April 2 – Palm Sunday – Hosanna!

Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

We will be celebrating communion today, so if you are worshipping with us from home, please gather the elements before the service begins. All are welcome at God’s table.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – O Sacred Head – Hustad

INTROIT – Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord – Schwartz

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Hosanna! Jesus of Nazareth is coming down the road!
All: Hosanna!
One: He’s headed this way!
All: Hosanna in the highest!
One: He’s coming closer and closer.
All: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

*HYMN – Hosanna, Loud Hosanna – #233

Hosanna, loud hosanna The little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple The lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them, Close folded to his Breast,
The children sang their praises, The simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving, And chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of men and angels Rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children Should on his bidding wait.

“Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer, The Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise Him With heart and life and voice,
And in His blissful presence Eternally rejoice!

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of love and majesty; you carry us through tiring days and through anguishing nights. Your faithfulness to us is why we want to shout our own words of welcome to you. We have witnessed the amazing power of your compassion, Jesus. You are the Messiah! You are God’s Blessed One! This is a day to shout and sing! There is joy in the air! Hosanna in the highest! No wonder people of every generation sing your praises! Today, people gather along roadsides throughout the world to worship you, Christ Jesus. Amen.

*RESPONSE – In the Name of the Lord – #19

There is strength in the name of the Lord;
There is pow’r in the name of the Lord:
There is hope in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

ANTHEM – Hosanna! (Raney) – The Children of Ivy Chapel UCC and the Chancel Choir

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

GOD’S WORD – Matthew 21:1-11

SERMON – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – One Bread, One Body – worship booklet, pp. 72-73

Refrain
One bread, one body, one Lord of all;
one cup of blessing which we bless,
and we, though many throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

1 Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more. Refrain

2 Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all. Refrain

3 Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one for all. Refrain

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
We celebrate Christ’s Extravagant Welcome through “open” Communion.
All who desire to receive the gifts of God are welcome to receive the bread and the cup at this table.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – All Glory, Laud and Honor – #234

All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name cometh, the King and Blessed One!

The company of angels Are praising Thee on high;
And mortal men and all things Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews with palms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems Before Thee we present.

To Thee before Thy passion, They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee now high exalted, Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King!

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – O Welt, ich muss dich lassen – Walther

April 10 Livestream – Palm Sunday – Hosanna!

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Please join us for a special service on Good Friday at 7:30 p.m., and then for our Easter Celebration Worship at 10 a.m. next Sunday.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Beneath the Cross – Hustad

*CALL TO WORSHIP – (inspired by lyrics of Jennette Threlfall, 1873)
One: Hosanna, loud Hosanna!
All: Blessed is the One who is coming!
One: Hosanna, loud Hosanna!
All: May the rivers of justice run!
One: Children singing, families dancing,
All: Elders give a shout!
One: Glory in the highest!
All: Even stones cry out!
One: Hosanna, loud hosanna!
All: May this refrain never cease.
One: Hosanna in the highest!
All: Here comes the One who brings peace.

*OPENING HYMN – All Glory, Laud and Honor – #234
All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name cometh, the King and Blessed One!

The company of angels Are praising Thee on high;
And mortal men and all things Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews with palms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems Before Thee we present.

To Thee before Thy passion, They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee now high exalted, Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King!

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (liturgy by Michael Anthony Howard, adapted)
Dear God; Creator of Life; Giver of all that is Good; we confess that we have disregarded your calling and abandoned your love.
We have paid lip service to life while serving the powers of death.
Violence vulgarly scars the streets of Bucha, Ukraine and many other places throughout your world, God. We witness horrible acts of brutality, cruelty and evil-displaying no regard for human life.
We even accept violence at our own nation’s borders and in the Metro East. It seems that we have become accustomed to violence in the schools, the sanctuaries, the Sacramentos of our day.
In our politics; in our pockets; in our religion; in our relationships;
violence has invaded the imagination of our hearts. How can this be?
The time for transformation has come, but has found us unresponsive.
Creation groans. The very stones cry out!
Yet the Church has remained silent. Forgive us, O God. Cleanse our hearts and souls! Move us to action. Rejuvenate our communities. Restore our humanity. Revive our fervor for justice. Resurrect us as
your people, so that we may join with all creation in proclaiming,
“Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS

*RESPONSE – Shout to the Lord! – worship booklet, pp. 80-81
My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 – Pastor Dan

SPECIAL MUSIC – Near the Cross – Curry

GOD’S WORD – Luke 19:28-40 – Pastor Dan

SERMON – Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

*HYMN – Hosanna, Loud, Hosanna! – #233
Hosanna, loud hosanna The little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple The lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them, Close folded to his Breast,
The children sang their praises, The simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving, And chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of men and angels Rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children Should on his bidding wait.

“Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer, The Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise Him With heart and life and voice,
And in His blissful presence Eternally rejoice!

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – A Song of Comfort – Brahms