ORDER OF WORSHIP
April 2, 2023 10:30 AM
SIXTH SUNDAY IN LENT
PALM SUNDAY
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE “Ride on, Ride on in Glory!” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Extinguishing the Lenten candles 1 through 6
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 118)
Leader: Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
PEOPLE: This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
Leader: I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
PEOPLE: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
Leader: This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
PEOPLE: This is the day that the: LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Leader: Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
PEOPLE: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
Leader: Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
PEOPLE: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
INVOCATION
Gracious God, we are coming to the end of our Lenten journey, and we thank you for this time of reflection, introspection, and discovery. Direct us in the coming week and beyond, guiding us through your death and resurrection, bringing us home to you, and bringing Jesus home to each of us. In His name we pray, Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “All Glory Laud and Honor” Red #204
CALL TO CONFESSION
As those before us welcomed Jesus into the city of his crucifixion, let us reflect on what forgiveness means to each of us in the name of Jesus, our Redeemer.
PRAYER TO CONFESSION
Creator of us all, we come to you in this most Holy week in our lives, that in your eye is but a moment in the passage of your love and grace. Grant us the comfort of knowing your healing touch, even as we struggle to know and understand the full measure of your grace upon us, as we go on our ways as followers of Jesus and the pathway he leads us upon. In his name we ask forgiveness, Lord. Amen
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
As the journey of this Lenten season ends, we look to you our Lord for continued guidance, knowing that you provide new beginnings for us and that we are indeed forgiven. Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Lift High the Cross” Red # 229
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Since we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from your mouth, make us hunger for this heavenly food, that it may nourish us today in the ways of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 50: 4-9 John Safran
NEW TESTAMENT READING Matthew 21: 1-11
SERMON MESSAGE Who is This Jesus? John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught to pray, saying:
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.
HOLY COMMUNION
COMMUNION HYMN: “Bread of the World” Red #774
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
RESPONSIVE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
PEOPLE: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right to praise you, Father, Lord of all creation; in your love you made us for yourself. When we turned away you did not reject us but came to meet us in your Son.
PEOPLE: You embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
Leader: In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us. He opened his arms of love upon the cross and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin. And he took bread, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
PEOPLE: Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his body is the bread of life.
Leader: At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said:
this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you; do this in remembrance of me. As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this cup may to us to represent the body and blood of your dear son.
With your whole Church throughout the world, we offer you this song of praise and
lift our voices to join the eternal song of heaven:
PEOPLE: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! AMEN.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
CONCLUDING PRAYER
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Heidelberg Catechism, 1562)
I believe that the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything within, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Parent because of Christ his Son. I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and he will turn to my good, whatever adversity he sends me in this challenging world. He is able to do this because he is almighty God; He desires to do this because he is a faithful Healer.
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We can hoard the gifts with which you bless us, God of generosity, or we can share them with others. May what we offer in these moments be the very blessing, the very hope, the very peace others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Women’s Ensemble
**DOXOLOGY (Traditional)
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
CLOSING HYMM “In the Garden” Red # 242
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Song Without Words” Felix Mendelsohn
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955
