Palm Sunday

Welcome & Opening Prayer: Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy week – when, each day, we call to mind the last week of Jesus’ life. Today we remember that Jesus was welcomed by the crowds in joy and with palm waving before He was turned against and crucified, later in the week.

Let’s hear about Jesus’ majestic entry into Jerusalem from John’s gospel 12v12-16 (NRSVA): The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So, they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord - the King of Israel!’ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; for it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ Jesus’ disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written of him, and had been done to him. Silence

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, the path of glory. Amen

Lords’ prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

The Grace: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. AMEN

Thank you for joining us today. I hope you can join us on Monday as we continue our Holy Week journey.