Faith & Worship(Use all or part, add hymns, readings etc as you see fit)
Opening Prayer
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you; righteous and having salvation, gentle and
riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
(Zechariah 9:9)
As the people spread their coats palm branches on the ground to welcome
Jesus into Jerusalem, so we welcome him into our lives this morning. King
of Glory, King of Peace, Servant King, reign in our hearts and lives this
day and all days, that we might praise your holy name.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
ALL: Hosanna in the highest
A Psalm
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
ALL: Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
ALL: The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
ALL: let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
ALL: From the house of the LORD we bless you
The LORD is God and he has made his light shine upon us.
ALL: With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to
the altar.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks you are my God, and I will
exalt you.
ALL: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures
forever.
(words from Psalm 118)
Confession and Forgiveness
Jesus rode into Jerusalem not as a conquering king but in humility, the Servant King, ready to complete the task for which he had walked this world. Forgive us those times when we think too highly of ourselves and remind us always that you ask from us lives dedicated to service, to you and to our neighbours, wherever and whoever they might be. Enable us to take off our cloaks of self-righteousness and lay them down at your feet.
‘Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” –
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.’
Psalm 32:5
The Lord’s Prayer
We say together the words of the Lord's Prayer.
All: Our Father…
Reading - Luke 19:28-40 - The Triumphal Entry
Christ Jesus, you came that we might have life, and have it abundantly
ALL: Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You poured living water into lives that were parched and thirsty
ALL: Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You fed souls that were hungry with the bread of life
ALL: Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought healing through a touch that knew no prejudice or barrier
ALL: Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought Salvation through the cross,
ALL: Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
Affirmation
What a strange paradox; the King is coming, the people rejoice, singing
‘Hosanna in the highest!’ yet fail to understand that the
King they welcome is the Servant King, the King who washes his disciples’
feet, the King who came not with an army but a weapon so powerful that
not even death could resist, the sacrificial love of God laid out upon
a Cross.
Lord God, as we sing our ‘Hosannas’ today may we remember
also that which you were riding toward; the suffering and rejection, pain
and humiliation, the cruel Cross. And let us look forward to the joy of
Easter Day when you rose from death to reign forever.
Help us, as we daily lay our lives before you, to live the resurrection
life that acknowledges Jesus as Lord and King over our lives.
Copyright © John Birch · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship. If reproduced anywhere else please include acknowledgement to the author/website · Privacy Policy
