WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Service for the Lord s Day Palm Sunday April 14, 2019 GATHERING (Silence during the Prelude is requested in preparation for worship.) PRELUDE Two Settings of VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN Healey Willan (All Glory, Laud, and Honor) Dale Wood CHORAL INTROIT Patti Drennan Hosanna, Hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna, blessed is He who comes! Hosanna, hosanna to the blessed One! Crowds had gathered on that day to let their voices ring. They lined the streets and shouted, Blessed is the King! They waved palm branches in the air for David s royal Son. Blessed is He who comes today, our Lord, the righteous One! Hosanna, hosanna... Riding on a donkey colt to Jerusalem, the Savior saw the people come to worship Him. They laid their coats upon the road for David s royal Son. Blessed is He who comes today, our Lord, the righteous One! Hosanna, hosanna...
*CALL TO WORSHIP Let us worship God! (Those who are able may stand.) Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! *PRAYER OF THE DAY The Lord be with you. And also with you. To you, O God, we cry: Hosanna! Lord, save us! Let this be our constant prayer - as we dance among the palms, as we sit around the table, as we kneel before the cross, as we bow our heads in sorrow. To you, O God, we cry: Hosanna! Lord, save us! In Jesus name we pray. Amen. *PROCLAMATION OF THE ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM Hear the Word of God! Our ears are open. Luke 19:28-38 (New Testament, page 83 in your pew Bible) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! *HANDBELL FANFARE FOR PALM SUNDAY *PROCESSIONAL HYMN 196 VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH All Glory, Laud, and Honor (Everyone is asked to sign the Friendship Register, which is located on the center aisle end of each pew.) 2
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION THE WORD Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Hal H. Hopson Refrain Let the doors of righteousness be opened; we will go in and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; it is opened for the righteous. We will give praise, for God has heard us and has come to save us. Refrain. The stone, which the builders rejected as worthless, has become the cornerstone. This is your work, O Lord, a marvel in our eyes. Lord, you have made this day; let us rejoice and be glad. Refrain. Send salvation, O Lord; Lord, grant us victory. Blessed be your name, O Lord. We bless you from your temple. Lord God, you have given us light; with waving branches we march around the altar. Refrain. You are our God; we give you praise; we will proclaim your greatness. We will offer thanks because of your goodness; your love endures forever. Refrain 3
SCRIPTURE Luke 19:37-40 (New Testament, page 83 in your pew Bible) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SERMON It s a Wonderful Life! Donovan Drake (A moment for meditation) *HYMN 215 (vss. 1-3 only) WONDROUS LOVE *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH What Wondrous Love Is This Christ Jesus, 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 to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. (Philippians 2:5-11) 4
OFFERING THANKSGIVING Anthem (8:30 a.m.) Ride On Grayston Ives Ride on, ride on in majesty! Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry, thy humble beast pursues his road with palms and scattered garments strowed. Ride on... In lowly pomp ride on to die, O Christ thy triumph now begin o er captive death and conquered sin. Ride on... The winged squadrons of the sky look down with sad and wond ring eyes to see the approaching sacrifice. Ride on... Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh; the Father on his sapphire throne awaits his own anointed Son. Ride on... In lowly pomp ride on to die, bow thy meek head to mortal pain, then take O God, thy power, and reign. 5
Anthem (11:00 a.m.) Thy Will Be Done Craig Courtney Our cup was filled with darkness. Our cup was filled with death. Christ took our cup and drank it, and gave us life, and gave us hope, gave us Himself. My Father, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will, O Lord, but Thine be done. In blackest night we hear him in dark Gethsemane. Pleading with the Father for one more way, for one more hope, for one more day. My Father, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will, O Lord, but thine be done. Then they took our Savior, and led Him to a tree; and there they broke His body, poured out his life, put Him to death to rise again! My Father, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will, O Lord, but thine be done. *DOXOLOGY OLD HUNDREDTH Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all creatures here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen. 6
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Lead us, O God, in the way of Christ. Give us courage to take up our cross and, in full reliance upon your grace, to follow him. Help us to love you above all else and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, demonstrating that love in deed and word by the power of your Spirit. Through Christ, all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit in the holy church, now and forever. Amen. THE LORD S PRAYER (Prayed in unison; see page 35 of your hymnal for text.) SENDING *HYMN 197 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna ELLACOMBE *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE The Royal Banners Forward Go (Vexilla Regis) Wilbur Held (HERZLIEBSTER JESU) *(Those who are able may stand.) SERVICE NOTES WORSHIP LEADERS: Liturgist: Whitney Booth Lockard, Associate Director of Youth; (8:30 a.m.) Lay liturgist: Baker Avinger; (11:00 a.m.) Lay liturgist: Mary Neely Young. MUSICIANS: Gloria and Jubilate Choirs, Chiming Children, Sally Mae Arnn, Director; (8:30 a.m.) Westminster Choir; (11:00 a.m.) Alleluia Choir, Laudate Youth Choir; John W. Semingson, Director of Music Ministries; Polly Brecht, Organist. USHERS: (8:30 a.m.) Nat Harden, Paige Harden, Ty Harden; (11:00 a.m.) Ron Stanley, Laura Stanley, Marc Stanley, Sarah Frances Stanley. Please contact an usher if assistance is needed. 7
ANNOUNCEMENTS WELCOME: Westminster Presbyterian Church welcomes you to share our common journey to become more faithful disciples of Christ. Our love and acceptance of each other affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of our differences, and bear witness to the love of God for all people and our commitment to Christ. Any who are interested in joining us in this journey are invited to come to speak with one of our Greeters, who will be in the Parlor after each worship service. The Greeters for today are (8:30 a.m.) Judi Larson, and (11:00 a.m.) Donna and Bob Littleton. ASSISTIVE HEARING DEVICES AND LARGE-PRINT BULLETINS are available from Ushers. Please tune hearing devices to channel 4. If you would like to take a hearing device home with you, please contact Paul Webb in the church office at 615.292.5526. PRAYER SERVICE FOR WHOLENESS IS TODAY: The monthly Prayer Service for Wholeness will be held today in the Chapel immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. This brief and informal service (roughly 15 minutes) will include a time for sharing concerns and joys, griefs and celebrations. Rev. Heidi Hudnut-Beumler and Claire Harris Kramer co-lead this service and remain available to pray with and for members of our community. LENTEN MIDDAY PRAYER: This year Westminster s staff will be leading Lenten Midday Prayer in the Harwell Chapel every Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. 12:15 p.m. through April 17th. The services will be simple and meditative, befitting the season. Please contact Guy Griffith (ggriffith@nashvillewpc.org or 615.292.5526) if you have any questions or need additional information. ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING: Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our brothers and sisters around the world to find the hope for a brighter future. Offering envelopes are available in the pew literature racks on Easter Sunday, April 21. EASTER FLORAL CROSS: Join us in the wonderful tradition that is Westminster s Easter Floral Cross, to be displayed in front of the church on Easter Sunday morning, April 21st! Please bring flowers either from your garden or purchased to decorate our Cross. Special helpers will be outside the front doors of the Sanctuary before and after each service to assist you in adding your floral offerings. If you would like to volunteer to be a special helper before or between services, please contact Carol Callaway-Lane at carol.callawaylane@vanderbilt.edu or 615-423- 2367. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The music used in the service this morning is copyrighted under Christian Copyright Licensing International, Inc., No. 11221525. 8
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE APRIL 18 - MAUNDY THURSDAY 7:00 P.M. SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION IN THE SANCTUARY STRIPPING OF THE CHANCEL LAUDATE CHOIR APRIL 19 - GOOD FRIDAY 7:00 P.M. CHORAL SERVICE OF DARKNESS IN THE SANCTUARY WESTMINSTER CHOIR APRIL 21 - THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD SERVICES: 7:30 A.M., 9:15 A.M., AND 11:00 A.M. WITH CHOIRS AND BRASS ENSEMBLE (HOLY COMMUNION AT THE 7:30 A.M. SERVICE ONLY) Westminster Presbyterian Church Purpose Statement Ordinary people testifying to the extraordinary light found in our Lord Jesus Christ. For it is the God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 3900 West End Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37205-1899 Phone: 615.292.5526; www.nashvillewpc.org 9