Develop a Discipleship System
Call to Worship
Today, we join Jesus in the final ascent to Jerusalem, knowing the depths we will descend on our journey through Holy Week.
Open the gates of righteousness, that we may come worship God!
We join the disciples in declaring that Jesus, riding on a donkey, is our Ruler, the One who will bring peace and salvation for all.
Open the gates of peace, that we may come worship God!
We join with the bystanders who questioned and wondered who this Jesus really is, who feared the consequences of angering the powers that be.
Open the gates of truth, that we may come worship God!
The journey through Holy Week brings us face-to-face with the stark reality of sin and God’s faithfulness to save.
Open the gates of salvation, that we may come worship God whose steadfast love never fails!
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, September 2024.
Opening Prayer
God, we gather on this day to begin a week of contrasts.
From hope to despair to hope again.
As we begin the week, as we join with the crowd,
help us cut through the noise to see what is happening,
to see what is at stake.
As the story unfolds,
open us to both the hope and the pain.
In this time of worship,
prepare us to celebrate, to weep, and to wait. Amen.
Adapted from Rev Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings, http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/03/opening-prayer-palm-sunday.html.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God,
With the psalmist, we declare, “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them!” But we forget that only by your grace can we be righteous. With the crowds, we proclaim, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” But we neglect to follow you when you show us the ways to make peace on earth as it is in heaven. With the Pharisees, we notice our siblings doing their best to follow you and command, “Order them to stop!” But we refuse to listen to your command to love our neighbors as you love us. Forgive us, merciful God, and free us to follow Jesus down the road into Jerusalem, confronting the death-dealing powers of this world with the truth of your peace and steadfast love. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, September 2024.
Benediction
Friends, Go forth humbly to serve the God whose love endures forever.
Go forth in the name of the Christ who entered Jerusalem on a lowly donkey.
Go forth in the strength of the Holy Spirit that calls us to rejoice in this very day God has made. God’s love endures forever.
God’s love endures forever. Amen!
Written by Rev. Dr. Chad Abbott and posted on the Worship Ways website at https://www.ucc.org/worship-way/palm-passion-a-april-2/.
