종려주일예배 Palm Sunday Worship Service

By Kangwon Lee

Palm Sunday commemorates and celebrates the day Jesus entered Jerusalem, heading toward his crucifixion. Prepare music appropriate for Palm Sunday before the service begins. Care should be taken that the joy of Palm Sunday does not overshadow the solemn meaning of Passion Week. It is important to fully experience the story of the Passion before welcoming the joy of Easter.

Depending on the context of the church, the congregation can gather either inside or outside at a designated location. Palm branches or olive branches for the procession are distributed to the congregation. Palm leaves can be preserved until the next year and used to make ashes for the Ash Wednesday service. The palm symbolizes righteousness, victory, and beauty.

CALL TO WORSHIP

“Those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!'”(Mark 11:9–10 NRSV)

INVOCATION

We praise you, Lord, who comes as the king of kings! Like the Israelites who welcomed you with joy and palm branches, we also praise you and welcome you with all our hearts and bodies. Lord, the humble king riding on a donkey, approach us, who are lowly and unworthy, and reign over our bodies, hearts, and lives. As you rode humbly on a donkey, let us follow your example and live a life of service to one another. Lord, who carried the heavy cross and climbed the hill of Golgotha, grant that we who worship you today may walk closely with you and follow your footsteps to the end. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you, triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9 NRSV).

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, many people laid their clothes and palm branches on the ground to welcome him. In this moment, just as Jesus entered Jerusalem, we welcome him into our hearts. Let us praise and welcome Jesus, our king, as he comes among us to purify us and save us. Let us join the procession, praising the Lamb of God.

PALM PROCESSION

The congregation holds palm branches and forms a procession. This procession marks the beginning of the service and symbolizes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. During the procession, the scripture is read, and the following hymn is sung to express the glory of worship.

HYMN

“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
(United Methodist Hymnal, 278)

PROCLAMATION OF JESUS’ ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

Hear the story of our Lord Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, as recorded in the Gospels.

Select one of the following passages to be read:

Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–38, John 12:12–19

RESPONSIVE READING

Psalm 118

Leader: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.

Congregation: Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Leader: Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Congregation: Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Leader: Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

Congregation: With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?

Leader: The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

Congregation: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals.

Leader: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Congregation: All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

Leader: They pushed me hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.

Congregation: The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Congregation: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118, NRSV)

PRAYER

Hosanna! Jesus, king of kings, who entered the city of Jerusalem! Just as the people of old waved palm branches to welcome you as king, we too wave palm branches to welcome you as our king. We remember how you did not avoid suffering but entered Jerusalem to cleanse the temple.

Though our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we have lived in sin. Today, we remember the fig tree you cursed for bearing no fruit and repent. Our lives, too, are full of leafy appearances but bear no fruit of faith to offer you. Forgive us, Lord.

Now, we humbly call on your name. Let us wave palm branches to proclaim your victory and welcome you as our eternal king. Today, help us walk the path that leads to eternal life as we follow your footsteps. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING:

Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29

Suggested Additional Passages:

Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–38, John 12:12–19, Philippians 2:5–11, Psalm 50:4–9a

ANTHEM

SERMON

HYMN

“Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”

(United Methodist Hymnal, 277)

SENDING FORTH

Beloved, go forth now. During this holy week, as you welcome Jesus as king, the Holy Spirit will meet and guide you. Just as Jesus entered Jerusalem and walked toward the cross, may you also walk toward the cross on Calvary. This week, live the life of a martyr, walking the path of the cross.

BENEDICTION

May the grace of Jesus Christ, who humbly entered Jerusalem on a donkey to save us, the boundless love of God, who did not spare his only Son, and the fellowship and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who reveals this great love to us, be with all who cry “Hosanna!” to welcome the Lord today. May this blessing rest upon you now and forevermore. Amen.

Source: “A Service of Worship for Passion/Palm Sunday” Copyright © 1979, 1986 by Abingdon Press; Copyright © 1992 UMPH. Opening Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer (The Episcopal Church, 1979), 271.

Kangwon Lee wrote this order of Palm Sunday Worship Service for a bilingual Korean-English congregation. This service may be used when the Korean-speaking and English-speaking members worship together, and it may also be used when each worships separately.

Rev. Dr. Kangwon Lee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Seoul Theological Seminary and a Th.M. from Methodist Theological Seminary. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He was ordained as an elder in the California-Nevada Conference and currently serves at Jesus Love United Methodist Church in Cupertino.