April 2, 2023 (Palm Sunday)

Worship Resources for 
the Center for Faith and Giving

Palm Sunday

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Matthew 21:1-11

As we begin this Holy Week, many congregations have palm leaves available for the processional, for the children, the choir or the whole congregation.  Consider providing these instructions for each family to transform their palms into palm crosses, or a “folding station” people can access following worship: http://www.kingofpeace.org/palmcrosses/

OR

Buy folded crosses to hand out as the congregation leaves from worship.  These come from Tanzanian villages, and are modest in price.
https://bayardfaithresources.com/products/african-palm-crosses-for-palm-sunday-ps9


Call to Worship  
(inspired by Psalm 118)

L:  Hosanna!  Shout it with me!
P:  Hosanna!
L:  We shout with glad voices, even knowing it means “Save us!”
p:  We cry out, “Save us!” 
       to the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
L:  We plead for God to save us 
       from the pain of violence and the power of deceit.
P:  We ask God to save us as we seek to hide from all we fear.
L:  Hosanna!  We give thanks and extol God’s holy name,
P: for the Lord is good, God’s steadfast love endures forever!

Opening Prayer  

God of all good gifts, today we praise your name, grateful for your steadfast love, which endures forever.  
When trials beset us,
when tragedy overcomes,
when fears push us to flee,
may we still cry out 
Hosanna! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
Launch us into this Holy Week with eager hearts. Help us walk with Jesus, not only in the joys of Palm Sunday parade, but in each day with the mounting crises that lead on to the cross.  AMEN

Moment for Stewardship  

It was a spring festival at a local elementary school, where the silent auction included a place to bid on two horseback rides.  Abby, 8 years old, pleaded with her parents to bid.  At the end of the evening, Abby’s folks were the top bid, and came away with BOTH!  Abby could hardly sleep that night, eagerly awaiting the weekend when she would get to ride for the very first time!

When Abby and her folks arrived at the horse barn on Saturday, she declared, “I’ve never ridden a horse”. Abby looked all around, trying to see which animal would be hers to ride.

The person at the desk looked worried, called over one of the staff, and then told Abby, “we’re sorry, but the pony we use for first-time riders is sick and we don’t have another one.”  Abby burst into tears.

Just then, the staff person, Robbie, looked to Abby’s folks first, then said, 
“if you’d like, you can ride with me on my horse.  She’s BIG!  But she’s also super gentle.”  Abby wiped her tears, grinned with excitement and pleaded with her parents, “Pu-LEE-SSE!  Can I ride with Robbie?”

After getting permission, Abby got her helmet on. Robbie brought the big, gentle horse to the stand. Abby listened and then put her foot in the stirrup and swung her leg over the saddle.  Robbie mounted right behind Abby, and they started around the corral.

With energy, Abby’s folks cheered and clapped, encouraging Abby in this new adventure.  And when Abby finally dismounted, she ran to her folks, saying “I loved hearing you cheer and clap while I was riding! 
           Now, I want my best friend, Billy, to get a chance to ride.
           I’m going to give him my other ride, so he can have an awesome      
           time, too.  Could we come with him and I can cheer and clap, too?”

On this Palm Sunday, we’ve had our opportunity to cheer and clap, wave our palms and shout “Hosanna!”  Now, we have an opportunity to give a portion of what’s been given to us, so others might also come to recognize Jesus as
the Christ.  Let’s give with grateful hearts, eager to share the joy of following God’s Beloved.


Prayer of Thanksgiving
 (adapted from the offertory prayer for Palm Sunday found at https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning.  

God of grace, 
we enter this Holy Week offering our tithes and gifts, a portion of what you’ve already given us.  
Today we remember how the early followers were sent to find a donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem.  We picture the crowd offering their cloaks and cutting branches from the trees to celebrate the coming of the Son of God.  

In like manner, we offer our tithes and gifts today, eager to be part of those who celebrate Jesus, the Christ, among us – not just for a parade, but all the way to the cross, the grave, and entering into life-beyond-life. 

Receive these gifts and accept the desire of our hearts, that we might walk into the coming week as faithful followers of this One you called “My Beloved”.   AMEN

Invitation to Communion  

When we come to this Table today, we’re in the midst of the story of Jesus’ last week of earthly life.  All are invited to participate, as we remember love broken and poured out, represented in these symbols of bread and juice.

(if you’re going to strip your table and walk out in silence, follow your communion with commentary like this:

Today, we’ve eaten our meal.  Now we anticipate the next part of this week. 

We’ll pray, remembering Jesus prayed (if you have a prayer vigil scheduled, share 1 sentence reminding people of this). 

We’ll recall how he was betrayed, stripping our table as we’re reminded of Jesus’ clothes being stripped.  (Have deacons or others prepared to remove everything from the communion table, and cover the table with a black pall.)

Finally, we, too, will bring to our mind’s eye how Jesus walked up Calvalry’s hill, where his life would end in execution on a cross, as we walk out of the sanctuary in silence. 

Beloved of God, let us remember.

(Deacons move to strip the table and cover it in black.  As they walk out, everyone else from the chancel walks out in silence, 
or as the musician plays CH #202, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” or another plaintive tune)