of this Holy Week enable us to enter more deeply into the Mystery of his suffering, death, and resting in the tomb so that we may more fully experience the new life and joy of his resurrection, both here on earth and in heaven where you live and love, One God, forever and ever. Amen
Blessing
May the God of Compassion + bless and guide us as we follow Jesus on the way of the cross. ~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.