April 13, 2025

April 13, 2025    11 A.M.

Palm Sunday Welcome!

Introduction

Today we follow Christ from triumphal entry to the cross, each waypoint of the journey marked by Jesus’ compassion for those who would betray, mock, accuse, or do violence to him. Though persecuted and beaten, Jesus the Son of God is not disgraced; instead, he asks forgiveness for those who put him to death. We have walked the Lenten pathway these forty days, each of us invited through baptism to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” We enter this holy week accompanying Jesus to the cross with both grief and thanksgiving in our hearts, trusting in God’s redeeming love.

BLESSING OF THE PALMS

(please stand)

We Sing: “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”  #106

Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang;

through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.

To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast,

the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,

the victor palm branch waving and chanting clear and loud.

The Lord of men and angels rose on in lowly state

nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.

Confession and Forgiveness

P:  Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.

C:  Amen.

P:  Let us return to God, confessing our sin in the assurance of God’s abiding love.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P:  Compassionate One,

C:  you are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, but our lives do not always reflect you and your love for the world. We do not show others the tender compassion you have shown to us. We do not welcome others with the radical hospitality you grant to all people. We oppress others, even though you have set us free again and again. We squander the abundant gifts of the earth. Transform our lives and guide us again in the way of the cross. Amen.

P:  Beloved in Christ, God’s arms are always stretched open wide to welcome the wandering ones home.  In ☩ Christ, your sins are forgiven. You have a place in God’s house forever.

C: Amen.

Prayer of the Day

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.

(Please be seated for the readings)

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a

R:  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. ^9a It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

…This is the Word of the Lord

C: Thanks be to God

Psalmody: Psalm 31:9-16

 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 all 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.
 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 upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”

Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

R:  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.

…This is the Word of the Lord

C: Thanks be to God

Gospel: Luke 19:28-40

C:                                                                🎵  Sing: 🎶

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to your children praying,

send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.

D:  ²⁸ After he had said this, [Jesus] went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” ³² So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. ³³ As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴ They said, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, ³⁸ saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” ⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

…This is the Gospel of the Lord

C: Praise to you, oh Christ

Wee Worship

We Sing: We Sing: “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”   ELW 344

(refrain) All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the king of Israel and David’s royal Son, now in the Lord’s name coming, our King and Blessed One. (refrain)	The multitude of pilgrims with palms before you went, our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present. (refrain)

Sermon(Rev. Carrie Wolfe)  

(please stand for the Apostles’ Creed)

Apostles’ Creed

C:  I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

(please be seated)

Prayers of Intercession

Led by the Spirit, let us turn to God in prayer for the church, the world, and all those in need.

A brief silence.

Guide your church this Holy Week as we follow in the servant way of Jesus. Protect those who face hostility or oppression for their faith. Humble those who would use faith to dominate others and reinforce their own power. God, in your mercy,

receive our prayer.

Make your creation a living witness to Christ’s passion and resurrection: in waving palms, shouting stones, fragrant vineyards, murmuring wheat, and revealing fire. Make us attentive to your holy presence in the world, that we may care for the earth you love. God, in your mercy,

receive our prayer.

Let your face shine upon the leaders of nations and let the same mind be in them as was in Christ Jesus, so that those with the most power may humble themselves to serve the most vulnerable. God, in your mercy,

receive our prayer.

Sustain the weary with a word. Grant perseverance to political prisoners and to any who are exploited, unjustly accused, or wrongly convicted. Abide with all who are in jails, detention centers, or prisons. Console all who experience times of trial or suffering (especially). God, in your mercy,

receive our prayer.

Give strength to those who will lead worship during Holy Week: pastors and deacons, altar guilds and sacristans, musicians and assisting ministers, ushers, and office staff. Instill in them awe and joy, that their service may reflect the love of Jesus. God, in your mercy,

receive our prayer.

We give thanks to you for our beloved dead, trusting that as the cross of Jesus led to the empty tomb, so you welcome those who have died into the paradise of your presence. God, in your mercy,

receive our prayer.

Receive the prayers of your people and draw all things together in your love, in the name of Jesus, who leads us from death to life.

Amen.

 (stand)

The Sharing of the Peace:

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.          

C:  And also with you.

P:  We Greet one another with the Peace of Christ

We Sing: “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” ELW 346

Ride on, ride on, in majesty! Hark! All the tribes hosanna cry. O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, With palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. Oh Christ, Thy triumphs now begin, O’er captive death and conquered sin.

Communion

 

P:  Gracious Provider, you set your immense treasures among us, opening your heart to the world.  As we prepare to feast on your bountiful love,

deepen our commitment to sharing those treasures with others, through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

C:  Amen.

P: The Lord be with you.                

C: And also with you.

P: Rejoice before your Lord.           

C: We lift them to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to our God.    

C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

P:   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. You call your people to cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast, that, renewed in the gift of baptism, we may come to the fullness of your grace. 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:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of Power and might.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

P:  In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

P: Again, after supper, 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.

P: With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life

as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

C: Christ has died:  Christ is risen:  Christ will come again.

P: O God of resurrection and new life: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine. Bless this feast. Grace our table with your presence.

C: Come, Holy Spirit.

P: Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and love.

C: Come, Holy Spirit.

P: We pray as Jesus taught us: 

C: 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, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 

Invitation to Communion

P:  All who are hungry, come! The feast of grace is spread.

(sit)

PowerPoint Video & Distribution

“Hosanna Praise Is Rising”

Prayer after Communion

Generous Host, you have shared your feast with us and made us new. Send us now to set tables of love and grace in our communities, that your liberating love might nourish the world into freedom, in the name of the crucified one, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Blessing

God our tender parent, God the crucified one, God the reconciling Spirit, ☩ bless you now and forever.

Amen.

Announcements

 

Birthdays April 13 – Alyssa Maleski, Andrea Maleski,                & Lucas Glover April 18 – Deanna Kyser, Peter Schultz,                & Dave Wiltse   Anniversary

Weekly Calendar Wednesday – 10 am – Stitching                      10 am – Bible Study at Immanuel Thursday – 7pm, Maundy Thursday Service Friday – 7pm, Good Friday Service at Immanuel

We Sing:  “The King of Glory”  #136 W&P

(refrain) The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices. Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
Who is the King of glory; how shall we call him? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. (refrain)	He gave his life for us, the pledge of salvation; He took upon himself the sins of the nation. (refrain)

Dismissal

P: Go in peace. Care for others as God cares for you.

C: Thanks be to God.