Hosanna to the Son of David! A 21st Century Worship Resource for Palm Sunday

Call to Worship

Leader: On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the Holy City, Jerusalem.
The crowds cheered and cried out;

People: Hosanna to the Son of David!

Leader: Jesus rode upon a donkey and the crowds spread their garments before him, cheering:

People: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Leader: When the leaders asked, "Who is this?" the crowds said:

All: This is the prophet, Jesus of Nazareth, from Galilee. (Matthew 21:11)

Prayer of Confession

Leader: On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the Holy City, Jerusalem.
The crowds cheered and cried out;

People: Hosanna to the Son of David!

Leader: Jesus rode upon a donkey and the crowds spread their garments before him, cheering:

People: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Leader: But by the end of the week,
the crowds were gone and only a few followers remained.

Let the people be silent, offering silent confession.

Leader: The night he was arrested, Jesus went to the
Mount of Olives, as was his custom.

People: May we pray with Jesus as we remember the night he was
arrested; may our faith prove true and sure.

Leader: Jesus prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup
from me; yet, not my will but yours be done."

People: May we, too, pray not for comfort and ease,
not for the easy road, not for a life without trial or worry;
but, like Jesus, may we pray that we will do the will of the Lord,
no matter the circumstance, not counting the cost.

Let the people pray in silence.

The Rev. Dr. Steven F. Plymale currently serves as the Lead Pastor at Mount Pisgah UMC and as Adjunct Professor of New Testament at the Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Plymale has been under appointment for almost 40 years. Much of his study and writing has been devoted to prayer in the New Testament.

Copyright 2010 The Rev. Dr. Steven F. Plymale. All Rights Reserved. Posted with Permission.