Palm Sunday March 25, 2018 We acknowledge the Jaara Jaara people, the custodians of this land where we gather. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and pray for reconciliation.
We begin this morning s worship outside Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The Lord be with you. And also with you This morning begins the Great Week of the Christian Year. During Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of the Lord s death and resurrection. With Christians throughout the world, we come together this week to call to mind, and to express in word and action, the centre of the Easter mystery: our Lord s Passover from death to life. Christ entered in triumph into the Holy City to complete his work as Messiah: to suffer, to die and to rise to new life. Today we commit ourselves to walk the way of the cross, so that, sharing his sufferings, we may be united with him in his risen life. Sovereign God, we thank you for these crosses of palm. By your blessing may they be for us signs of the victory of your Son. May we who carry them in his name ever hail him as our Messiah, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen The Palm crosses are distributed amongst the congregation.
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark, chapter 11 beginning at the 1st verse Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Let us pray Merciful God, as we enter this holy week and gather at your house of prayer, turn our hearts again to Jerusalem, to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that, united with Christ and all the faithful, we may one day enter in triumph the city not made with hands, the new Jerusalem, eternal in the heavens, where, with you and the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in glory for ever. Amen. We walk together into the church and sing our first hymn Gathering Hymn 333 All glory praise an honour Let us pray True and humble king, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory. Amen. The Confession Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led
by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Let us confess our sins remembering before God the times when we have fallen from temptation into sin. We confess to you our selfishness and lack of love: fill us with your Spirit. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. We confess to you our fear and failure in sharing our faith: fill us with your Spirit. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. We confess to you our stubbornness and lack of trust: fill us with your Spirit. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy The absolution Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, Have mercy on us. MINISTRY OF THE WORD A reading from Isaiah chapter 50 verses 4 to 9a 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. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 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. 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; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. A reading from Philippians chapter 2 verses 5 to 11 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Gospel Hymn 244 Trotting Trotting You are welcome to either stand or sit for the reading of the passion. The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark chapter 14 beginning at the 1 st verse. Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ A moment of silence is kept at the point where we hear that our Lord breathes his last. For the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ The Sermon The Prayers of the People The Greeting of Peace
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace. We are the body of Christ His Spirit is with us. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. Offertory Hymn We give thanks for the offered gifts Blessed are you..(we give thanks for the bread and wine) Blessed be God forever Blessed are you..(we give thanks for money and food offerings) Blessed be God forever THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The preface to the Great Thanksgiving prayer is on page 151.for ever praising you and singing Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the Highest Blessed is he who comes in the Lord s name Hosanna in the Highest Then we return to page 128 With our hearts set on the kingdom and our hands open to serve, we pray as Jesus taught us Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen Everyone is welcome to the table of the Lord.
The Sending out of God s people Prayer after communion... Lord God, you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven; by it you nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthen our love: teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread, and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from your mouth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Most loving God. you send us into the world you love. Give us grace to go thankfully and with courage in the power of your Spirit. The Notices Final Hymn 348 Ride on Ride on The Blessing and Dismissal Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ.
***some thoughts from Rev. Mel I woke up at about 4am on Monday morning after a bad dream. I dreamed that I had completely forgotten about Palm Sunday! I got to the end of Sunday and realised that I had forgotten to give out the palm crosses, forgotten to begin the service outside and then walk into the church together, to symbolises Jesus journey into Jerusalme, forgotten to begin Holy Week in the proper way. What to do? What to do? What would happen if we forgot about the liturgical observance of Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday as it is also called)? Well in reality nothing would happen, but we would miss out on some of the lovely symbolism that we have today to begin the greatest week of the year for us, as Christians. Not only that, but this day we observe the very swift change of the voice of the crowd. Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly and with the crowds calling his name in love and admiration.and very quickly, with whispers and fear fueled lies, their minds are changed. It is a lesson to us as we watch the news or read the newspaper. We need to always keep our hearts alert to what our calling as Christians is when we are faced with headlines that would keep us afraid. Jesus taught us that everyone is welcome, to not be afraid to reach out our hand to those who are kept apart from society, to always love the person who is poor, homeless, or cast aside. I pray that this Holy Week offers opportunities for all of us to do that very thing; to go against the grain of society and reach out our hands in love to those who are in need. Peace, Mel.
************************** Pew Bulletin Holy Week March 26 7.00pm Holy Week Monday Wendy Hudson s March 27 7.00pm Holy Week Tuesday Ron White s March 28 7.00pm Holy Week Wed Ian and Judy s March 29 7.00pm Maundy Thursday* St Mary s March 30 9am Good Friday St George s March 30 midday Good Friday At the Children s Park March 31 7.00pm Easter vigil St Paul s Kyneton April 1 9am Easter Day St George s April 1 11am Easter Day St Mary s *St Mary s people are responsible for providing meat for the Maundy Thursday meal and St George s people the bread. Easter is our great celebration, the fulfilment of the promise of God so invite your neighbours to come along and celebrate this great feast with us. Mary Magdalene Movie If you would like to come along to see the new Mary Magdalene movie a small group will be going to Airport West cinema on Tuesday for the 1.40pm session. We will leave from St Mary s at midday. News from the Guilds St Mary s Guild: Guild will have a sale table at the Newham Craft De-Stash event on Saturday April 7 from 9am. If you re able to assist on the day, or have any tissue paper / paper bags for purchases please see Carol or Alicia. Moving Leave Rev. Mel will be taking a couple of days off after Easter to settle the rectory family into the new digs.
Diary Date Bishop Matt will be visiting us for the first time on May 20, which is Pentecost Sunday. Details to come closer to the date. Intercessions our prayers are asked for: John, Sam, Jim, Andrea, Alison, Ethan, Kirsten, Carole, Wendy, Judy, Jeanette, Trevor, Rudi, Trish, Hugh, Joshua and family, Alan, Sheila, Faye, Lynne, Kay, Don, Norm, Kristina and John, Linda, Carmela, Steven, Del, Heath, Mel and Shaun. Upcoming Baptisms and Weddings Please pray for Neve, Gabriel and Maya as they prepare for their baptisms. Birthdays Happy birthday to Hayden Clune on Saturday Years Mind and those who have died recently This week we remember Grace Moloney, Mavis Neal, June Howe, and Audrey Harrison. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. Readings for next week Easter Day Acts 10.34-43 Psalm 118.1-2, 14-24 John 20.1-18 PO Box 699, Woodend, VIC 3442 www.woodendanglican.org.au Priest: Rev d Melissa Clark 0411 722 718 Warden: Derek 0417 252 222 www.facebook.com/woodendanglican/