Worship at Home
Worship for 28th March 2021
To listen to the sermon and a hymn dial
01604 266000
Sunday 28th March 10:30 AM
(or whenever you wish)
This week’s message has been prepared by Mary Winchcombe
This short act of worship is for use from home. Pause to settle yourself in God’s presence, knowing that other people are sharing in worship with you.
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© ROOTS for Churches Ltd www.rootsontheweb.com. Reproduced with permission.
Call to worship:
Lord of all,
when Jesus entered into Jerusalem,
the people welcomed him with praise
and gave him the best they could offer.
As we gather here, we ask you to fill our hearts with joy and love.
Help us to understand what it means
to give freely and extravagantly of our time,
our treasure and our talents.
Most of all, inspire us to give you our praise.
Amen.
Let us pray,
O Lord, we come to you this day, to hear your word and to rejoice in your presence in our lives, now, and always.
Amen
StF 263: Hosanna
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest!
Lord we lift up your name,
with hearts full of praise;
Be exalted, O Lord my God!
Hosanna in the highest!
Glory, glory,
glory to the King of kings!
Glory, glory,
glory to the King of kings!
Lord we lift up your name,
with hearts full of praise;
Be exalted, O Lord my God!
Glory to the King of kings!
Carl Tuttle (b. 1953)
Opening Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ,
we are reminded of how
you entered Jerusalem
to shouts of joy and celebration.
But we remember too,
how quickly that welcome evaporated,
How soon the mood of the crowd changed.
Lord Jesus Christ,
We know only too well,
Our commitment to you is so often
Short-lived,
Superficial,
Self-centred.
Help us to welcome you into our lives
with true gladness,
And to go on serving you come what may,
Now and always.
Amen
Bible Reading
Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.”’
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?’ 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
‘Hosanna!’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10 ‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’
‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Message
Today is Palm Sunday when Christians remember and celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It marks the end of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week – Christ’s arrest, Trial, Crucifixion and ending with His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
It’s such a well-known story, told in all four gospels, each with a different emphasis.
Mark’s account has the focus firmly on Jesus as King; Matthew draws the reader’s attention to Zechariah’s prophecy:
‘See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey.’ (Zechariah 9:9)
John’s emphasis is on the fact that the disciples understood much later the meaning of what happened that day.
And Luke portrays Jesus as a King of Peace, with no palms or hosannas, just garments, and no great crowd.
But what do these four gospels tell us about Jesus as King?
He is a humble King – he chose to ride a donkey, a humble beast of burden that kept him on a level with the crowds, able to look at them face to face, not towering from above.
He’s a king who doesn’t reveal everything at once – he hadn’t revealed all his plans to the disciples – he instructs them what to do, and they have to trust his word and follow his instructions.
It’s the same for us. Jesus doesn’t reveal all his plans to us; we have to trust and obey, step out in faith with the knowledge that if we are following his will, he will equip us.
He’s a King who comes in the name of the Lord. At the beginning of each year, we have a covenant service where we re-commit ourselves to God. God had made many covenants with his people, but each had been broken. Jesus was to be the final covenant. He was the chosen Messiah come to show people what God was really like.
He’s a King of peace – through his suffering and death he was to bring about a salvation entirely different from the one expected.
He’s a King who accepts praise – he accepted the anointment with perfume, he accepts the praises offered as he rides into Jerusalem. He delights too in our praises.
He’s a God of compassion– he knows how his life will end. You might expect him to feel sorry for himself, but he feels sorry for Jerusalem which has rejected him and will do again.
And he is a king who must give up his own life to achieve his goal.
The challenge of today’s reading is that we should welcome Jesus into our lives as King too. We have the gift of hindsight and know about his death and resurrection. Are we ready to sing a psalm of praise, but only as long as Jesus seems to be doing what we want?
We have a wonderful God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many people think that the Christian Life is full of negatives; but that should not be so, for our God loves and cherishes us , delights in our praises and knows each one of us by name.
That is surely a cause for celebration and praise every day of our lives!
Amen
In silence let us praise our amazing God
Our prayers for others:
In the certain knowledge that god answers prayer we bring our requests…..
For our world struggling with unrest, oppression and fear in this time of pandemic…..
For all who are unwell, anxious about test results, struggling with lockdown……
For leaders, they may lead with honesty and integrity; for the good of all they lead…
For all who seek to help us – medial staff, emergency services, front line workers…..
And for ourselves that we may be faithful servants, seeking your guidance and acting upon it.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
Hymn - You are the King of Glory
You are the King of Glory,
You are the Prince of Peace;
You are The Lord of heaven and earth,
You’re the son of Righteousness.
Angels bow down before You,
Worship and adore, for
You have the words of eternal life,
You are Jesus Christ the Lord.
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Hosanna to the King of kings!
Glory in the highest heaven,
For Jesus the Messiah reigns.
We think that you'll also enjoy:
Blessing:
Living God,
May the experience of your love,
The reality of your grace
And the knowledge of your constant presence,
Continue to transform our lives each day,
So that we may live and work for you
more faithfully.
To the glory of your name.
Amen
Today’s service prepared by
Mary Winchcombe, Local Preacher
Sheet formatted by Revd Phil Snelson
Webpage: Paul Deakin (I hope that you like the Palms!)
Last year Richard Beckett recorded a short video showing us how to make a Palm Cross from a piece of A4 paper. Why not watch his video now and make your own Palm Cross for Holy Week?
In the early days of the first lockdown we produced a Tenebrae Service for Maundy Thursday. We will be republishing this very special service on Thursday so that you can view it again if you wish.
Please join us again for
Good Friday reflections
and Easter Sunday…
with Worship @ Home