Worship at Home - Sunday 10 April 2022
This short act of worship has been prepared for you to use at home. We invite you to spend a few moments with God, knowing that other people across the Methodist Connexion are sharing this act of worship with you.
Opening Prayer
Loving God, we thank you for the special season of lent and the reminders of events that happened in Jesus’ life when he entered Jerusalem. May our time of worship reflect our gratitude and love for you. Amen
Hymn: StF152 This is the day that the Lord has made
This is the day, this is the day (StF 152) (methodist.org.uk)
This is the day,
this is the day that the Lord has made,
that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice,
we will rejoice and be glad in it,
and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day,
this is the day that the Lord has made.
This is the day,
this is the day when he rose again,
when he rose again.
We will rejoice,
we will rejoice and be glad in it,
and be glad in it.
This is the day when he rose again;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day,
this is the day when he rose again.
This is the day,
this is the day when the Spirit came,
when the Spirit came.
We will rejoice,
we will rejoice and be glad in it,
and be glad in it.
This is the day when the Spirit came;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day,
this is the day when the Spirit came.
Anonymous
Let us pray together
Lord Jesus,
you journeyed to Jerusalem many times,
as a child and as a man,
touching many lives along the way as you taught and healed and challenged.
Thank you for inviting us
to journey with you today,
for showing us the depth of your courage and the power of your love.
Thank you, Lord, for being our King and Saviour – and our friend.
You are worthy of all our praise. Amen.
We are sorry, Lord Jesus, for the moments
when our hosannas are loud
but lacking in love,
when we chase the lure of worldly power,
but miss the signs of heavenly glory,
when we choose popularity over integrity,
when we would silence those who speak the truth and are silent when we could speak out.
Forgive us, and inspire our steps as we follow you to the Cross…and beyond. Amen.
Prayers from Roots worship, 10th April 2022
Readings Psalm 118:1-2,19-29 Luke 19:28-40
Time to Reflect
Though Jesus visited Jerusalem several times, this was the only day when Jesus did something unexpected during his earthly life, entering into the city riding on the donkey. I am aware that many generations of theologians, Biblical scholars and readers of these texts would have asked questions, such as –
Why did Jesus need a donkey, especially a colt (which probably could not carry a grown man!) and not a horse?
How did the owner of the donkey let go of his colt, and obviously without any payment for it?
Jesus was used to walking everywhere, and therefore why did he not walk up to Jerusalem? The city was not too far, about two miles from the Mount of Olives!
As this is a familiar Bible reading, we of course know the answer to all the above questions - that is, all this happened in order to fulfil the Old Testament prophecy, which was spoken by the prophet Zechariah in chapters 9:9 and 14:4. This day was meant also to display a different kind of Kingship and Kingdom to all those who had gathered that day in Jerusalem for Passover, including the Roman soldiers/officials. We read that Jesus, the King of the Jews, entered the city in peace (one would not go into battle riding a donkey!) contrary to the victorious king who would enter the conquered city, riding on his ‘warhorse’, symbolising a judgment on the people of that city.
Adding to this, we are reminded “this is the day crowd shouts openly and claim allegiance with God rather than Caesar” which was quite a daring thing to do, given that not only was the ruling party watching everything closely, but also the religious leaders who were so concerned that they had said, “…look how the world is gone after him…” (John 12:19). They had their own agenda, but Jesus’ journey on a donkey was extraordinary, unexpected and un-imaginable and therefore they were frustrated to see the large crowd cheering for Jesus.
Perhaps, it was that day when Jesus and his teachings meant something for the followers. The whole city would have been in a joyous uproar on that day! If you have an experience of being in a parade or carnival, you would sense the feeling of joy and something bigger to come, but things did not turn out as people expected! For we know that soon after this event, Jesus was arrested, interrogated and crucified.
The texts for Palm Sunday teach us that Jesus did not comply with the values and expectation around him, and nor should we. This is easier said than done in the Western world, where there is no ‘pressure’ to live the Christian life, where there is not a great need to rely on Jesus for the daily bread or basic necessity. However, we must live the ‘servant leadership’ in all circumstances and even when it is hard and challenging.
Take a time to sit quietly
A time of prayer
As Jesus wept over Jerusalem and cleansed its Temple, let us pray for our cities and our churches today.
Help us know what will bring us peace, O Lord.
We pray to you for cities in conflict, where dictators hold on to power and oppress their own citizens, and the voice of the people is not heard. Especially for Ukraine…
Help us know what will bring us peace, O Lord.
We pray to you for cities in economic trouble
where the current Covid crisis has put many out of work, new businesses cannot get loans to start, and people do not feel they are all in it together.
Help us know what will bring us peace, O Lord.
We pray to you for cities suffering natural disaster, where storms, tsunamis, flooding or fire have destroyed the infrastructure
and rebuilding has been slow and inefficient.
Help us know what will bring us peace, O Lord.
We pray to you for all those suffering poor health, personal disaster, or the death of a loved one. Make us faithful in praying, visiting and caring for those in difficulties.
Help us know what will bring us peace, O Lord.
We pray to you for churches of all denominations, as what unites us this week is so much bigger than what divides us.
May we love one another, so the world may know you are among us.
Help us know what will bring us peace, O Lord. Amen.
Prayers adapted from Roots Worship, 10th April 2013
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn: StF264 Make way, make way, for Christ
Sing/ Read /pray /proclaim the words or listen to it here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK6XuYhL7JI
Make way, make way, for Christ the King
in splendour arrives;
fling wide the gates and welcome him
into your lives.
Make way (Make way), make way (make way),
for the King of kings (for the King of kings);
make way (make way), make way (make way),
and let his Kingdom in.
He comes the broken hearts to heal,
the prisoners to free;
the deaf shall hear, the lame shall dance,
the blind shall see.
And those who mourn with heavy hearts,
who weep and sigh,
with laughter, joy and royal crown he'll beautify.
We call you now to worship him as Lord of all,
to have no gods before him, their thrones must fall!
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
A prayer of blessing
May God grant us
exuberance of the Palm Sunday crowd,
and the humility of Jesus riding a donkey;
the energy and excitement of the crowd,
and the calm holiness of Jesus;
the expectation of the crowd,
and the understanding heart of Jesus
who journeyed to Jerusalem for love of us all. Amen.
Prayer from Roots Worship, 10th April 2022
Original Materials by Rev. Nutan Sandhya Joseph Suray
All Hymns reproduced under CCLi 1144191.
Local Churches please insert CCCLi No here here3382 / 761