First United Presbyterian Church
Palm Sunday
April 5, 2020
Mission Statement: To invite, seek, and nurture all people into a full relationship with our triune God; by being a welcoming beacon of hope, love, and service to the community.
Prelude
Chiming of Worship Hour
Welcome and Announcements
We welcome Dan and Bonnie home. And thank you to Dan for playing once again for us during Worship service.
A little something from Elder Ron Brennan: Are you feeling lost in this time? It amazes me how God somehow made sure everything about our Church is symbolic. Above the bell tower and just below the steeple of our church is a lighted ring of colored windows. The colors of these windows represent north, south, east and west. This was a way for those that were lost to find their way. Even though we can't enter the building, if you're feeling lost you can still look to the Church to get your bearings and know without a doubt where you are headed.
Preparing For the Word
Call to Worship
Leader: Open to us the gates of righteousness.
People: Awake to the day of triumph for our Savior!
Leader: Give thanks for this day that leads to the cross.
Come with your branches, hosannas, and songs.
People: Fill the air with welcome to the Lord!
Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: The Lord has become our salvation. Amen
Hymn #88 "All Glory, Laud, and Honor"
Refrain:
All glory, laud and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King!
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
1 Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest,
The King and blessèd One. (Refrain)
2 The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayers and anthems
Before Thee we present. [Refrain]
3 To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise. (Refrain)
4 Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King! [Refrain]
Prayer of Confession
God of great Mercy, comforted by your compassion toward your people in every age, we beg your mercy for our imperfect gratitude. We have looked to you for paltry favors, when you have given everything. We have refused to give to your people, our neighbors, and from your creation, our Earth, the care and tending they deserve. We have rejected the cornerstone you sent to build a people of righteousness. Forgive our failings. Heal what we have broken, nurture what we have neglected, and lead us to your vision, so that we may know the peace of wholeness in you; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Time of Silence
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Special Offering: One Great Hour of Sharing- Providing relief from natural disasters,
food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed
Prayer of Illumination
Reading: Philippians 2: 5-11
Response: Psalm 118: 1-2; 19-29
Leader: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
All: Open to me the gates of righteousness that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
L: This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
All: I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
L: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
All: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
L: O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.
All: The Lord is God, and he has given us light.
L: Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
All: You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol
you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures
forever. Amen.
Hymn #92 "Beneath the Cross of Jesus"
1 Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
2 Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears
Two wonders I confess:
The wonders of redeeming love
And my unworthiness.
Reading: Matthew 21: 1-11
Sermon: “Who Is This”
Prayers of the People
Lord’s Prayer (using the word sins)
Apostles’ Creed
Offering
Musical Offering
Doxology
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of all good gifts, we thank you for showing us how to care for each other. May these gifts lead to great feasting for those who have no banquets set before them. May these gifts build shelters and places of prayer for those who are homeless. May these gifts proclaim your desire that all your creation live in peace. Give us grateful hearts, O God, in the name of the one who came to draw all people to himself, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Communion
1 Ah, holy Jesus, how have You offended,
That mortal judgment has on You descended?
By foes derided, by Your own rejected,
O most afflicted!
2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon You?
It is my treason, Lord, that has undone You.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied You;
I crucified You.
3 For me, dear Jesus, was Your incarnation,
Your mortal sorrow, and Your life’s oblation,
Your death of anguish and Your bitter passion,
For my salvation.
5 Therefore, dear Jesus, since I cannot pay You,
I do adore You, and will ever praise You,
Think on Your pity and Your love unswerving,
Not my deserving.
The Great Thanksgiving
Going out with the Word
Hymn #98 "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"
1 O sacred head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down;
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.
2 What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
Was all for sinners’ gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
3 What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to Thee.
Charge & Benediction
Amen #586