Worship

Opening Sentences.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Hymn:

1   All glory, laud, and honour      

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.

 2   The company of angels      

are praising thee on high,      

and mortal men and all things      

created make reply.      

The people of the Hebrews      

with palms before thee went;      

our praise and prayer and anthems      

before thee we present.

 3   To thee before thy Passion      

they sang their hymns of praise;      

to thee now high exalted      

our melody we raise.      

Thou didst accept their praises;      

accept the prayers we bring,      

who in all good delightest,      

thou good and gracious King.

 4   All glory, laud, and honour      

to thee, Redeemer, King,      

to whom the lips of children      

made sweet hosannas ring!

Sing/ Read /pray /proclaim the words or listen to it here 

All Glory Laud & Honor link here

Let us pray together

God our Father, we thank you that you sent your Son Jesus to be our King and Saviour. We thank you that he came to his people in triumph, but also in humility, and was willing to die so that all who believe in him may be forgiven, may become your people, and may share in eternal life. Forgive us for the times we have refused to believe, for the times when we have not listened, and the times when we have been unwilling to follow him on the way, and work in us by your Holy Spirit to make us the people you want us to be.. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1: 9)

Today’s Reading from the Epistle: Philippians 2: 5-11

Today’s Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 1-11

Time to Reflect

 Think about the last time you saw the Queen in a procession, perhaps on television, at the State Opening of Parliament, or the Trooping of the Colour, or a royal wedding. How did she travel? Either in a limousine or a stately coach most likely. Have you ever seen her arrive at such an event in a battered white van? But that is the equivalent of what Jesus is doing here. He is coming to Jerusalem as King. That much the prophet Zechariah makes clear. He prophesies after some of God’s people returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. But they had no king, and it was dubious whether they wanted one because kings had not done them much good in the past. But God promised them a king who would be different from any king they had known. Firstly, he would be victorious. That was unusual, though not absolutely unknown in the history of Israel and Judah. And secondly, he would be humble, coming on a donkey - the common working animal in the streets of the city. His victory too would be unusual. It involved dying on a cross, bearing the consequences and responsibility for the disobedience and rebellion of all God’s people so they can reign in life. We too can share in his victory, if we are prepared to believe in Jesus as God’s chosen deliverer, to ask forgiveness for going our own way rather than his, and to commit ourselves to walking with him the way of the cross.

Take a time to sit quietly

A time of prayer

We stand with Christ in his suffering.

For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus, let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

For Christian people, that through suffering of disunity there may grow a rich union in Christ,

Let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them, that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy, let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground, let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly for justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

For those in the darkness and agony of isolation, that they may find support and encouragement,

let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure, or sorrow, feel that God is far from them, let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross, let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy

Holy God, holy and strong

Holy and immortal, have mercy upon us. In Jesus’ name.  AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father ……

Hymn: Listen to You laid aside your majesty 

Listen to You laid aside your majesty link

or sing a verse of a hymn that comes to mind

A prayer of blessing

Christ crucified draw us to himself that we may find in him a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven and the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon us and remain with us always.