Worshipping at Home

Worshipping at Home
5th April - Palm Sunday

As the people spread their coats and palm branches on the ground to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, so we welcome him into our lives this Palm Sunday. 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. Amen

Psalm 25 verses 1 - 7

In you O Lord my God have I put my hope,
in you have I trusted; let me not be ashamed
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who wait for you be put to shame,
but let those that break faith be confounded and gain nothing.
Show me your ways O Lord and teach me your paths.
Lead me in the ways of your truth and teach me
for you are the God of my salvation.
In you have I hoped all the day long
because of your goodness O Lord.
Call to mind your compassion and your loving kindness
for they are from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions
but according to your mercy think on me.

The Collect Pray

True and humble king,
hailed by the crowd as Messiah:
grant us the faith to know you and love you
that we may be found beside you
on the way of the cross,
which is the path of glory. 


Amen.

Hymn

My song is love unknown, 
My Saviour's love to me;
Love to the loveless shown, 
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, That for my sake 
My Lord should take 
Frail flesh, and die? 

View the full hymn below 

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God; In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body. 

Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life. 

(At this point please think of others and in your heart send them the message: Peace be with you.)
Bible Reading

Matthew 21: 1 - 17
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

Thought for the Day

Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem is called the Triumphal Entry. Strange title. Can you think of other triumphal entries? A victorious army commander enters a conquered city once the battle has been fought and won. The football team proudly displays its trophy from the top of a double decker bus once they have won the final. It seems, however, that Jesus goes on his victory parade before the final showdown. 

Is Jesus like a boxer walking down to the ring, acknowledging the crowds in the belief that he is the champion? Maybe a better triumphal entry illustration is the end of the Tour de France cycling race. The grueling race is fought and won over twenty three days. The finish is on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, but this last stage is a formality. The winner is identified before the final stage, allowing the triumphant cyclist to make their way to the finishing line knowing they have already won. This is how Jesus entered Jerusalem. He knew he had already won. 
 
Despite the fact that huge events were still to come in the form of the cross and resurrection, the victory was already his. To understand this we have to remember the purpose of Jesus’ mission. He came to radically change the world’s view of God by exhibiting a whole new understanding of power and authority. He came to ‘cast down the mighty from their thrones and to lift up the lowly’, to remember the forgotten and to put the overlooked centre stage. 

As today’s hymn says: “My song is love unknown, my Saviour’s love to me” and Jesus had shown that love was the way to win. This was true power. Jesus had already won as he entered Jerusalem because the crowds saw him riding on a donkey with no crown and no sword and yet they hailed him as their king. They had looked to the palace and to the temple for help, but they had decided that it was this humble and loving man riding on a donkey who was going to bring them salvation.
Lets us Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son - for the saviour who came to the Holy City not to reign, but to die – who chose a path of tears, not a confident victory cry. Help us to see a clear vision of Jesus at his most potent, casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly. Help us to echo the praise of the disciples: 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Amen. 

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(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 trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.)

The Blessing

Christ crucified draw you to himself, to find in him a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Bible Readings for the week:
Monday: Hebrews 9: 11-15, John 12: 1-11
Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31, John12: 20-36
Wednesday: Hebrews 12: 1-3, John 13: 21-32
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26, John 13: 1-17 & 31b-35
Friday: Hebrews 10: 16-25, John 18:1-19:42
Saturday: 1 Peter 4: 1-8, Matthew 27:57-66

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