Intergenerational Worship Outline

Transcription

1 Let s Talk PALM/PASSION SUNDAY April 9, 2017 Intergenerational Worship Outline Preparation for the service: Arrange for an intergenerational group to plan, lead the service, and welcome people as they enter the church. Hand out a strip of cloth to those sitting along the center aisle and give a palm branch to others, saying, Welcome to Jerusalem. Be sure to reserve front pew space for the parade participants. Be sure to arrange for any unison prayers to be printed in the bulletin. Note that the offertory today is placed at the end of the service. Arrange Lenten candles and prepare a Lenten Table with symbols from the theme conversations for the last five weeks purple cloth, seeds, pitcher of water, Bible and scroll, and recorder or penny whistle. Preparation for Passion Drama: This drama of symbols of the passion story can be read or it can be done more dramatically with additional actions and costumes which is especially appealing for children. For the symbols you will need: 1. A bag of silver coins 2. Matzoh and a chalice of wine 3. Palm branch 4. Sword 5. Recorder or penny whistle 6. Bowl and pitcher of water 7. Bible or scroll and bowl of earth ( 2 people) 8. Large stone (some are already part of your Lenten table) Be sure your readers speak in loud, clear, dramatic voices. Place a candle snuffer beside the Lenten candles. (The Christ candle and 5 candles are lit before the service begins.) Welcome Leader: Welcome, everyone, to our Palm Sunday service! Those seated along the center aisle have been given a piece of cloth to represent a cloak. During the procession, please place your cloth on the floor before Jesus passes by. First, however, let us hear Matthew s story of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Then we too will join together in a joyous welcome! Reader: Matthew 21:1-11 (A person with a strong voice reads the passage from the back of the church or balcony. The 2 soldiers place themselves at the front of the church at either side of the chancel) Hymn and Palm Procession Hosanna Sunshine Songbook 19 or All Glory, Laud and Honor Book of Praise 214; Glory to God 196; Lutheran Worship 344; New Century 216/217; United Methodist 280; Voices United 122 or Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Book of Praise 218; Glory to God 198; New Century 213; United Methodist 278; Voices United 123 (During the hymn, the procession comes forward. Jesus leads the way surrounded by the children and followed by the readers, drama characters, and choir. All are waving their branches as they process and sing. Those taking part in the service occupy the reserved front pews. Jesus stands at the front of the church, facing the congregation and surrounded by the children during the Call to Worship. Jesus then sits with the other drama characters while the children remain for the Theme Conversation.) Call to Worship Leader: Hosanna to the Son of David! All: Hosanna in the highest heaven! Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God! All: Hosanna in the highest heaven! Lenten Candle Lighting (The 6th and last candle of Lent is lit from the Christ candle.) Leader: We light this candle as a symbol of our love for Jesus and our joy in welcoming him into our lives. The Whole People of God 1

2 Theme Conversation (See Biblical Background Sheet.) Prayer of Approach and Confession (Have a person lead the movements indicated by the words in italics.) We praise you this day, O God, with singing and palm branches waving. (wave the branch) We join with all creation and all God s people in praising your name! (wave the branch) We seek to follow Jesus in joyful service. (wave the branch) Yet it s much easier to just celebrate the good times: the parades, the healings, the teachings, the comforting hand; and ignore the tough times: (place the branch behind your back) the risk-taking that goes with a commitment to peace and justice, the risk-taking that follows Jesus to the cross. Forgive us, God, (hold the branch close) and fill us with the same passion of Jesus, your beloved son and servant. (hold the branch high) We pray in his name. Amen. Assurance of Pardon Leader: God understands how difficult it is to live as Jesus did. God forgives us and encourages us to turn our lives around and make this the first day of a new beginning. All: Thanks be to God! Hymn O Jesus I Have Promised Book of Praise 569; Common Praise 438; Glory to God 724/725; Lutheran Worship 810; New Century 493; United Methodist 396; Voices United 120 or Ride On, Ride On in Majesty Book of Praise 217; Common Praise 182; Glory to God 198; Lutheran Worship 346; New Century 215 Scripture Sharing (Drama based on Matthew 26:14 27:66) Reader: Join us now around the Lenten Table as we recall the last days of Jesus life. The story is told by voices from whom we do not usually hear. Listen and remember. (Each person who speaks will stand and go to a central microphone to speak. They will hold up their symbol or symbols, say what they have to say, place the symbol with the other symbols on the Lenten Table, extinguish one of the Lenten candles and then return to their seat.) Scene One: Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus (based on Matthew 26:14-16) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when his friend betrayed his trust? to the tune Were You There? Book of Praise 233; Common Praise 192; Glory to God 228; Lutheran Worship 353; New Century 229; United Methodist 288; Voices United 144) Silver: I was there. I am the silver that was paid to Judas. (Hold up the bag of coins and shake it.) I lived in the earth for centuries until I was dug up, melted into coins, and then passed around from person to person. This particular day, I was in the hands of some religious leaders. Suddenly, I heard Judas come rushing into the temple. He seemed really jumpy as he asked, What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you? The chief priest said, We ll give you 30 pieces of silver. He smirked as he held me up in front of Judas. Judas grabbed me and took off. (Place the bag on the table and extinguish the 1st candle.) Scene Two: The Passover Meal with the Disciples (based on Matthew 26:17-30) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when they shared the bread and wine? ) Bread/Wine: We were there. We are the bread and wine. (Hold up the unleavened bread and wine.) We are symbols of the food that nourishes the body and 2 Wood Lake Books

3 soul of each one of you. Sometimes we are kept from those who need us most. Sometimes we are shared. This particular evening, we were shared in a very wonderful way. (Place the bread and wine on the Lenten Table with the other symbols.) Jesus blessed us and gave us to his disciples. He said, Take and eat this bread. It is my body. And then he thanked God and said, Drink this wine, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Extinguish the 2nd candle.) Scene Three: Jesus Prays in Gethsemane (based on Matthew 26:36-46) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when he knelt and prayed to God? ) Palm: I was there. (Hold up the potted palm or palm leaf from the Lenten Table.) I m from the Garden of Gethsemane, as peaceful a place as there is anywhere. God s presence is truly felt there. Jesus came that fateful night with his disciples. He left some to sit and wait, but he took 3 with him to pray. He said, I am in deep sorrow, even to death; remain here and stay awake with me. Then he threw himself down on the ground right under my branches and cried out, God, please, please, if it s possible, get me out of this! Still, it s not what I want; it s what you want that matters. Then he got up and went back to the 3 disciples, but they were fast asleep! So, you couldn t stay awake with me just for an hour? he said. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Twice more, Jesus came under my branches and prayed the same prayer. Twice more, he went back to the 3 and found them asleep. The last time, he said, See, my time is up. The Son of Man is about to be given into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let s go! My betrayer is here. (Place the tree back on the table and extinguish the 3rd candle.) Scene Four: The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus (based on Matthew 26:47-56) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when his friends betrayed and fled? ) Sword: I was there. I am a metal sword. (Hold the sword high.) I look forward to the day when all swords are turned to plowshares, and weapons are used no more. I was in the hands of a person who came with the religious leaders to find Jesus. I arrived just in time to see Judas come right up to Jesus and say, Greetings, Rabbi, in a very cold voice. Then he kissed Jesus on the cheek, which was the sign for them to come and arrest him. Jesus stood calmly and said to Judas, Friend, do what you are here to do. One of Jesus followers also had a sword and injured one of the high priest s servants. But Jesus spoke angrily to his follower, Put away your sword! he said. For all who use the sword will die by the sword. Then he spoke to the crowd, Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were some kind of criminal? I sat each day in the temple, and you didn t arrest me then! Still, it s happening this way to fulfill what the scriptures say. (Place the sword on the table.) Suddenly, the disciples took off, leaving Jesus all alone with the ugly crowd. (Extinguish the 4th candle.) Scene Five: Trial and Peter s Denial (based on Matthew 26:57-75) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when they sentenced him to death? ) Wind: I was there. I am the wind. I am everywhere. I am the wind that chilled the crowd and fanned the fire that warmed the crowd that gathered in the court yard outside the chief priest s house. (Pick up and play the wind instrument from the Lenten Table.) I saw this scared guy sneaking around after Jesus, and I recognized him. He was one of Jesus followers. A servant girl said to him, kind of innocentlike, You were with Jesus, that man from Galilee. Well, you should have heard him react! I don t know what you re talking about! he said. Then another servant girl, asked him the same thing. I don t know the man! The Whole People of God 3

4 he said. Some other people were listening, and they all repeated what the servant girls had said. I don t know the man! he yelled again. Then a rooster crowed. You should have seen the look that came over this guy s face! He burst into tears and ran away. (Place the instrument back on the table, extinguish the 5th candle and sit near the table.) Scene Six: Pilate Hands Jesus Over to Be Crucified (based on Matthew 27:1-26) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when they screamed for him to die? ) Water: I was there. I am water. (Hold up a small basin and then pour some water into it from the pitcher on the Lenten Table.) I am a precious and essential part of all living things. This particular day, I was in a bowl near the governor Pilate. A whole group of religious leaders came to Pilate dragging a beaten-up man with them. This man, Jesus, looked close to death. But he stood tall, almost like he was going to question Pilate instead. Finally Pilate asked, Well, are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said, You say so. Then the religious lead ers made more accusations, but Jesus didn t answer them. This time, he remained silent. Pilate was impressed with Jesus. It was a custom at this Passover time to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone they wanted. I think he hoped the people would want Jesus. I heard Pilate s wife whisper to him about a dream she had. This man was innocent, she said, and Pilate should have nothing to do with him. So he said to the crowd, Do you want me to release the criminal Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah? The crowds had been all worked up by the religious leaders to go against Jesus, so the crowd yelled, Barabbas! Give us Barabbas! What should I do with Jesus, then? Pilate asked. Crucify him! they screamed. Crucify him! Crucify him! Pilate gave in. And that s when he came over to me and washed his sweaty hands. He then said slowly for all to hear, I am innocent of this man s blood. From now on, what happens is in your hands. He released Barabbas and had Jesus whipped. (Place the basin of water on the Lenten Table and extinguish the 6th candle.) Scene Seven: Jesus Is Crucified (based on Matthew 27:27-55) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? ) Psalmist: I was there. I am Psalm 31. Jesus remembered my words in his most difficult hour as he was nailed on the cross to die. (Pick up the Bible or scroll from the Lenten Table and read Psalm 31:9-16.) Earth: I was there. I am the earth. (Hold up the glass bowl of earth.) I feel the joys and pains of all living things, for we are one. I am part of you, and you are part of me. God is in and around and over and under us. We live and have our being with God. Jesus joys and pains have been my joys and pains, and I now suffer with him. A great darkness came over me toward the end. I heard his final words. My God, my God, why have you forgotten me? he cried in his great suffering. Some people nearby thought he was calling out to the prophet Elijah, and they gave him some sour wine in a sponge. But it was over. He cried out a final time and breathed his last. All creation cried at that grievous moment. I shook, rocks split, the temple curtain tore, and earthquakes boomed. Even the cruel soldiers were shaken to the point of saying, Truly this was the Son of God! (Pick up the package of seeds and pour its contents into the bowl of dirt and place it on the table. Extinguish the Christ candle. Pause a lengthy moment before the next scene.) Scene Eight: Jesus Is Buried (based on Matthew 62 66) Hymn: (Sing, Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? ) 4 Wood Lake Books

5 Stone: Sing: I was part of a huge stone. (Hold up stone.) On that strangely dark day, I was standing beside an open tomb that was carved into the rock. I was to cover the entranceway when my master, Joseph of Arimathea, died and was placed in the tomb. So I was surprised to see Joseph and his helpers come with a dead body. Joseph had wrapped whoever it was in a clean linen cloth. He held the body very gently and placed it inside the tomb. Then he rolled me in front of the tomb and left. (Place the stone in the bowl of earth on the Lenten Table.) For the longest time, two women stayed close by the tomb, quietly crying together. They must have loved him very much. Were you there when the women stayed and cried? Prayers of the People (You may wish to include in your prayers the many ways Jesus is crucified today in our treatment of the weak and dispossessed, of each other, and of the environment. Emphasize the hope we have in knowing that Christ lives and is with us in the seeking of new life.) A Version of the Lord s Prayer (paraphrase) Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-Bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be. Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. Form the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen. A Version of the Lord s Prayer from Prayer at Night s Approaching by Jim Cotter, Cairns Publications, Sheffield, England. Used with permission. Commissiong and Benediction Leader: We have heard and seen and experienced the passion of our Lord. People: We have followed him and witnessed his death. Leader: Now let us hear and see and experience and follow Christ into our own lives. People: We will follow. Leader: And let us go, knowing that death could not contain him. People: We go, knowing that joy and new life is to come. All: Amen. (The people are invited to remain for a time of prayer and meditation. Offering plates are available on the steps of the chancel or on a table on the way out.) The Whole People of God 5