April 5, 2020 - Palm Sunday!
/Thanks for joining us for this week’s Home Worship! As you gather, we invite you to set up your space differently. Sit at your dining room table or arrange chairs in your living room. Set out a candle, a bowl, and a small pitcher of water before you. If you have kids who made their own palms, make sure to have those on hand, as well as some blankets or towels that you can place on the floor as they make their parade at the beginning of the service. If you’ve gathered with a group, you can take turns reading and praying so that everyone has a chance to help lead us in worship. The sections in bold can be read aloud together.
“The Reformers saw liturgy as God’s action and our faithful reception of that action. The governing idea of the Reformed liturgy is thus twofold: the conviction that to participate in the liturgy is to enter the sphere of God’s acting, not just of God’s presence, plus the conviction that we are to appropriate God’s action in faith and gratitude through the work of the Spirit…. The liturgy is a meeting between God and God’s people, a meeting in which both parties act, but in which God initiates and we respond.”
GATHERED BY GOD
INVITATION TO WORSHIP
As you “recall the words of the scriptures”, have any kids in the house parade along a path of blankets or towels into your worship space waving their palms! Feel free to really get into it as you also sing the following hymn!
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Recall the words of the scriptures:
“A great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”
-Zechariah 9:9; John 12:13
SONG OF PRAISE
“All Glory, Laud, and Honor”
Refrain:
All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring
You are the King of Israel and David’s royal Son,
now in the Lord’s name coming, the King and Blessed One
Refrain
The company of angels is praising you on high,
and we with all creation in chorus make reply
Refrain
The people of the Hebrews with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present.
Refrain
Words: Theodulph of Orelans, ca. 820; tr. John M. Neale, 1851, Public Domain
Music (ST. THEODULPH 7.6.7.6 D): Melchoir Teschner, 1615, Public Domain
GREETING
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth, Amen.
-Psalm 124:8
LIGHTING THE CANDLE
Action: Light a candle
One: Jesus Christ
All: is the Light of the World.
One: The Light shines in the darkness,
All: and the darkness did not overcome it.
-John 8:12; John 1:5
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
In Jesus’ day, the shouts of “Hosanna” had come to mean “Salvation has come!” but the phrase originally meant “Save us, please!”
We come to you, O Lord, after another week in isolation, because you are our savior.
Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
We come needing your help and your grace.
Hosanna! Help us!
Lord, we are anxious, fearful, grieving, and angry.
Hosanna! Help us!
Lord, this time is difficult, and we have not always been faithful in loving our neighbors, our families, ourselves.
Hosanna! Help us!
Forgive us, Lord! Save us, we pray. For you, Christ, are the only one who can do it.
Hosanna! Hosanna! Salvation has come! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
PROMISE OF GRACE
Action: Pour water into the bowl
“What a Beautiful Name”
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God, the Lord most high
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in you, our Christ
What a beautiful name it is
What a beautiful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ, our Lord
What a beautiful name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful name it is
The name of Jesus
You didn’t want heaven without us
So, Jesus you brought heaven down
My sin was great, your love was greater
What can separate us now
What a wonderful name it is
What a wonderful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ, our Lord
What a wonderful name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful name it is
The name of Jesus
Death could not hold you, the veil tore before you
You silence the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring the praise of your glory
For you are raised to life again
You have no rival, you have no equal
Now and forever, God you reign
Yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory
Yours is the name above all names
What a powerful name it is
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ, our Lord
What a powerful name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus
Words and music by Ben Fielding & Brooke Ligertwood
© 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2588005
CALL TO NEW LIFE
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40
OFFERING
We respond to the love and grace of Jesus by giving back our whole lives to God in worship. In this offering, we give our financial gifts as a symbol that all we have comes from God and is to be used for God’s glory.
DOXOLOGY
May be said or sung
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him, above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
LISTENING TO GOD
Scripture: Exodus 40:16-38
Sermon: “Leaving Egypt: Leading Us Home”
Pastor Andy Kadzban
DISCUSSION
Take a few moments to discuss together what you just heard. What was challenging, troubling, or helpful? What will you take away from this series? What questions do you still have?
If you’re worshiping with kids, click here for the kids’ discussion guide!
SONG OF PRAISE
“Blessed Be Your Name”
Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful,
Where your streams of abundance flow;
Blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name
When I’m found in the desert place.
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed be your name.
Refrain:
Every blessing you pour out I’ll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say,
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your glorious name.
Blessed be your name
When the sun’s shining down on me,
When the world’s “all as it should be”;
Blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering;
Though there’s pain in the offering,
Blessed be your name.
Refrain
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Refrain
Words and music by Matt Redman
© 1995 Thankyou Music
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2588005
RESPONDING TO GOD
APOSTLES’ CREED
We join our voices together with Christians throughout the ages and across the world to proclaim these words:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Son of David, you entered Jerusalem with a triumphal procession that left you alone and in humiliation on the cross. We thank you and praise you for your selfless sacrifice…
For the redemption of creation we cry, “Hosanna!”
For those who offer their lives in service of your kingdom and your people around the world we cry, “Hosanna!”
For your work as it continues in our community we cry, “Hosanna!”
For those suffering in hospitals, those waylaid, those waiting for tests or test results we cry, “Hosanna!”
For those who are anxious, fearful, mourning or angry we cry, “Hosanna!”
For those feeling the weight of loneliness we cry, “Hosanna!”
For those seeking ways to aid our neighbors we cry, “Hosanna!”
Oh Christ, your triumph is our hope. May your victory and your peace be poured out upon us as we wait and hope for the day when we will join in declaring “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SENT WITH GOD’S BLESSING
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his presence to you and give you his peace,
Now and always, Amen.
-Numbers 6:24-26
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Check out these playlists to guide your prayer and worship this week
Music to guide your prayer and reflection for the week of April 5.
Check out our Home Worship resources at www.wyckoffreformed.org/home-worship!
A YouTube playlist of kid’s music for this week!