Passion/Palm Sunday (Lent 6)
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series III, Cycle A
Object:
Prayer For Procession With Palms
Precedes the reading of the processional gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
P: All glory, laud, and honor belong to you, gracious King. As we lift our voices before you, may your love transform us, your Spirit renew us, and your mercy open our hearts, that your song of praise would know no end.
C: Amen.
Reading Of The Passion
(Congregation sings verse 1 of "Glory Be To Jesus," LBW 95)
C: Glory be to Jesus, Who, in bitter pains
Poured for me the lifeblood From his sacred veins.
P: Matthew 26:14-35
C: Grace and life eternal In that blood I find;
Blest be his compassion, Infinitely kind.
P: Matthew 26:36-71
C: Blest through endless ages Be the precious stream
Which from endless torment Did the world redeem.
P: Matthew 27:1-26
C: Abel's blood for vengeance Pleaded to the skies;
But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries.
P: Matthew 27:27-66
C: Oft as earth exulting Wafts its praise on high,
Angel hosts rejoicing Make their glad reply.
Intercessory Prayers
With the hymn "Lamb Of God, Pure And Sinless" (LBW 111) as the congregation's refrain, speak the intercessions between the verses with a flute, violin, or recorder playing the melody in the background.
Offertory Prayer
A: In humility, O Lord, you pour your life before us. You know our pain, you know our fears, you alone know our sorrow.
C: In humility, O Lord Jesus, we offer these gifts, signs of your grace, that they may be used to the good of your kingdom, and for the sake of your holy name. Amen.
Post-Communion Blessing
Speak Philippians 2:5-11, whether or not you have previously spoken it on this day.
Benediction
P: As you enter into the journey of this Holy Week,
may the words of the Lord cling to your ears
and penetrate your heart.
May your fear be a holy fear
and your trembling a holy trembling,
that when all seems lost
you would look to the one
who promises to make all things new.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Hymns And Songs
Prepare The Royal Highway -- LBW 26; PH 13; MBW 344
Glory Be To Jesus -- LBW 95
Lamb Of God, Pure And Sinless -- LBW 111
All Glory, Laud, And Honor -- LBW 108; UMH 280; PH 88; MBW 342; G&P 356
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded -- LBW 116/7; UMH 286; PH 98; MBW 345; G&P 367
Sing, My Tongue -- LBW 118 (alt. tunes: PICARDY, LBW 198; EDEN CHURCH, LBW 367; NEW MALDEN, LBW 556)
Of The Glorious Body Telling -- LBW 120 (see alt. tunes for LBW 118)
Ride On, Ride On In Majesty -- LBW 121; PH 90/91; MBW 343
There In God's Garden -- WOV 668
Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross -- TFF 73
I Know It Was The Blood -- TFF 75
Oh, How He Loves You And Me -- TFF 82
Ride On, King Jesus -- TFF 182; GATHER 294; G&P 359
Let All That Is Within Me Cry, "Holy!" -- TFF 282
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna -- UMH 278; PH 89
Mantos Y Palmas -- UMH 279
How Shall I Meet My Savior? -- MBW 29
Hosanna -- GATHER 292
Behold The Lamb Of God -- G&P 360
Jesus The Lord -- G&P 370
Praise The God Who Changes Places -- PTP 177 (tune: BOE)
Sanna, Sannanina -- South Africa
Psalm Settings
Psalm 31:9-16 -- PH 182
Psalm 31: I Put My Life In Your Hands -- GATHER 40/41; G&P 194/195
Choral Music
"Palm Sunday Meditation" -- Jeremy Young (GIA)
"Palm Sunday Processional" -- Rory Cooney (GIA)
"Procession And Hymn For Palm Sunday" -- Craig Courtney, 1998 (Breckenhorst Press)
"Ride On, King Jesus" -- L. L. Fleming (AFP)
"The Entry Into Jerusalem" -- Van Denman Thompson, arr. Thomas Chesterton (Lorenz)
"The Royal Banners Of Our King" -- Russel Schulz-Widmar
Liturgical Dance
Moving from the opening procession with palms to a reading of the passion is not without difficulty, but it is how we enter into the journey of this week. Like Jesus, who set his face toward Jerusalem, once your music moves from Hosannas to the slower weighty chorales, your direction is set. Use your liturgical dancers in the opening procession, waving their palm branches and leaping for joy. Then have them dance on a later hymn, where they can take those same movements slowly and with great intensity, that a hint of the agony to come is embodied.
Service Notes
If you use the Courtney anthem, it will serve as your Processional Hymn. Begin your procession in the narthex or outside the church, if possible.
Precedes the reading of the processional gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
P: All glory, laud, and honor belong to you, gracious King. As we lift our voices before you, may your love transform us, your Spirit renew us, and your mercy open our hearts, that your song of praise would know no end.
C: Amen.
Reading Of The Passion
(Congregation sings verse 1 of "Glory Be To Jesus," LBW 95)
C: Glory be to Jesus, Who, in bitter pains
Poured for me the lifeblood From his sacred veins.
P: Matthew 26:14-35
C: Grace and life eternal In that blood I find;
Blest be his compassion, Infinitely kind.
P: Matthew 26:36-71
C: Blest through endless ages Be the precious stream
Which from endless torment Did the world redeem.
P: Matthew 27:1-26
C: Abel's blood for vengeance Pleaded to the skies;
But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries.
P: Matthew 27:27-66
C: Oft as earth exulting Wafts its praise on high,
Angel hosts rejoicing Make their glad reply.
Intercessory Prayers
With the hymn "Lamb Of God, Pure And Sinless" (LBW 111) as the congregation's refrain, speak the intercessions between the verses with a flute, violin, or recorder playing the melody in the background.
Offertory Prayer
A: In humility, O Lord, you pour your life before us. You know our pain, you know our fears, you alone know our sorrow.
C: In humility, O Lord Jesus, we offer these gifts, signs of your grace, that they may be used to the good of your kingdom, and for the sake of your holy name. Amen.
Post-Communion Blessing
Speak Philippians 2:5-11, whether or not you have previously spoken it on this day.
Benediction
P: As you enter into the journey of this Holy Week,
may the words of the Lord cling to your ears
and penetrate your heart.
May your fear be a holy fear
and your trembling a holy trembling,
that when all seems lost
you would look to the one
who promises to make all things new.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Hymns And Songs
Prepare The Royal Highway -- LBW 26; PH 13; MBW 344
Glory Be To Jesus -- LBW 95
Lamb Of God, Pure And Sinless -- LBW 111
All Glory, Laud, And Honor -- LBW 108; UMH 280; PH 88; MBW 342; G&P 356
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded -- LBW 116/7; UMH 286; PH 98; MBW 345; G&P 367
Sing, My Tongue -- LBW 118 (alt. tunes: PICARDY, LBW 198; EDEN CHURCH, LBW 367; NEW MALDEN, LBW 556)
Of The Glorious Body Telling -- LBW 120 (see alt. tunes for LBW 118)
Ride On, Ride On In Majesty -- LBW 121; PH 90/91; MBW 343
There In God's Garden -- WOV 668
Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross -- TFF 73
I Know It Was The Blood -- TFF 75
Oh, How He Loves You And Me -- TFF 82
Ride On, King Jesus -- TFF 182; GATHER 294; G&P 359
Let All That Is Within Me Cry, "Holy!" -- TFF 282
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna -- UMH 278; PH 89
Mantos Y Palmas -- UMH 279
How Shall I Meet My Savior? -- MBW 29
Hosanna -- GATHER 292
Behold The Lamb Of God -- G&P 360
Jesus The Lord -- G&P 370
Praise The God Who Changes Places -- PTP 177 (tune: BOE)
Sanna, Sannanina -- South Africa
Psalm Settings
Psalm 31:9-16 -- PH 182
Psalm 31: I Put My Life In Your Hands -- GATHER 40/41; G&P 194/195
Choral Music
"Palm Sunday Meditation" -- Jeremy Young (GIA)
"Palm Sunday Processional" -- Rory Cooney (GIA)
"Procession And Hymn For Palm Sunday" -- Craig Courtney, 1998 (Breckenhorst Press)
"Ride On, King Jesus" -- L. L. Fleming (AFP)
"The Entry Into Jerusalem" -- Van Denman Thompson, arr. Thomas Chesterton (Lorenz)
"The Royal Banners Of Our King" -- Russel Schulz-Widmar
Liturgical Dance
Moving from the opening procession with palms to a reading of the passion is not without difficulty, but it is how we enter into the journey of this week. Like Jesus, who set his face toward Jerusalem, once your music moves from Hosannas to the slower weighty chorales, your direction is set. Use your liturgical dancers in the opening procession, waving their palm branches and leaping for joy. Then have them dance on a later hymn, where they can take those same movements slowly and with great intensity, that a hint of the agony to come is embodied.
Service Notes
If you use the Courtney anthem, it will serve as your Processional Hymn. Begin your procession in the narthex or outside the church, if possible.
