For Reflection
_When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. _
Beloved One, you know my heart through and through. Your gaze penetrates to the core of who I am, where the truest and deepest of my desire dwells. When I knock on your door with my requests, grant what will most influence my love for you. May I ever seek that which you long for me to be. I open the door of my heart to you. I open the door. Amen.
The Prelude
The Welcome, News and Announcements
The Introit
The Call to Worship
The McLeods
One:Crowds, crammed, crushed, congregate, multitude, mass, mayhem, melee, pressing, pushing, pulling, rolling, shouting, shoving, screaming, hallelujah, hosanna, hosanna, redeem us, rescue us, reprieve us, release us.
People: The crowds praised God for the great things that they had witnessed in Jesus.
Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: “Peace and glory in the highest heaven,” they cried.
Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: “If our voices are silent, these very stones will shout for joy.”
Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Let us be church. Let us worship God.
The Confession and Assurance
Leader: In humility and faith and as we consider the Palm/Passion Parade, let us confess our sin to God. (1 John 1:9) A questioning promise, a broken covenant, a wondering band of followers, a questioning: “Won’’t you wait here a while? Won’t you wait here a while?”
People: Long enough, long enough, to grasp even a glimpse, and hold even a fraction of a broken heaven.
Leader: With contrite hearts, let us hail the Lamb of God. Hosanna. Redeem us, rescue us, reprieve us, release us!
People:In you gracious God, the penitent find a pardoner. The fearful find a friend,
Leader: The wounded find a healer, the burdened find a counselor.
People: In you gracious God, we meet our maker, and our match.
Moment of Silence.
The Silent Prayers of Confession
The Assurance of Pardon
Leader: O Christ, in whose heart is both welcome and warning, say to us, do to us, reveal within us the things that will make us whole, and we will wait, we will wonder, and we will praise you.
The Hymn #196 “All Glory Laud and Honor”
Refrain
All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the king of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.
Refrain
The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
Refrain
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.
Refrain
To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Refrain
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.
Refrain
The Peace of Christ
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. To this peace we were called as members of a single body. The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
The Hebrew Scripture Reading Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,[a]
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?
All of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
The New Testament Lesson Matthew 21:6-11
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[b] 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 Hymn “He Leadeth Me”
He leadeth me, O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate’er I do, where’er I be, still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me. He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me; his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me. Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine; content, whate’er my lot may be, since ’tis my God who leadeth me. He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me; his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
We Proclaim God’s Word
Prayer of Illumination
The Sermon “Looking for the Passion in the Palms”
Music for Meditation
We Respond to God’s Word
The Offertory
The Doxology # 606 Old Hundredth
The Unison Prayer of Dedication
We dedicate these offerings to the proclamation of your word, the teaching of your ways, and the living of your will for all humankind. We reach out with joy and gladness to offer your love to the world. May these gifts enable the sharing of your presence with many who have not experienced a sense of their own value as your children. As we keep covenant with you, we would also share its joys and obligations with our neighbors. Amen.
The Joys and Concerns
The Silent, Intercessory and the Lord’s 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
We Go Forth in God’s Name
The Charge and Benediction
The Sending Hymn #197 “Hosanna Loud Hosanna”
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;
Bright angels joined the chorus,
Beyond the cloudless sky,
Hosanna in the highest,
Glory to God on high!
Fair leaves of silvery olive
They strewed upon the ground,
While Salem’s circling mountains
Echoed the joyful sound;
The Lord of men and angels
Rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children
Should on His bidding wait.
Hosanna in the highest!
That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer,
The Lord of Heaven our king.
O may we ever praise Him
With heart and life and voice,
And in His blissful presence
Eternally rejoice!
Postlude
Leaders for today’s Service of Worship
Many thanks to our Acolyte: Emery Ericson, our liturgists, the McLeods, Carol and Ken.
Thanks also do our tech team and Projectionist – Russell Peterson, Videographer, Stephen Little, Audiographer- Larry Beckwith, Recorder, Joe Pepper, Zoom Co-host, Marvin Pritts, Webmaster, Kristin Parry.
Attributions
Call to Worship adapted and reprinted from Breathing New Life into Lent by Pritchard, McKinstry & Powers; Unison Offertory Prayer by Psalms and Prayers for Congregational Participation by B. David Hostetter. The service music and the hymn for today are from our hymnal “Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal.”
Do You Have Ideas You Would Like to Share with the Session? Comment cards are in the pews. Please fill them out and place in the offering box. One convenient way to get in touch with any Session member is to go to your e-news and click on the hyperlinked email address.
Helpful Information:
• Need a hearing device for Worship? – You can get one at the rear of the Sanctuary at the sound booth
• Prayer Requests and announcements for the Bulletin/FPCU Family News should be sent to Administrative Assistant Kristin Parry at FPCUlysses@gmail.com
• Reservations for the Chapel should be made through Kristin Parry at 315-283-3137 or FPCUlysses@gmail.com
• Contact Information changes should be sent to Clerk of Session Kris Alling at krisalling56@gmail.com
Helpful Information (Continued)
• Birthday Calendar Updates should be sent to Linda Andrew at lka@ottcmail.com
• To sign up to be a liturgist, usher, or greeter, please see the sign-up sheets in the Chapel.
Kristin Parry, Administrative Assistant
Joseph Pepper, Music Director and Keyboardist
The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Russell, Interim Pastor
69 East Main Street, P.O. Box 597, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Web Address: http://www.fpcu.info
Email Address: FPCUlysses@gmail.com
Telephone: 607-387-8185
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