158 Palm Sunday
Procession:
Collect: Merciful God, as we enter this holy week and gather at your house of prayer, turn our hearts again to Jerusalem, to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that, united with Christ and all the faithful, we may one day enter in triumph the city not made with hands, the new Jerusalem, eternal in the heavens, where, with you and the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in glory for ever. Amen.
Luke 19.28-40 ... Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ.
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said, "The Lord needs it." Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out." For the Gospel of the Lord, praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Communion:
Sentence: At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11
Collect: God of all, you gave your only-begotten Son to take the form of a servant, and to be obedient even to death on a cross: give us the same mind that was in Christ Jesus that, sharing in his humility, we may come to be with him in his glory, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Isaiah 50.4-9a
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens -- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? Hear the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.
Psalm 31.9-18
9. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble:
my eye wastes away for grief, my throat also and my inward parts.
10. For my life wears out in sorrow, and my years with sighing:
my strength fails me in my affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11. I am become the scorn of all my enemies:
and my neighbours wag their heads in derision.
12. I am a thing of horror to my friends:
and those that see me in the street shrink from me.
13. I am forgotten like one dead and out of mind:
I have become like a broken vessel.
14. For I hear the whispering of many:
and fear is on every side;
15. While they plot together against me:
and scheme to take away my life.
16. But in you, LORD, have I put my trust:
I have said “You are my God.”
17. All my days are in your hand:
O deliver me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors.
18. Make your face to shine upon your servant:
and save me for your mercy’s sake.
Philippians 2.5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Hear the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.