21st Century Africana Worship Resources for Palm Sunday, Year B

Call to Worship
(Philippians 2:5-11))
We offer this disclaimer: As we begin our worship today, we cannot guarantee:

Those demons will be crushed,
Addictions destroyed,
Wanna-be friends excused,
Bad relationships discontinued,
Terrible situations chased away,
Aches and pains forgotten;
And that in the process Jesus, whose name is above every name,
Will be exalted and your knees will bend and your tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord!

We can guarantee, however:
It's about to be on up in here!!!

Act of Worship from Psalm 31:9-16
A Litany of Distress
Leader: Is anybody out there going through?

People: Depression seems to creep into our souls and spirits while we try to combat sadness and grief.

Leader: Is anybody out there going through?

People: It often feels like we are disliked by everyone: neighbors, coworkers, and folks who don't even know us.

Leader: Is anybody out there going through?

People: It's a wonder we are still in our right mind! It seems like we are being plotted against from all around!

Leader: But God is gracious to us and knows when we are in distress.

People: You know what, we aren't even worried! We've come to praise God anyway!

Leader: Do you trust in God?

People: We trust in the Lord our God!!

(Congregation shows signs of worship and praise.)

Choral Response: "I Will Trust in the Lord" (Songs of Zion, 14)

Holy Week Benediction
And now, my friends go forth
To a week where transformation
Will meet you and guide you.
Do not hide when they recognize you,
Do not doubt when you see Christ,
Do not deny when you are confronted.
Do not stop until you are at the cross,
And there you will see the light;
And the burdens of your heart will roll away.

Until then, God be with you!

Amen.

Related Resources

• Worship Planning Helps
• Lectionary Hymns
• Preaching Helps
• Evangelistic Preaching Helps: Preparing for the Lenten Season
• 21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Two Litanies Based on Psalm 118
• 21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Choral Reading Based on Psalm 31:9-16
• 21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources "A Covenant in Plain Sight": A Poem for Monday of Holy Week Based on Isaiah 42:1-9

About the Author: The Rev. B. Kevin Smalls is the Associate Council Director for Young Adult and Campus Ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference.