The tension this week is between the exuberance of the Palm Sunday parade and the submitting ourselves to the brunt of the Passion of Christ’s death on a cross. Yet, we must live in this tension. Even if your church is offering Holy Week services, many will not attend those weekday services. To properly prepare the congregation for the glories of Easter, the worship leaders must help the congregation walk through the valley of shadows here in this service.

Many will do that by drawing a line midway through the service and shifting the mood. The liturgy and the music shifts from celebration to Passion, from praise to confession. This is not an unusual transition to make in the order of worship, as many services touch on a variety of themes. But here there can be a clear shift from one to the other to signal to the congregation that something significant has happened. It is not within the purview of this service to duplicate a full Good Friday service. But there can be a glimpse of the cross as the service is ending.

The preacher, of course, has the freedom to select which theme the sermon settles in. The opposite could then be represented by a straightforward reading of scripture. There are many ways to capture both themes on this day, not all of them in the liturgy or music. Perhaps a mural of the Passion could be brought into place during the service, so that as worshipers leave they pass by the depiction of the sacrifice. Perhaps the postlude music could be a familiar Passion hymn or musical piece to remind folks that the journey does not end with the triumphal entry.

Let Us Worship the Lord

A Call to Worship for Palm/Passion Sunday

Leader: Let us worship the Lord—not just with our voices, but also with our entire being.

People: We gather to worship the One who is highly exalted and whose name is above every name, Jesus the Christ.

Leader: Your presence demands our participation. Our worship is never wasteful.

People: Be gracious to us, O Lord. We are your servants; empty us for your use.
We are Christ’s servants and may we be of the same mind.

All: We declare that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Praise be unto God!

Alexis Carter, Lenten Liturgical Resources from Africana Writers, edited by Safiya Fosua, 2020.

We Repent for Wasted Opportunities

A Prayer of Confession for Passion/Palm Sunday

Gracious God, we confess that we have wasted opportunities to interrupt darkness. We are guilty of too often coming behind the tragedy and not crying out before the horror. We have cried much over caskets and not wept enough over wars. We have sent flowers for funerals and not enough for “just because” or to say, “I love you.” Teach us to intercede and be willing to interrupt when the warnings of death have reached our ears. Forgive us for giving our attention to smelling the roses for so long that we have lost the ability to prophetically smell the stench of death. We confess these transgressions in the name of the One who we ask to awaken us to the possibilities of interrupting injustice and not just participating postmortem. Amen.

Alexis Carter, Lenten Liturgical Resources from Africana Writers, edited by Safiya Fosua, 2020.

Palm Sunday Confession

Patient God, we confess that we love a parade. We are very happy to see banners waving and hear people shouting their praises. Our hearts thrill to the spectacle. But we fail to see the sadness on the face of the Savior; our shouts block out his sorrow. He comes to us as King, and we expect that royal treatment will follow. We do not and cannot believe that in a few days we will be among those who will turn our backs and run from his presence. How fickle we are, O Lord. Yet you continually forgive us and call us to turn our lives around--to see the needs of others, to reach out in trust and faith, to be willing to witness to your good news of saving love. Heal our hearts and give us courage for the days ahead; for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Written by Nancy Townley, in the Abingdon Worship Annual. Posted on the Cokesbury website. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/02/confession-palm-sunday.html

Palm Sunday: Confession

“Hosanna! Blessed in the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” Mark 11:9

Sustainer of the weary,
we know how we sang for joy when Christ came into our lives,
and how we have not followed him when he leads us on this journey.
We have hidden our faces from the pain and suffering of our world.
We have turned a deaf ear to the cries of the poor, the hungry, the oppressed.
We trust in the slick promotions of the world,
and not in your words that can transform our lives.

Forgive us, Steadfast God, and shine your face upon us.
Help us to have the same mind as Christ,
so we would know your promises;
help us to have the same heart as Christ,
so we might serve your children;
help us to have the same Spirit as Christ,
so we might go wherever you lead us.

Written by Thom Shuman and posted on his Lectionary Liturgies blog, http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/02/palm-sunday-confession.html

I Love a Crowd! A Palm Sunday Litany

One: I love a crowd!
Many: But a crowd can be disbursed.
One: I love a crowd!
Many: But a crowd can be misled.
One: I love a crowd!
Many: But crowds don’t last forever.
One: I love a crowd!
Many: But a crowd can offer a false sense of protection.
One: I love a crowd!
Many: But a crowd can trample and overlook.
One: I love Jesus!
Many: Jesus is all the crowd you’ll ever need!
All: Hosanna!! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

B. Kevin Smalls, The Africana Worship Book for Year B, Discipleship Resources, 2007, p. 88.

Sending Litany for Palm Sunday

This is a vision of the way it can be, the way it should be—
Shouts of welcome, a joyful procession,
a community celebrating together.

The same vision is offered to us today:
We can welcome Christ into our lives;
We can celebrate his transforming power.

How swiftly things changed back then,
How swiftly we, too, can be distracted.

May we hold fast to his vision of goodness—
Peace from the practice of justice,
equality from the practice of respect.

As this week unfolds,

We will let ourselves be overtaken by God’s love
We will pour it back out into the world.

Written by Jeanyne Slettom, and posted on Process and Faith. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/02/palm-sunday-sending-out.html

Benediction

You Have Waved Your Palms at Him

Now you have waved your palms at him. Now you have followed him on the parade route. You have seen Jesus for yourself. You know that he is real. Go forth and continue to see him in the world! Go where he goes and do what he commands. And may the peace of God rule and abide with you now and forever! Amen.

B. Kevin Smalls, The Africana Worship Book for Year B, Discipleship Resources, 2007, p. 215.