ST. MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH 118 State Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Sunday of the Passion Palm Sunday April 13, 2014 10:00 a.m. 16 1
Welcome to St. Michael Church PRAYERS BEFORE WORSHIP Merciful God, your strength and courage pour forth to sustain the witness of your faithful people. Awaken in us the humility to serve wherever creation is broken and in need, that we may follow in the way of our brother, Jesus, die as he did to all that separates us from you, and with him be raised to new life. Amen. Dear God, so much happened in the week we call Holy. We thank you that we know there is a happy ending. But we grieve over the suffering endured by Jesus for us. A few minutes, now, is too short of a time to grasp all that happened and the implications of each event. Help us to integrate each facet of this most holy part of Jesus live into our lives. Amen. WORSHIP NOTES Today's liturgy begins with a palm procession, commemorating Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Quickly the tone of the service changes as we meditate upon Jesus' passion and death. Because this story is so central to our faith, we hear Matthew's account of the passion today and John's version on Good Friday. Though Jesus is obedient even unto death on the cross, he is exalted by God. We gather to remember his offering for the life of the world, and to be fed by his life-giving mercy. This holy week will culminate in the celebration of the Three Days of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. The Palms, are sponsored to the glory of God Norma Ickes In memory of Reverend and Mrs. A. Martin Landis by John and Susan Wesley Irene Lutz by Susan Wagner Violet and Oliver Miller by Ken Miller Robert, Anna, and Dennis Tanczos by Angela Tanczos Samuel and Grace Wentz by Susan Wagner Robert and Doris Whitcomb by Lennie and Mary Whitcomb In honor of Annie, Dane, Carleigh, and Peyton by Guy Kehler and Lindsay Mills Our St. Michael family by Sue McDonald and Chris Persson Persons with impairments - St. Michael offers to those with any type of hearing difficulty a small, remote personal speaker which provides the user an amplified, high quality audio of the entire service. We invite our guests who may have the need for such an accommodation to ask an usher for a personal speaker. (They are available upon entering the Nave.) We welcome any comments concerning St. Michael's efforts to accommodate persons with impairments or disabilities. An enlarged copy of the bulletin is available. Please see an usher if you would like to use one. 2 15
SERVICE OF WORD AND SACRAMENT +++GATHERING+++ PRELUDE The Palms piano organ duet with Ken Miller Presiding Minister Director of Music Assisting Minister Eucharistic Minister Acolyte Thurifer Cantor Lector Greeters Ushers Altar Guild Offering Counters Worship Leaders The Reverend Larry Hawkins Alex Ashman Guy Kehler Barry Ridge Eric Smith Isaac Hawkins Mike Ennis Sarah Miller Lloyd and Shirley Kramer Floyd and Nancy Eberly Ray Cristo and Angela Tanczos Mike Ennis and Cheryl Smith As you are able, and weather permitting, please gather outside in front of the church for the Blessing of the Palms and the procession. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL Matthew 21:1-11 The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 14 3
BLESSING OF PALMS The Lord be with you. And also with you. The people raise the Palms to receive the blessing. Let us pray. We praise you, O God, for redeeming the world through our Savior Jesus Christ. Today he entered the holy city in triumph and was proclaimed messiah and king by those who spread garments and branches along his way. Bless these branches and those who carry them. Grant us grace to follow our Lord in the way of the cross, so that, joined to his death and resurrection, we enter into life with you; through the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. PROCESSION Let us go forth in peace, in the name of Christ. Amen. BLESSING +++SENDING+++ God the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and forevermore. Amen. SENDING SONG Go to Dark Gethsemane elw 347 DISMISSAL Go in peace. Remember the poor. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE When in Our Music God is Glorified Ford From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23333. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 4 13
SONG AFTER COMMUNION Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. CHOIR ANTHEM Ride On in Majesty! Gerald Kensinger PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION God of mercy, we give you thanks for seating us at your table and serving us with the food of eternal life. We who once were dead are now living members of your Son, awakened by the breathing of your Spirit. Send us out to awaken others to the mystery of your love, which is revealed to all the world in the one who came to give himself away, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 12 PRAYER OF THE DAY As we now enter into the contemplation of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and meditate on the salvation of the world through his sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection, let us pray. Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. +++WORD+++ FIRST READING 4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 5 Isaiah 50:4-9a
PSALM Psalm 31:9 16 The refrain is sung by the cantor, repeated by the assembly. The psalm is sung antiphonally by the cantor and assembly, beginning with the cantor. The assembly sings the refrain where marked. COMMUNION Communion is open to anyone who seeks to respond to Christ's love. To receive communion the assembly follows the choir, approaching the altar rail by the center aisle in two rows. Individuals fill in at the next open spot at the rail on their side of the aisle. You may kneel or stand. The pastor will come around and place the host (bread) in your hand, an assisting minister will have the wine. You may receive the wine either by common cup, or from the pouring chalice. To receive from the pouring chalice take a glass from the tray at the front of the center aisle. After you use the glass you may place it in the tray on the window sill as you return to your seat by the side aisle. COMMUNION SONG 9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly. 10 For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed. 11 I am the scorn of my enemies, a disgrace to my neighbors, a dismay to my acquaintances; when they see me in the street they avoid me. 12 Like the dead I am forgotten, out of mind; I am as useless as a broken pot. R 13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life. 14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. I have said, "You are my God. 15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16 Let your face shine up- on your servant; save me in your steadfast love." R 6 11
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people. Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever. Amen. LORD S PRAYER Lord remember us in your Kingdom, and teach us to pray. SECOND READING Philippians 2:5-11 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.\ The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL The Passion of Our Lord According to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. The people remain seated until invited to stand. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. HYMN OF THE DAY O Sacred Head, Now Wounded elw 351 PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Hear us, O God, Your mercy is great. PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The assembly shares the Lord s peace with those nearby. 10 7
MUSICAL OFFERING +++MEAL+++ OFFERTORY HYMN Create in Me wov 732 PREFACE It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; whose suffering and death gave salvation to all. You gather your people around the tree of the cross, transforming death into life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: OFFERING PRAYER God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. DIALOGUE THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE We give you thanks, Father, through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, whom you sent in this end of the ages to save and redeem us and to proclaim to us your will. He is your Word, inseparable from you, through whom you created all things, and in whom you take delight. He is your Word, sent from heaven to a virgin's womb. He there took on our nature and our lot and was shown forth as your Son, born of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary. He, our Lord Jesus, fulfilled all your will and won for you a holy people; he stretched out his hands in suffering in order to free from suffering those who trust you. He is the one who, handed over to a death he freely accepted, in order to destroy death, to break the bonds of the evil one, to crush hell underfoot, to give light to the righteous, to establish his covenant, and to show forth the resurrection, taking bread and giving thanks to you, said: 8 9