| St. Mark’s United Church Minister: the Rev. Dr. Steven Davis Lay Ministers: All the members of the congregation April 2, 2023 at 10:00am
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We Gather in God’s Presence
Prelude: Stabat Mater (G. Pergolesi)
Welcome & Announcements
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Honouring the Land
Introit: VU#946 Kyrie Eleison
Lenten Candle Litany (adapted from the Rev. Mindi Weldon-Mitchell)
(One candles are lit.)
Minister: Excitement can so easily turn to hesitation; joy can quickly become fear; love can so quickly be consumed by hatred. This is what we learn from the events of Palm Sunday and the week that follows.
Reader 1: We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey, and as disciples of our Lord we remember those events of long ago, when the twelve disciples entered Jerusalem with Jesus, but then deserted him a few days later.
Reader 2: We remember that in our own lives, when things go well we often know God is with us, but when we are afraid or at risk, we may easily abandon our faith. We light this candle as a symbol of our trust in Jesus Christ that God will always remain faithful, even when we lack faith.
Prayer: Holy One, you have journeyed with us through the dark valleys, and as the darkest day approaches we hold firm in our faith that you will see us through to the other side. Help us to remain faithful to you, even in our times of deepest doubt. Amen.
(One candle is extinguished.)
Call to Worship
Minister: All glory be to God the Father!
People: All glory be to God the Son!
Minister: All glory be to God the Holy Spirit!
People: All glory be to God the One in Three!
Minister: All glory be to God the Three in One!
People: All glory be to God forever!
Hymn: VU #122 “All Glory, Laud and Honour”
Opening Prayer
Today is a glorious day, O Lord, and we have gathered here as we near the completion of our Lenten journey. We have travelled this path with one another and with you! We have been challenged by your Word to a deeper understanding, and moved by your presence to a greater love. Today, O Lord, we pray that process will continue! Help us to welcome Jesus anew into our hearts with tears of joy and shouts of gladness. But just like those first disciples, we also know that we can have a tendency to turn away when the going gets tough. We confess that we may well reject Jesus if he asks us to do something we don’t want to do. Perhaps he will ask us to love those whom we don’t even like! Perhaps he will ask us to serve those whom we think of as unworthy! Perhaps he will ask us to forgive those whom we are convinced are beyond forgiveness! We know that the call of Jesus is often overwhelmed by our own biases and beliefs, and we ask for your forgiveness, Gracious God, for that. Keep us faithful; keep us loving; keep us kind. Make us effective witnesses to Jesus through our daily lives. We ask this in his name. Amen!
Assurance of Pardon
We Listen
Time with the Young at Heart: Crowns and Crosses
Scripture: Psalm 118: 1-2 & 19-29 (Read by Dorothy P.); Matthew 21: 1-11 (Read by the Rev. Davis)
Hymn: MV #8 “And on This Path”
Sermon: From Coronation to Crucifixion
We Respond
Offertory Music: Improvisation, followed by VU #542 We Give You But Your Own
Blessing of the Offering
May the joy we find in Jesus, O God, be shown in many ways—in how we live, in how we love, in how we speak, in how we act. Today, we also show our joy in how we give, confident that while you will not turn away grumpy givers, you truly love cheerful givers, whose giving is motivated not by duty but by their relationship with you. In Jesus’ name we ask this. Amen.
Ministry of Music: “The Crown” (Norwegian folktune)
Prayers of the People & 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 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, forever and ever, Amen.
Hymn: VU #127 “Ride On! Ride On In Majesty!”
We Serve
Blessing
Minister: Palm Sunday draws to a close;
People: The events of Holy Week loom before us.
Minister: May we be blessed!
Minister: May you know that some crosses cannot be avoided;
People: And other crosses should not be avoided.
Minister: May we be blessed!
Minister: Remember that Jesus is present in even the worst of times;
People: And that God’s quiet power gives us strength to face them.
Minister: May we be blessed!
Commissioning
Choral Closing: VU#148 “Jesus, Remember Me” (3 times)
Postlude: Improvisation
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Thought for the Day
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Music reproduced with permission under licenses:
OneLicense A610919 and CCLI license #11269798
