March 25, 2018
Palm Sunday
Prelude: Prelude in D Major Johann Sebastian Bach
Chiming of the Hour
Procession of the Palms – The Palms Jean Faure
The Congregation is invited to join in the chorus:
Praise ye, Praise ye the Lord!
Let every voice resound with joyous acclamation!
Hosanna!
Praise ye the Lord, Hosanna!
Bless him who cometh to bring us salvation.
*Hymn: #196 All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Welcome
Joys and Concerns
Choral Introit: Come, O Holy Spirit, Come
Call to Worship
One: Come. Come seeking words.
All: Come let your tongue give praise.
One: Come. Come to find your voice.
All: Come to hear the response.
One: Come. Come to open your ears.
All: Come to listen.
One: Come. Come to be healed by the silence.
All: Come to stand together.
One: Come. Come to approach what words cannot describe.
All: Come to find God.
One: Come, let us worship God together!
Prayer of Invocation (in unison)
Come. Come O Holy One.
Come through the streets.
Come into the house.
Come to find a space beside us at the table.
Come to challenge our answers about why tragedy comes, why poverty increases, why we are afraid.
Come O Holy One.
Speak to us in silence with wisdom greater than ours, with love deeper than ours and with change wider than ours. Come O Holy One.
Fill in these stories with your wisdom, with your love and with your change so that we might rely on your answers.
Here and now. Amen.
Hymn: #209 My Song Is Love Unknown
Call to Confession
We share our confessions acknowledging that we can get swept up in a crowd allowing fear to overcome our trust.
Prayer of Confession (in unison)
O Holy One, we are too distressed to notice that you join us in the parade. We are too deeply grieved to be aware that you sit beside us at the table. We are too busy sighing. We are too busy talking. We have insisted upon our own answers. We proclaimed our own knowledge about why bad things happen, about why the rich get richer, about why the world feels so broken. We have assured ourselves that this is the way that things must be, but this life is in your hands. Our lives are in your hands. O Holy One, speak to us. Fill our silences. Comfort us with your love so that we may find your understanding. Trust us to find your answers when we finally tire from our own. Save us, O Holy One, with your steadfast love. Hear us now as we turn to you with our silent confessions, seeking your mercy, forgiveness and grace.
Moment of silent prayer
Assurance of God’s Love
Gloria Patri: #582 Glory to God whose goodness shines on me, and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me, and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
Reading #1: The Palm Parade ~ Mark 11:1-11
Reading #2: The Annointing ~ Mark 14:1-9
Children’s Message and Lord’s Prayer
(Children leave for Sunday School and Youth Discussion Group)
*Hymn: #197 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Offering of our Gifts
Anthem: Christ’s Palm Sunday Welcome Austin Lovelace
*Doxology: #607 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; praise Holy Spirit ever more; praise Triune God whom we adore. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Reading #3: The Last Supper ~ Mark 14:10-25
Reading #4: The Garden ~ Mark 14:32-40
Reading #5: The Betrayal ~ Mark 14:43-50
Hymn: #775 I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
Reading #6: The Arrest ~ Mark 14:53-65
Reading #7: The Denial ~ Mark 14:66-72
Pastoral Prayer and Silent Prayer
Choral Response: Come, O Holy Spirit, Come
*Hymn: #826 Lift High the Cross
Benediction
Response: Lift High the Cross (refrain only)
Postlude: Christ Lay In the Bonds of Death J.S. Bach
(* Please stand if able.)
Welcome Statement
We, the Salisbury Congregational Church, seek to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves.
This Church declares itself to be Open and Affirming to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment regardless of race, ancestry, class, gender identity, physical/mental ability or sexual orientation.
We further declare ourselves to be Affirming of each individual as a child of God, celebrating the total identity of each person.
As a declared Open and Affirming Congregation, we commit ourselves to work toward ending ignorance, fear, hatred, prejudice and discrimination against any person.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
If you are visiting us today, Welcome!
Please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to our Pastor or to one of the Deacons. Fill out a welcome card in the pew to be put on our email list!
Please see an usher:
If you would like to use a hearing device
If you would like to bring your child to the Nursery
Please join us in the Parish Hall for refreshments and fellowship following worship. All are welcome.
Today’s hosts are the Christian Action Committee.
Many thanks to:
Betsy Beck, Karin Noyes, Linda Estabrook, Chico Aller, Lorna Edmundson, and Theresa Carroll for serving as lay readers
Pat Palmer & John Arnold ushering
Prayer List
Laura Hawks, Debbie Merwin, Jessica Whelton, Keith Grant, Jack Ritchie, Marian Ferguson, Jane Fitting, Libby Bishop, Miles Bishop, Chuck Carroll, Andrew Gunderson, Gail Weigel, Paula & Herman Blumberg, Harriet, Emily, Anne, Bill, Carolyn, Peter, Cheryl and those among us who struggle with anxiety, depression and addiction.
Family & friends of: Gloria Buckley, Gordon Weekly, George Kieffer, Richard Hayes, Kelly Bannister and Pam.
CALENDAR
Tuesday: 12 pm Recovery Yoga in the Parish Hall
5:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
6 pm Community Yoga in the Parish Hall
Wednesday: 7:15 pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday: 10 am Kids’ Yoga in the Nursery
10 am Mommy & Me Yoga in the Parish Hall
7 pm Maundy Thursday Service of Tenebrae with Communion
Friday: Good Friday ~ Office Closed
Saturday: Holy Saturday
Sunday: 6:30 am Sunrise Service at the Town Grove
9:45 am Bell Choir Prelude
10 am Easter Sunday Service