Service Sunday April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday
All are Welcome!
Worship Leader: Rev. Max Ward
Music Director: Melissa Stephens
(For a Printer Friendly PDF version click this link)
Watch a video Recording of the whole service below using YouTube.
The Gathering
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FOCUSING MOMENT:
LIGHTING THE OF CHRIST CANDLE:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TERRITORY: In Unison
We gather today on the sacred soil of the Anishinaabe people, who for thousands of years have lived on this territory, honouring the Creator and living in harmony with creation. We acknowledge their stewardship and relationship with the territory, its plants and animals, and the lakes and streams with their life forms throughout the ages.
Written by Cheryl Dillon, Trillium U.C., St. Catherines, Ont.
Gathering, Lent-Easter 2023, p.29. Used with permission.
THE APPROACH
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: On this Palm Sunday, we remember the words of the prophet:
ALL: Pay attention, you king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey.
One: We join the crowds who greeted Jesus:
ALL: Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God!
One: And we respond with praise:
ALL: Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
One: Let us worship God, waving palm branches and signing together:
Written by Catherine Elsdom, Sydenham Street and Faith United Churches, Kingston, Ont.
Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2024-2025, p.38. Used with permission.
HYMN: “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” VU #123
1 Hosanna, loud hosanna
the happy children sang;
through pillared court and temple
the joyful 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 exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving,
and singing clear and loud;
the Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
content that little children
should on his bidding wait.
3 'Hosanna in the highest!'
That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer;
earth, let your anthems ring.
O may we ever praise him
with heart and life and voice,
and in his humble presence
eternally rejoice!
OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison
Holy One, in the midst of celebration and the joy of experiencing your blessings poured out on our children and on us, we pause to give thanks. Like the crowds who cheered for Jesus, today it is easy to trust the future. But when tomorrow comes, with more news of bombs and violence, when tomorrow comes, with its ordinary demands, when tomorrow comes, and the crowds have moved on to something else, somewhere else, someone else, will we remember you? Will we notice your presence in the pictures of those suffering? Will we be attentive to your hands serving soup and wrapping wounds? Holy One, strengthen our faith and direct our path as we travel with you, and when we get tired and fear makes us stumble, renew our conviction to follow you; and if we forget, may surprising messengers remind us through their simple confidence in you. Amen.
Written by Wendy MacLean, Brockville, Ont.
Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2024-2025, p.38. Used with permission.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC
HYMN: “He Came Riding on a Donkey” VU# 124
1 He came riding on a donkey,
he came riding into town;
slow and easy kind of lowly
he came riding with the dawn.
His disciples walked beside him,
staying close, a little shy;
not too sure where he would guide them,
on to live or on to die.
But all the morning sang his praises;
waking birds and dancing wind;
here he is, the Son of David;
riding on to take his throne.
2 Then the children gathered, singing
shouts of laughter, bursting cheer;
in the streets their song was ringing,
'Hosannas' filled the morning air.
Timid adults strained to see him,
caught the Spirit, joined the song;
spread their cloaks along before him,
branches flashing in the sun.
So all the city sang his praises;
waking streets and dancing crowd;
here he is, the Son of David;
our Messiah, Son of God.
3 In our fasting, and our feasting,
called to follow in his way;
called to walk his road to Easter,
called to live his cross today.
Hosanna to the Son of David,
hosanna in the heavens above;
blessed is he who comes to save us,
blessed is he who brings his love.
Let us join to sing his praises;
open hearts and souls to God;
he is with us, Son of David;
God's Messiah, Christ the Lord.
THE WORD
SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:28-40
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE:
“Mixed Emotions”
Listen to an audio recording of the message below or read it at the bottom of this page.
OUR REPSPONSE
CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER: (sung VU #960)
HYMN: “All Glory, Laud and Honour” VU #122
1 You are the King of Israel,
and David's royal son,
now in the Lord's name coming,
our King and blessed one. Refrain
Refrain All glory, laud and honour
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
2 The multitude of pilgrims
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present. Refrain
3 To you, before your passion,
they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise. Refrain
4 Their praises you accepted;
accept the prayers we bring,
great author of all goodness,
O good and gracious king. Refrain
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Loving God, the world we have fashioned within your good Creation is incomplete and flawed—yet ripe for renewal. In Jesus, you show us the path that mends what is broken. Bless these gifts we offer in Jesus’ name, we pray, using them to transform woundedness into healing. Amen. Written by Gord Dunbar, Kincardine, Ont.
Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2024-2025, p.39. Used with permission.
SUNG BLESSING: VU #108 vs 1
1 Throughout these Lenten days and nights
we turn to walk the inward way,
where, meeting Christ, our guide and light,
we live in hope till Easter Day. ©
SENDING FORTH:
A Time of Fellowship
© Music Reproduced with permission under License number A-605748, Valid for: 26/10/2024 - 25/10/2025; One License - Copyright Cleared Music for Churches.
Sermon 2025 04 13
“Mixed Emotions”
Luke 19:28 - 40
Gracious God, be with us today in this place, in the Scriptures and in our words.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts praise your Holy name. Amen.
Hey! Wow! What a day!
This day is going to be remembered for years to come.
Everything went off so well.
It was a perfect plan-a great joke-it was a real slap in the face for Pilate, the governor.
Him and his big black horse, so high and mighty, all pomp-and-circumstance, riding in at the west gate of Jerusalem!
We showed him!
Jesus wasn’t really sure about it, but Peter had the idea, and John added some of the details.
In the end, Jesus went away and prayed about it for a while and then he came on board, and we all had a ball getting ready for it.
We had spread the word around that everyone should be at the eastern gate today.
Everyone likes intrigue, so no one could resist coming to see what was going on.
No one would be around at all for Pilate!
I bet that got his goat.
We were going to put Jesus on a horse, too, in armour to mock Pilate, but Jesus sent us to get him a donkey.
We put our cloaks on it, and Jesus sat on her.
It was kind of weird.
He said he would show them that he was a prince of peace, whatever that means.
He made his own grand entrance, bigger than anything Pilate has ever seen!
Jesus was great.
He showed everyone what he was made of and he said he fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah.
That guy loves fulfilling prophecy.
He believes God has it all planned out.
I didn’t know what he was talking about, but some of the men said they did.
They remembered what the prophet Zechariah said, and I learned it, because I think it’s great.
This is just exactly what Jesus did today and what he’s going to do for the people of Israel:
(Read Zechariah 9 : 9 - 10)
A Humble King Riding a Donkey
9-10
“Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion!
Raise the roof, Daughter Jerusalem!
Your king is coming!
a good king who makes all things right,
a humble king riding a donkey,
a mere colt of a donkey.
I’ve had it with war—no more chariots in Ephraim,
no more war horses in Jerusalem,
no more swords and spears, bows and arrows.
He will offer peace to the nations,
a peaceful rule worldwide,
from the four winds to the seven seas.
Can you imagine that!
Bringing peace to the ends of the earth!
Wow! Jesus is going to destroy the Roman authorities forever.
We’d planned the whole day.
After the parade, he was going to go to the Temple and see all the men and women selling doves and sheep in the Temple and he’d get a whip and start whopping them good!
Send them all packing!
What right have they got to gouge us to change our money for the Temple money?
Anyway, the way it happened, the parade was so popular and took so long to get into the city, by the time Jesus got to the Temple everyone had cleared out for the day and gone home.
No value there.
No one to rough up; no one from the Temple Authority watching, so no point.
Jesus just came home.
We’ll do that tomorrow.
Tonight, we can rest and remember the excitement of the day.
Those Pharisees were there, too.
“Tell your people to stop shouting,” they said.
Jesus always has the perfect comeback, you know.
He said, “If they don’t shout, the very stones will cry out!”
“Yeah!”
I cried out.
“Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of
David!”
Man, that was great!
Everyone put their cloaks and some leaves on the street, just like they do for the dignitaries.
They treated Jesus just like the king he is.
I don’t know what’s up with Jesus tonight, though.
You’d think he’d be drinking and laughing with the rest of us, but instead he’s quiet, withdrawn.
He said something about going out to pray.
Sometimes I can’t figure out that guy.
He talks to us about how he’s going to die, and it’s going to be soon.
Is that any kind of talk for a future King of Israel?
He talks about us following him and picking up our cross.
Sometimes he’s right moody—no fun to be with at all.
Gee, if he does die, the way he’s been carrying on, it’ll be on Golgotha, you know?
That’s what happens to people who cross the government.
Ew! That wouldn’t be nice.
I’ve heard they beat you, drag you through the streets, make you carry the big cross, and then nail you to it.
Still, how could that ever happen?
He was in total control of that crowd today.
He had them in the palm of his hands!
They would have eaten the
rocks if he’d asked them to!
They would never turn on him,
no more than we would.
And if we’re on his side, Pilate and the Pharisees wouldn’t dare stop Jesus.
Nah, Jesus is just worried for nothing.
Hey, he’ll feel better in the morning.
It’s just all the excitement.
He always feels better after a good night’s sleep.
Yah, that’s it.
He’s just tired.
Well, the party’s rockin’, and I’m missing it.
Tomorrow’s going to be great.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Written By: Kate Gregory, Belwood-Metz P.C., Belwood, Ont.
Edited By: Rev. Max Ward
