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Introduction

According to the three-year ecumenical lectionary, the Sunday before Easter is primarily known as the Sunday of the Passion, instead of Palm Sunday. The procession with palm branches is still recommended, but the emphasis of the day has shifted to the Passion of Christ, as seen in the suggested lengthy gospel readings appointed.

In this worship service, however, we have chosen to lift up the Palm Sunday theme, and to focus on the kingship of Christ and his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Christ the king is a powerful image. Let the church become Jerusalem for this Sunday morning!

The use and distribution of palms is a unique custom. When else, and where else, do we ever use palms or hand them out? Palms are a memorable and meaningful symbol to many Christians. I think of Mike, a retired Army man living in southeastern Ohio. He can take a palm leaf, and weave it into an intricate, curled "designer cross," in a way he learned as a child. I think of Ray, a maintenance man in Illinois, who keeps some palm leaves in his car, "to ward off anything bad." I think of Ethel, in whose Bible there is a small cross made of palm leaves, pressed flat as a bookmark. I think of Catholic friends, who always seem to have a dried palm leaf sticking out from behind some picture on the wall, all year long.

Suggestions For Planning
Prior to the worship service, invite all children present to take part in a procession with palms. Gather the children into a nearby room where palms can be distributed. During the processional hymn, have the minister or another leader lead the children in a procession through the aisles of the sanctuary. A crucifer and a banner carrier may also be included in the procession. Ask the children to hold their palms high. Dismiss them at the end of the processional hymn to go to their seats.

For the children's message, "The Two Crowns," some visual aid should be used. The two crowns may be prepared beforehand as drawings, or simple models may be made from paper. Some churches may have a kingly crown in their box of Christmas costumes for wise men. An actual crown of thorns is a very effective object lesson.

The hymn, "Crown Him With Many Crowns," serves as a focal point in the worship service. A spoken introduction is provided for each of the three stanzas used. As a lay reader reads each introduction, ask the organist to play through the stanza softly, as background music. The reader and the organist can easily pace themselves, with a minimum of rehearsal time, to have the reading and the music completed at the same time.

Stanzas for the hymn, "Crown Him With Many Crowns," vary from hymnal to hymnal. If the congregation is to sing the stanzas from the church hymnal, check the number and the order of the stanzas ahead of time.


Crown Him Lord Of All!

Worship Service

Processional Hymn
"Onward, Christian Soldiers" or "Lead On, O King Eternal"

Invocation
Minister: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
People: Hosanna in the highest!
Minister: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
People: Hosanna to the Son of David!
Minister: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Psalm 24
Men: The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
Women: The world and those who dwell therein;
Men: For he has founded it upon the seas,
Women: And established it upon the rivers.
Men: Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
Women: And who shall stand in his holy place?
Men: He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Women: Who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.
Men: He will receive blessing from the Lord,
Women: And vindication from the God of his salvation.
Men: Such is the generation of those who seek him,
Women: Who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Men: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors!
Women: That the King of glory may come in.
Men: Who is the King of glory?
Women: The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!
Men: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors!
Women: That the King of glory may come in.
Men: Who is this King of glory?
Women: The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!

Prayer
Lord God, our heavenly Father: you have called us to be citizens of your kingdom on earth. You have called us to trust and love you with our hearts and our souls, our minds and our strength. Today as we recall the welcome your Son received as a king in Jerusalem, and the opposition to him several days later; we pray that we will not be the kind of followers who praise him one day and forsake him the next. Keep us faithful to our calling as his disciples. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Hymn
"O Worship The King" or "The Son Of God Goes Forth To War"

First Lesson
Zechariah 9:9-10
In these verses, the prophet Zechariah looks ahead and describes his vision of the coming one of God.

Second Lesson
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Paul writes to Timothy, comparing his former life with his Christian faith. He sees Christ as a glorious king.

Gospel
Luke 19:28-40
Luke tells of the arrangements that were made for Jesus to enter Jerusalem, and describes the response of the crowd.

Children's Message
"The Two Crowns"
Good morning, boys and girls, and thank you for taking part in the Palm Sunday procession today. On this one Sunday of the year, we use palm branches to remind us of something special about Jesus. Jesus was in a parade. People shouted and welcomed him. They even laid their garments in the road to make a path for him. They greeted him as a king.

Here is a crown, one that could be worn by a king. Tell me, how do you get to be a king? Would you be elected like we elect our president? Or, would you have to be born into a royal family?

The answer is that you usually have to be born into a royal family. Remember when Jesus was born, and the wise men came? They were looking for a king. They knew he was a special person. We know he is the Son of God.

A king has certain duties. He is supposed to lead his country. He is there to protect and watch over his people. Jesus is a king, but he doesn't have an earthly kingdom. He is a different kind of king. He is a king of our hearts.

Now, look at this crown. Yes, this is a crown. It's made of sharp thorns. If you took this in your hands, you'd get scratched and have thorns in your skin. This is a cruel crown. It is one that no one should ever wear on his head. But it is the kind of crown that Jesus had to wear. His enemies put it on his head and it hurt. It was part of the suffering Jesus went through for us. This crown is a symbol of hate and unkindness.

Jesus is our king. But, he does not need to wear either crown any more. His kingdom is here within us. He is the king of our hearts and lives. He wants what is best for us for us, and we can trust him. He watches over us and we love him because he cares for us.

You have a king and I have a king. His name is Jesus. We call him Lord. I hope you will be his always.

Hymn
"Crown Him With Many Crowns"

Reader: (reads while one stanza of the hymn is played softly) The hymn we are about to sing, "Crown Him With Many Crowns," is one that reflects the mood of that first Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem. The crowds greeted him with shouts of "Hosanna!" They called him the Son of David.

We greet him as our king, not only for a day, but for all time. He is the Lamb of God, and there is none like him, for he is a matchless king through all eternity. Let us sing stanza ____ (check your hymnal for number).

All: Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heav'nly anthem drowns
All music but its own!
Awake my soul, and sing
Of him who died for three,
And hail him as thy matchless king
Through all eternity.

Reader: (reads while music plays softly) Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring have given us a great hymn that describes the Lord of love! That love is evident in the wounds in his hands and his side. He suffered for us; he died for us. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." In him we see how God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Let us sing stanza ____.

All: Crown him the Lord of love --
Behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
No angels in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bend their burning eyes
At mysteries so bright.

Reader: (reads while music plays softly) We sing of Christ, the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave! Each time we gather, we proclaim his victory over death. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live!" No one else can offer us eternal life. He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. He said, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Let us sing stanza ____.

All: Crown him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o'er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those he came to save.
His glories now we sing,
Who died and rose on high,
Who died, eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die.

Sermon
"The Credentials Of A King"

Apostles' Creed

Offering

General Prayer
Dear heavenly Father: We have come together to worship you. We feel the warmth of your love and mercy, and the inner strength and peace you give us through your Holy Spirit.

You know this congregation; and you know each one of us well. You have called us to your kingdom's work, and you know how hesitant we often are. You know how many excuses we dream up, and how many other things come first in our lives.

Remind us again of the urgency of what we are about. Let this congregation be a real light in the community, and let our love for one another be genuine.

Forgive us for calling ourselves Christians when we are only poor imitations. Have mercy on us when we let other things crowd out the example of your Son, Jesus Christ.

We pray about the problems facing our world. Bless those who are trying to help the homeless, so that people do not have to suffer. For those places where there is famine and lack of food, stir up those of us who can do something about it, so the hungry may find food, just as the Israelites found manna many years ago.

Give to our president and all governing officials good health and protection that they may guide this country wisely and faithfully. Give innovative thinking and patience to those who meet on behalf of the nations, to seek and work for peace.

Here, in this parish, we need your Spirit. Use our efforts to reach out, so that people who are still outside the kingdom, may enter and find joy. Take our feeble attempts to show love, and change them, as your Son did when he changed the water to wine, so that the true gospel may be seen by those who say they have no use for it.

In places where people are needed to serve, raise them up to respond to your call. Enable this congregation to be a growing family of believers so that we can do more witnessing for Christ instead of worrying about finances.

Touch each home and each individual here with your love and peace. To those who are suffering, give relief. To those who are anxious, give peace. To those who are discouraged, give hope. To those bearing a load of guilt, give the assurance of forgiveness.

Give us a sense of unity as people of your kingdom. Let there be nothing to divide us or to take away from our mission for Christ. We pray in the words he has taught us ...

The Lord's Prayer

Benediction

Hymn
"Ride On, Ride On In Majesty"


Crown Him Lord Of All!

Sermon

The Credentials Of A King

And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so."
-- Luke 23:3

Many of you have experienced the hassle of trying to cash a check in a place where you are not known. No matter how honest you try to look, all you may get is a polite, "I'm sorry, we don't accept checks."

That is undoubtedly the reason for the popularity of credit, check, and charge cards. A credit card can easily get you a room, a meal, fill up your tank, or will be accepted for some of those impulse purchases. With nothing more than a small piece of plastic, and our signatures, strangers will allow us to charge a variety of expenses. In that sense, the cards that we carry serve as our credentials.

Think for a moment of a king. Today is the day we traditionally acknowledge Jesus as king. What kind of credentials would a person have to carry to prove that he was indeed a king? If he wore a crown, would that be enough? If he carried a scepter and had on a long, purple robe, would that suffice?

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he carried no credentials but himself, yet he was welcomed as a king. What is there about Jesus that helps me to know he is a king? What are his credentials?

His credentials certainly are not seen in documents, driver's licenses, letters, or credit cards. His credentials are more readily seen in his demeanor before his enemies.

Someone else in his position might have made a desperate appeal for freedom, or might have been willing to recant, or lie his way out of it.

Someone else who could perform miracles might have worked some wonder for Herod in order to gain a recommendation for release.

Someone else in Jesus' shoes might have tried to bargain with Pilate, or with his accusers.

Not Jesus. Here is a true king.

1. This is a king who commands respect. As Jesus stood before those who accused him, he appeared as one who commanded respect. When Pilate asked, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge. Pilate "wondered greatly" (Matthew 27:13-14). Jesus had "set his face" (like flint, according to Isaiah 50:7), to go to Jerusalem, a city where he knew hostility awaited him. He knew the kind of welcome he would receive. "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day" (Matthew 20:17-19).

It is because of this that Jesus commands respect. In spite of the evil treatment he received, he showed himself a king. We marvel at his courage. He didn't have to do it. He could have called down twelve legions of angels and dazzled his enemies with his power, but he didn't (Matthew 26:53). He fulfilled his mission. He became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, there is an incident in which Tom and Becky Thatcher are both in the schoolroom under the stern schoolmaster, Mr. Dobbins. While the teacher was out of the room, Becky accidentally tore a page in one of his personal books. When Mr. Dobbins discovered the damaged page, he was furious. His menacing gaze searched every face for some sign of guilt. He began interrogating each one by name.

"Benjamin Rogers, did you tear this book?" A denial.

"Joseph Harper, did you?" Another denial.

"Amy Lawrence?" A shake of the head.

"Gracie Miller?" The same sign.

The next girl was Becky Thatcher. Her face was white with terror. At that instant, Tom Sawyer, knowing that she would buckle under the pressure, impulsively sprang to his feet and shouted, "I done it!"

The schoolmaster turned angrily on Tom, gave him the whipping, and made him stay after school for two hours.

Becky, who waited for him outside, was filled with gratitude, and said, "Tom, how could you be so noble?"

He didn't have to do it, but he did.

When we say that of Jesus, we are saying that he is a king who commands respect.

2. This is a king who deserves loyalty. If a king does not have loyal subjects, he is in trouble. The book of Proverbs says, "What is desired in a man is loyalty" (Proverbs 19:22). A loyal person is not a fair-weather friend. The loyal person is one who is there, not only in the good times, but also in times of trouble, disappointment, crisis, or grief.

It seems right, under normal circumstances, that a king ought to expect loyalty from his subjects. But it is also necessary for the king to be the kind of person who is worthy and deserving of their loyalty.

There is a story from long ago, of a king of a small province in Europe. This king had an exaggerated idea of his importance, and called a feast to celebrate his birthday. He invited his noblemen, stating that each one should bring a flask of his best wine to the celebration in honor of the king. The wine would be poured into one barrel to make the most exquisite beverage ever tasted in the kingdom.

One nobleman had little use for the king. So he took an empty flask, filled it with water, figuring that with all that wine, no one would ever know the difference.

At the feast, a large cask was placed at the banquet hall entrance. Each guest entered and poured a contribution into it. The nobleman who brought the water did likewise.

The great moment finally came. The king went over to the cask. He held out his goblet, ready for the best wine in the land. He opened the spigot and into his cup flowed pure water!

I wonder what comes out of the tap when God checks our loyalty, both as individuals and as a church. Jesus' followers had their loyalty put to the test on the night when he was betrayed. You and I have our loyalty tested day after day in what we do and what we say and what we are. Are we giving Christ the best wine?

3. This is a king who inspires faith. In order to exist in the world, you and I have to have faith in other people. For example, I have faith in the mechanic who installs new brakes on my car. You trust the pharmacist who makes up a prescription for your toddler. Most of us think nothing of stopping at a restaurant and eating a meal prepared by a cook whom we've never met.

Some people seem to easily inspire faith while others cause us to doubt them. There are some people we believe in, for whom we would do almost anything; but there are others for whom we don't wish to lift a finger. We find ourselves feeling cynical and skeptical of them.

While battling the Philistines, King David was camped at a place called the Cave of Adullam. He was tired of fighting and was longing for a taste of home. David said, wishing out loud, "O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!"

Three of his most noble and faithful soldiers overheard the king, and took it upon themselves to go and get water from that well for him. It meant risking their necks, for they had to break through the camp of the Philistines to do it.

When they brought the water to David, however, he refused to drink it. He recognized how dangerous it had been to get the water, and he realized that this act showed how highly they regarded him. Instead of drinking it, he poured it out on the ground as an offering to the Lord. David had already shown his faith in his men, and these three were responding with faith and love for their king (1 Chronicles 11:15-19).

What about Christ? He, too, is a man who inspires faith. We don't have to question whether he's in it for the money; we don't have to wonder whether he's running for office; we don't have to doubt whether or not he really cares about us. Jesus challenges us who are often of little faith, "Believe in God, believe also in me."

4. This is a king who offers hope. In a tract that came across my desk some time ago, there was in bold print, a provocative question, intended to make the reader stop and think. The question was: "If you were to die tonight and stand before God and he were to ask you, 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' what would your answer be?"

Why should God let me in? What is there that I could take out to show him to prove that I was worthy to enter? What kind of credentials would I need?

Would it help to tell God that I was voted "the most likely to succeed" in my graduating class? Or that I went to church every Sunday for 29 years in one stretch without missing? Would it convince God if I told him that I never killed anyone, never stole anything important, never was unfaithful in marriage, and only lied a few times that I can remember? Would it help to tell him that I always put my dollar in the offering? Or that I sat for five hours one night with a sick friend?

Would it make a difference to God if I told him that I've suffered and worried quite a bit more than the average person has? Would any of these be enough?

I doubt it.

When I stand before the throne of God, there is not much that I will be able to pull out to show God what a good person I have been. What I consider to be the greatest deeds will probably look pretty small. God sees the heart. He knows that my motives are not always the highest nor are they the purest.

There is only one thing that will be worth anything on that day and that is our hope in the Savior, Christ the Lord. If my hope is built on Jesus' blood and righteousness, that will be enough. He alone can save us.

Jesus is a king who offers hope. He offers hope for a life in his kingdom where there will be no more crying, no more pain or suffering, and no more death. He offers us the hope of life eternal.

Jesus Christ has all the credentials of a king. Pilate's question, "Are you the king of the Jews?" was accurate, but didn't quite go far enough. Jesus is not only king of the Jews, but he is the king of all believers, of all generations, for all time.

What is there about Jesus that helps me to know that he is a king? What are his credentials?

1. He is a king who commands respect.
2. He is a king who deserves loyalty.
3. He is a king who inspires faith.
4. He is a king who offers hope.

He is my king. I hope he is yours as well.