Picton United Church Palm Sunday Service April 5, 2020
Words of Welcome & Announcements
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
Welcome to this Service of Worship. You are invited to read through the Service Order – and to make it a real experience of worship on this Palm/Passion Sunday. Even though we are not able to be together in our sanctuaries at South Bay and at Picton United Churches, we are still the Church. Gathered in our homes, we remember that Jesus said, “Wherever you gather, I am there with you.” So even if you live alone, know that you are, this morning, in the Presence of God and of your community of faith.
May you be aware of that Presence – and be comforted and empowered by this experience of worship.
We are now entering Holy Week. We will have printed Service for you on Good Friday. Our intention is to have a YouTube Broadcast of Worship for Easter Morning. We hope that this will be available on the Facebook Pages of South Bay United Church and Picton United Church.
May your worship today be an encounter for you with Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love.
Invitation to Worship – Jesus Enters Jerusalem
One: When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethpage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples and said to them,
All: Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it to me. If anyone says to you,
One: “Why are you doing this?”, just say to them, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” They went away and found the colt tied near a door outside in the street.
All: As they were untying it, some of the neighbours said to them, “What are you doing untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said, and they allowed them to take it.
One: Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their coats on it; and Jesus sat on it. Many people spread their coats on the road. Others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
All: Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
One: Then they entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple; and when Jesus had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Opening Hymn VU#127 “Ride On, Ride on in Majesty” (Tune Winchester New @ #20)
Opening Prayer:
One: Gracious, Loving, Present God, as the gates of the city swung open to welcome the humble king –
All: So, may our hearts be opened to Jesus’ Spirit among us.
All: As Jesus wept for the people of Jerusalem –
All: So, may we weep for all those who suffer at the hands of those who have forgotten how to love; so, may we weep for ourselves when we are too anxious and distracted to care.
Let our worship today express the joy and the sorrow – the celebrating and the grieving of that first Palm Sunday. Amen
The Passion from St. Matthew
27.26b Then Pilate had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.
28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and pressed it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.
30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. They led him away to crucify him.
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.
33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull).
34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.
35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
Matthew 27.45-50
27.45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice (quoting Psalm 22), “Eli, Eli, lemma sabachthani?” (which means “My God, My God, why have your forsaken me?”)
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave us his spirit.
Psalm 31, VU#758
Refrain: I trust in you; you are my God.
In you, O God, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
Deliver me in your righteousness; incline your ear; come quickly to my rescue.
Refrain:
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to keep me safe.
You are indeed my rock and fortress; lead me and guide me for your own name’s sake.
Release me from the net that they hid for me, for you are my protector.
Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O God of truth.
Refrain: I trust in you; you are my God.
Have mercy upon me, God, for I am in trouble; my eyes are wasted with grief, my soul and my body also.
My life is worn out with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails me in my misery, my bones are wasted away.
I am the scorn of my enemies, yes, even of my neighbours.
My acquaintances shudder at the sight of me; when they see me in the street, they shrink away.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
I hear the whispering of many; fear is on every side, while they conspire against me, and plot to take my life.
Refrain: I trust in you; you are my God.
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant, and save me, for your mercy’s sake.
Refrain: I trust in you; you are my God.
Prayer: Holy One – known to us as Kind Creator, Compassionate Friend, Ever-Present Spirit – move in us and among us now that we might understand the words from the Bible, and put their truth into action as we follow Jesus in the Way. Amen.
“The Story of Two Parades”
Today we move from palms to passion. We have heard again the stories. These are familiar stories. We have heard again the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in triumph; and the story of Jesus’ torture and execution at the hands of the Roman Empire. (Some may wish to read the entire story found in chapters twenty-six and twenty-seven of The Gospel of Matthew)
When we were growing up – when we were children in Sunday School – this Sunday before Easter was simply Palm Sunday. Often, we participated in the procession of palms. We sang the songs about the events of that first Palm Sunday. It wasn’t until Thursday and Friday of Holy Week, that we heard the story of the terrible events that ended with Jesus’ death. These stories of “The Passion” were not read until Good Friday.
These are difficult stories to hear. They are raw and painful – stories of betrayal, abandonment, denial, inhumanity, and brutal death. For many people there was a desire to avoid hearing these details. That is the primary reason that services on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday were always much better attended than the services that took place on Good Friday.
This was true not just here in Prince Edward County, or in Ontario, or in Canada. This was true everywhere. That is the reason that the whole church moved to rename this Sunday before Easter, Palm/Passion Sunday. It was strongly felt that in order to truly celebrate the triumph of Easter Day, Christians needed to enter, with Jesus, into the darkness and defeat of Good Friday. Since many people skipped the Good Friday Service, the readings of The Passion were brough to the Sunday Service immediately before Easter.
So, we have moved this morning from Palms – the Triumphal Entry – to the events of Thursday evening and Friday that ended with Jesus’ death and burial.
This morning I want to look more closely at the events of that first Palm Sunday. We will look at how those events were related to the end of Jesus’ life on a Roman Cross.
I want to tell you this morning the story of two parades that took place in Jerusalem that day. You may never have heard the story about the second of the two parades. We need to hear about both parades, if we are to understand why Jesus, the gentle Rabbi from Galilee, was seen as a threat to the governing powers of Rome.
Of course, we are familiar with the story of the first parade of Palm Sunday. Our service began this morning with our Invitation to Worship which was the story of that first parade – written by the author of the Gospel of Mark – about 30-35 years after the events of Holy Week & Easter.
Jesus and his followers – both the twelve disciples and the broader community around him. They were on pilgrimage to the Temple for the Festival of Passover. This was the Festival in which the Jews, to this day, remember and celebrate their release from slavery in Egypt. Hundred of people travelled from distant points to celebrate together in Jerusalem. This was a time when there were strong elements of nationalism among the people. They longed for a Messiah who would lead them in throwing off the yoke of the hated Romans.
This wasn’t Jesus first time to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem. You may recall the story of his journey with Mary & Joseph when he was twelve years old. His parents lost track of him and were frantic when they realized he was missing. They found him sitting in the Temple in conversation with the Elders.
As they celebrated Passover in Jerusalem the people were remembering the stories of their great leader, Moses who led them from slavery to the Promised Land. They were remembering their great King David, who as a shepherd boy defeated the Philistine giant, Goliath. They remembered King Solomon who had built the amazing Temple – that was destroyed by the Babylonian Empire in 587 BCE. (That Temple was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world.)
All of this provided the context for that first parade on Palm Sunday.
Jesus could have entered Jerusalem that day just as he had on other occasions. He could have walked in the company of his friends and other Passover pilgrims. But Jesus chose to enter in a very special way. The way Jesus came into Jerusalem that day wasn’t of his own invention. Jesus took this plan directly from the Book of Zechariah in the Hebrew Bible. We can read about it in Zechariah 9.9-10:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall he cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations.”
Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem proclaiming God’s reign of peace – God’s reign of shalom – peace with justice for the poor. (see Luke 4.18-19). Jesus ministry, from the beginning, had been about compassion. Jesus was passionate about caring for those who were hurting. Jesus spent his years of ministry healing the sick, feeding the hungry, talking to outcasts, and generally acting against the systems of domination. Jesus’ passion – his heart’s desire, was God’s reign of peace. Jesus’ passion was compassionate care for all.
On the other side of Jerusalem, there was another parade. This other parade is described in a book entitled The Last Week, by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. This other parade was the entry into Jerusalem of Pontius Pilate, Roman Governor of Idumea, Judea and Samaria.
Pilate entered Jerusalem mounted on a war horse. Marching with him was a column of cavalry, as well as a company of foot soldiers. They rode and marched under the banners of the Emperor Tiberius. This was a military parade. This was a display of the raw power of Rome. This parade of the Roman Governor was not to celebrate Passover. Pilate moved to his palace in Jerusalem, from his normal residence in Caesarea, on the Mediterranean Sea. Pilate came with a thousand troops to make sure that there was no disturbance of the Pax Romana – the Roman Peace. To emphasize their power Rome regularly executed hundreds of people at a time by crucifixion. They did this in as public a way as possible. Roman rule was a reign of terror.
On one side of Jerusalem the humble king riding on a donkey, surrounded by children and Passover pilgrims, proclaiming God’s reign of peace – a reign of compassion.
On the other side of Jerusalem, the Roman Governor on a war-horse, surrounded by military might, determined to maintain power at any cost – a reign of terror.
By the end of the week the power of Rome would add Jesus of Nazareth to those many thousands who were sacrificed to make sure that their power remained secure.
But we are an Easter people. We know, even on this Palm/Passion Sunday, even as we remember Jesus’ terrible experience of arrest, torture, trial and execution, we know that these forces of domination and death and destruction did not and will not be the final word.
We know that in Jesus, God took upon God’s self the suffering of the world, to redeem it. The Love of God – God’s passion for compassion, lived out in Jesus, will ultimately triumph. This is our hope. We await the promised redemption.
We await the glory of Easter Day. We watch through the dark hours of this week, knowing that the dawn will break. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Hymn of Reflection: VU#149 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Presentation of Gifts
Take a moment to think about the gifts that God has place in you. What is one way that you could use those gifts to love God, to love your neighbour, and to love yourself in the coming week?
If you would like to help your congregation during this very challenging time, please know that you can give monetary gifts by mailing a cheque to the Church Treasurer. For Picton United Church, donations can be made on the Church’s website.
You are invited to take a moment to offer to God the gifts in your heart – the actions of caring, the resources that can help your neighbours and the world as we sing:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures high and low. Give thanks to God in Love made known; Creator, Word and Spirit, One.
Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving & Concern
Gracious and Loving God, as we join our hearts and minds in prayer this morning, we are aware of many ways that we are blessed. We give thanks for our families, for our homes, for good food to eat, and for the beauty of nature unfolding in this Springtime Season.
We are especially aware today of the gift of technology – our phones (landlines and cellphones), our tablets, our computers – all the ways that we are able to keep in touch with each other and with our loved ones when we are not able to be with one another.
You know, Holy One, that many of us are burdened by anxiety and distress as we face COVID-19 and all the ways our lives are disrupted by this virus.
We pray for those directly impacted – those who are ill, and those who have died, and their families; front-line workers: nurses, physicians, nurse-practitioners, respiratory technicians, cleaners, all the staff in hospital and long-term-care facilities, store clerks, police officers, paramedics, municipal workers.
Help each one of us, in this coming week, to do our part in stopping the spread of this disease. Help us to make the necessary adjustment to our routines. Help us to reach out with compassion to support and care for family, friends, neighbours and the wider community, with phone calls, texts, emails, and social media messages – even as we isolate from one another physically.
We pray too for the scientists who are working to find a vaccine and effective treatments for COVID-19.
All of this we pray in Jesus’ name, as he taught us:
The Lord’s Prayer
Parting Hymn VU#614 “In Suffering Love”
- In suffering love the thread of life is woven through our care, for God is with us, not alone our pain and toil we bear.
- There is a rock, a place secure within the storm’s cold blast; concealed within the suffering night God’s covenant stands fast.
- In love’s deep womb our fears are held; there God’s rich tears are sown and bring to birth, in hope new born, the strength to journey on.
- Now to our hearts your joy commit, into our hands your pain; so send us out touch the world with blessings in your name.
Commissioning & Blessing
Our worship concludes, but our service is renewed. We are the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out with compassion to love the world in Jesus’ name.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Sung Response – Verse 5, VU#614
- In suffering love our God comes now, hope’s vision born in gloom; with tears and laughter shared and blessed the desert yet will bloom.
Extinguishing the Candle
We watch with Jesus as we live through this week – knowing that the Easter dawn awaits.
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