LITURGY OF THE PALMS
The people gather with branches/flowers from their gardens
Welcome
Presider Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel!All Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
Presider Dear Friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s Paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the world. Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Savior, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share in his risen life.
Gospel of the Triumphal Entry
Before the reading of the Gospel
Presider The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christaccording to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
(Matthew 21:1-11)
When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!
After the reading of the Gospel
Presider The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Blessing of “the Palms”. People hold up their branches and flowers.
Presider The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Presider It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
All Amen.
Presider Let us go forth in peace!
All In the name of the Lord!
“Procession of the Palms “
Hossanah. Hosannah. Hosannah. Hosannah.
Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Hossanah. Hosannah. Hosannah. Hosannah.
Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Hossanah. Hosannah. Hosannah. Hosannah.
Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
“At the door of the Church”
Presider Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Collect of the Day
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us pray.
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens–
wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 118
19Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them; I will offer thanks to God.
20“This is the gate of the Holy One; *
those who are righteous may enter.”
25Hosannah, O God, hosannah! *
O Holy One, send us now success.
26Blest is the one who comes in the name of God; *
we bless you from the house of God.
27God is the Holy One, who has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
28“You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
29Give thanks to God who is good; *
God’s mercy endures for ever.
Second Reading Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death–
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people
People: Thanks be to God.
Homily
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
The Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
The only Son of God,
Eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
True God from true God,
Begotten, not made,
Of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
He came down from heaven:
By the power of the Holy Spirit
He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
And was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
In accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
And his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of the People [Form 6 BCP]
The Leader and People pray responsively
Presider In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
Silence
Leader For all people in their daily life and work;
People For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
Leader For this community, the nation, and the world;
People For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
Leader For the just and proper use of your creation;
People For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
Leader For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
People For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
Leader For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
People For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
Leader For [N. our Presiding Bishop, and N. (N.) our Bishop(s); and for] all bishops and other ministers;
People For all who serve God in his Church.
Leader For the special needs and concerns of this congregation.
Silence
The People may add their own petitions
Leader Hear us, Lord;
People For your mercy is great.
Leader We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence
The People may add their own thanksgivings
Leader We will exalt you, O God our King;
People And praise your Name for ever and ever.
Leader We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
The People may add their own petitions
Leader Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
People Who put their trust in you.
Leader We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Silence may be kept.
All Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
in your compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown,
things done and left undone;
and so uphold us by your Spirit
that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Presider concludes with an absolution or a suitable Collect.
The Peace
Presider The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us share a sign of Christ’s peace with one another.
Humbly I Adore Thee
| 1 | Humbly I adore thee, Verity unseen, |
| who thy glory hidest ’neath these shadows mean; | |
| lo, to thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed, | |
| tranced as it beholds thee, shrined within the cloud. | |
| 2 | Taste and touch and vision to discern thee fail; |
| faith, that comes by hearing, pierces through the veil. | |
| I believe whate’er the Son of God hath told; | |
| what the Truth hath spoken, that for truth I hold. |
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew
NARRATOR: Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,
JESUS: Sit here while I go over there and pray.
NARRATOR: He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them,
JESUS: I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.
NARRATOR: And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed,
JESUS: My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.
NARRATOR: Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,
JESUS: So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
NARRATOR: Again he went away for the second time and prayed,
JESUS: My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.
NARRATOR: Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them,
JESUS: Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.
NARRATOR: While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
JUDAS: The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.
NARRATOR: At once he came up to Jesus and said,
JUDAS: Greetings, Rabbi!
NARRATOR: and kissed him. Jesus said to him,
JESUS: Friend, do what you are here to do.
NARRATOR: Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him,
JESUS: Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?
NARRATOR: At that hour Jesus said to the crowds,
JESUS: Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.
NARRATOR: Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
NARRATOR: Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he st with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said,
SCRIBE & ELDER: This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.”
NARRATOR: The high priest stood up and said,
CAIAPHAS: Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?
NARRATOR: But Jesus was silent.
NARRATOR: Then the high priest said to him,
CAIAPHAS: I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.
NARRATOR: Jesus said to him,
JESUS: You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.
NARRATOR: Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,
CAIAPHAS: He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?
NARRATOR: They answered,
SCRIBE AND ELDER: He deserves death.
NARRATOR: Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying,
SCRIBE AND ELDER: Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?
NARRATOR: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said,
SERVANT GIRL 1: You also were with Jesus the Galilean.
NARRATOR: But he denied it before all of them, saying,
PETER: I do not know what you are talking about.
NARRATOR: When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders,
SERVANT GIRL 2: This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.
NARRATOR: Again he denied it with an oath,
PETER: I do not know the man.
NARRATOR: After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter,
BYSTANDERS : Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.
NARRATOR: Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath,
PETER: I do not know the man!
NARRATOR: At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said:
JESUS & PETER: Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.
NARRATOR: And he went out and wept bitterly.
NARRATOR: When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said,
JUDAS: I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.
NARRATOR: But they said,
CAIAPHAS & ELDER: What is that to us? See to it yourself.
NARRATOR: Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said,
CAIAPHAS & ELDER: It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.
NARRATOR: After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah,
JEREMIAH: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price has been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.
NARRATOR: Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him,
PILATE: Are you the King of the Jews?
NARRATOR: Jesus said,
JESUS: You say so.
NARRATOR: But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him,
PILATE: Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?
NARRATOR: But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowed, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them,
PILATE: Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?
NARRATOR: For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him,
PILATE’S WIFE: Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.
NARRATOR: Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them,
PILATE: Which of the two do you want me to release for you?
NARRATOR: And they said,
CROWD: Barabbas!
NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,
PILATE: Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?
NARRATOR: All of them said,
CROWD: Let him be crucified!
NARRATOR: Then he asked,
PILATE: Why? What evil has he done?
NARRATOR: But they shouted all the more,
CROWD: Let him be crucified!
NARRATOR: So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying,
PILATE: I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.
NARRATOR: Then the people as a whole answered,
CROWD: His blood be on us and on our children!
NARRATOR: So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying,
SOLDIERS: Hail, King of the Jews!
NARRATOR: They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.
(ALL STAND AS YOU ARE ABLE)
NARRATOR: And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read,
NARRATOR: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
NARRATOR: Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right & one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying,
PASSERSBY: You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!
BYSTANDERS: If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
NARRATOR: In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying,
SCRIBE: He saved others; he cannot save himself.
ELDER: He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
CAIAPHAS: He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, “I am God’s Son.”
NARRATOR: The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
NARRATOR: From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice,
JESUS: Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?
NARRATOR: that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
BYSTANDERS: This man is calling for Elijah.
NARRATOR: At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said,
PASSERSBY: Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.
NARRATOR: Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.
(ALL KNEEL AS YOU ARE ABLE.)
NARRATOR: At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said,
BYSTANDERS & PASSERSBY: Truly this man was God’s Son!
NARRATOR: Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
NARRATOR: When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said,
CAIAPHAS: Sir, we remember what that imposter said while he was still alive, “After three days I will rise again.” Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, “He has been raised from the dead,” and the last deception would be worse than the first.
NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,
PILATE: You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.
NARRATOR: So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
Depart in silence
