Palm Sunday Service 28th March 2021

Topic: Palm Sunday Service
Time: Mar 28, 2021 11:00 AM Dublin
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Meeting ID: 811 1336 3856
The service leaflet is available here: Killiskey SoW Lent 6 28-03-21

Killiskey Parish

SERVICE OF THE WORD –          28 MARCH 2021

THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN LENT (PALM SUNDAY)

 Liturgy of the Palms

GREETING

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

and also with you.

STARTING TO WORSHIP

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest!                                                         

 INTRODUCTION

Today begins the week of all weeks.

This is the week in which we follow our Saviour Jesus Christ on the way of suffering to the Cross and on the way to victory through the Cross to the Resurrection.

Today we gather with the crowds on the road to Jerusalem, to greet our Lord as he begins his journey, to sing his praise and to welcome him to his city.

We rejoice with all our hearts and voices in the knowledge that, if we do not speak out his praises, the stones themselves will sing.

 O Lord, open our lips

and our mouth will proclaim your praise!

 Opening Hymn: CH570 “Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising” (vs. 2-4)

Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
give me joy in my heart, I pray;
give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
keep me praising till the break of day.

Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King!

 Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
give me peace in my heart, I pray;
give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
keep me loving till the break of day.

Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
give me love in my heart, I pray;
give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
keep me serving till the break of day.

Traditional

  1. 1 based on Matthew 25: 8

The Psalm Gospel: Mark 11: 1-11

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Hymn: CH238 “Ride on, ride on in majesty”

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

hark, all the tribes ‘Hosanna’ cry;

O Saviour meek, pursue thy road

with palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

in lowly pomp ride on to die;

O Christ, thy triumphs now begin

o’er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

the angel armies of the sky

look down with sad and wondering eyes

to see the approaching sacrifice.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;

the Father on his sapphire throne

awaits his own anointed Son.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

in lowly pomp ride on to die;

bow your meek head to mortal pain,

then take, O God, thy power, and reign.

Henry H. Milman (1791-1868) altd.

based on Matthew 21: 8-9;

Zechariah 9:9

The Psalm:  Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29

Refrain: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let Israel now proclaim,

‘His mercy endures for ever.’

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord;

the righteous shall enter through it.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me

and have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected

has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord’s doing,

and it is marvellous in our eyes.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

 24 This is the day that the Lord has made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Come, O Lord, and save us we pray.

Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;

we bless you from the house of the Lord.

27 The Lord is God; he has given us light;

link the pilgrims with cords

right to the horns of the altar.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

28 You are my God and I will thank you;

you are my God and I will exalt you.

29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY

Let us pray for a closer union with Christ in his suffering and in his glory.

Silence is kept.

 Almighty and everlasting God,
who, in your tender love towards the human race,
sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh

and to suffer death upon the cross:
Grant that we may follow the example
of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Liturgy of the Passion

 The Second Reading: Philippians 2: 5-11

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

 Hymn: CH217 “All glory, laud and honour”

All glory, laud, and honour

to thee, Redeemer, King,

to whom the lips of children

made sweet hosannas ring.

 You are the King of Israel,

thou David’s royal Son,

who in the Lord’s name comest,

the King and blessed one:

The company of angels

are praising thee on high;

and mortal flesh, and all things

created, make reply:

The people of the Hebrews

with palms to meet thee went;

our praise and prayer and anthems

before you we present:

To thee, before thy Passion

they sang their hymns of praise;

to thee, now high exalted,

our melody we raise:

Thou didst receive their praises,

accept the prayers we bring,

who in all good delightest,

thou good and gracious King:

St. Theodulf of Orleans (d. 821)

  1. John Mason Neale (1818-66) altd.

based on Matthew 21: 8-9

The Passion Gospel: Mark 15: 1-47

 The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark:

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so.’ Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.’ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.

Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’ And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!

There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

 This is the Passion of the Lord.

 SERMON

COLLECT OF THE READINGS

God of all,

you gave your only-begotten Son

to take the form of a servant,

and to be obedient even to death on a cross;

give us the same mind that was in Christ Jesus

that, sharing in his humility,

we may come to be with him in his glory,

who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Response

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

 PENITENCE

Lord God,

you sent your Son to reconcile us to yourself and to one another.

Lord, have mercy

Lord have mercy.

Lord Jesus,

You heal the wounds of sin and death.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

 Holy Spirit,

through you we put to death the sins of the body – and live.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 INTERCESSIONS

Lord Jesus, on this day you entered into Jerusalem to fulfil your Father’s will:

give us grace to enter into your will and purpose for our lives.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord Jesus, on this day you began a journey which would lead to pain and suffering:

give grace to those who are on difficult journeys in their own lives.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord Jesus, on this day you received the welcome and acclamation of the crowds:

keep us pure in heart when we receive praise and encouragement.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord , Jesus on this day you rode in humility on a donkey:

Keep us from exalting ourselves, and keep us humble in everything we do.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord Jesus, on this day the people sang praise with all their strength:

Make our praises joyful, but always from the depths of our hearts.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord Jesus, on this day many did not recognise that they were being visited by the Son of God:

Open our hearts and minds that we may recognise you in all your words, works and ways.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

In offering our prayers this Palm Sunday, we commit ourselves to follow you on the way to the cross, in the knowledge that this way is none other than the way of life and peace.

Lord Jesus, be our Way,

Lord Jesus be our Truth,

Lord Jesus, be our Life,

This Holy Week and for ever. Amen.

 

 THE LORD’S PRAYER

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.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

 

Closing Hymn: CH231 “My song is love unknown” (vs 1-3, 6 and 7)

My song is love unknown,

my Saviour’s love to me,

love to the loveless shown,

that they might lovely be.

O who am I,

that for my sake

my Lord should take

frail flesh, and die?

He came from His blest throne

salvation to bestow;

but men made strange, and none

the longed-for Christ would know.

But O, my Friend,

my Friend indeed,

who at my need

his life did spend.

 

Sometimes they strew His way,

and His sweet praises sing;

resounding all the day

hosannas to their King:

Then “Crucify!”

is all their breath,

and for His death

they thirst and cry.

 

In life, no house, no home

my Lord on earth might have;

in death, no friendly tomb,

but what a stranger gave.

What may I say?

Heav’n was His home;

but mine the tomb

wherein He lay.

 

Here might I stay and sing,

no story so divine;

never was love, dear King,

never was grief like Thine.

This is my Friend,

in whose sweet praise

I all my days

could gladly spend.

 Samuel Crossman (1624-83) altd.

Dismissal

 BLESSING

May the Father,

who so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

bring us by faith to his eternal life. Amen.

 

May Christ,

who accepted the cup of sacrifice

in obedience to the Father’s will,

keep us steadfast as we walk with him the way of his cross. Amen.

 

May the Spirit,

who strengthens us to suffer with Christ

that we may share his glory,

set our minds on life and peace. Amen.

 

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among us and remain with us always. Amen.

 

DISMISSAL

We walk with Christ this week in the way of his cross and resurrection.

Thanks be to God. Amen.