A Gospel Reading for Palm Sunday: Matthew 21: 1 - 11

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Call to Worship:
Tell them that I need it, says the Christ. I need humble ones to carry my life, to bring hope to the people. Who will carry the Christ today?
We will be love.
Who will bring hope to the people?
We will be love.
Stay beside me now as I travel, for tomorrow the way may not be so welcoming.
We will be love.
    (Seasons of the Spirit , Congregational Life Lent, Easter 2017 page 71)

Processional Hymn:  “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” # 123 VU

Opening Prayer:
God of mercy, gird our hearts to be wholly present to the events of Jesus' final days. Open our hearts to sing your praise, and use our tears to water lives committed to working for your reign on earth. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
    (Seasons of the Spirit, Congregational Life Lent, Easter 2017 page 70 adapted )

Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy:
As we extinguish this light, we acknowledge the darkness and pain of illness and disease in the world.
    (A candle is extinguished.)
Let us pray:
God who is love, there are many choices before us every day. Choices offered by our friends, our families, our culture, our own past. Some of them encourage the well-being of the earth, ourselves and our neighbours; others are destructive. May we, as there is need, distinguish between them. May we learn from the choices of Jesus and embody compassion, justice, and inclusion in all that we say and do. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
    (Real spirituality for real life faith in process by Andrew Sleton 2015)

Sung Refrain: #752 (Refrain 2)
To you, O God, I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul. .

Words of Affirmation:   (from a Song of Faith)
Yet evil does not-cannot-undermine or overcome the love of God. God forgives, and calls all of us to confess our fears and failings with honesty and humility. God reconciles, and calls us to repent the part we have played in damaging our world, ourselves, and each other. God transforms, and calls us to protect the vulnerable, to pray for deliverance from evil, to work with God for the healing of the world, that all might have abundant life. We sing of grace.

Response:“Oh, Sing to Our God” # 241 VU (vs 1 sung 2x)

MESSAGE:

Offertory:

Offertory Music: [Those collecting offering, please remain at the back until the selection is complete. Thank you.]

Doxology:  (Tune # 537 VU)
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make
be pleased to use it as your own, we ask in Jesus' name.

Prayer:
O God, by the Spirit may more be added to all that we have brought today. We gather up the gifts which we place upon the table. May we be wise in their use. Amen.
    (Seasons of the Spirit , Congregational Life Lent, Easter 2017 page 73 modified)

Lenten Candle Lighting
Reader 2:
We light this candle as a symbol of our trust that in and through Jesus, God will remain faithful even if or when we lack faith.
    (A Sixth Candle is lit.)
Prayer: Holy One, in faith we trust that we are not alone, that you journey with us even as we journey through the valley of the shadow and will see us through to the other side. May we have the trust and strength we need to remain faithful to what we believe, even in times of deepest doubt. Amen.

Sung Refrain: #840 VU (Refrain # 5)

Lenten Candle Lighting
Reader 2: ’ We light this candle as a symbol of our trust that in and through Jesus, God will remain faithful even if or when we lack faith.
(A Sixth Candle is lit.)

Prayer:
Holy One, in faith we trust that we are not alone, that you journey with us even as we journey through the valley of the shadow and will see us through to the other side. May we have the trust and strength we need to remain faithful to what we believe, even in times of deepest doubt. Amen.

Sung Refrain: #840 VU   (Refrain # 5)
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

The Gospel Readings for Holy Week:   Matthew 26: 14 - 75

The Hour Has Come

The First Hour - The Storm Clouds Gather
Matthew 26: 14 - 16
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

The Second Hour - The Lord's Supper
Matthew 26: 17 - 30
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.” While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Hymn: “Let Us Break Bread Together” # 480 VU (Verses 1 & 2)
    The Bread and the Cup are Shared

Hymn: “Let Us Break Bread Together” # 480 VU (Verses 3)

The Third Hour - The Hour of Doubt
Matthew 26: 31 - 35
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.

Hymn: “O Jesus I Have Promised” # 120 VU (vs 1 and 4 only)

The Fourth Hour
Matthew 26: 36 - 39
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”

The Lord's Prayer:

The Fifth Hour - Willing Spirits/Weak Flesh
Matthew 26: 40 - 46
Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

Hymn: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” # 133 VU (Verse 1)

The Sixth Hour - Times of Betrayal, Trial and Denial
Matthew 26: 47 - 75
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?”
At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.”
The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you? ”
Peter's Denial of Jesus.
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Extinguishing of the Lenten Candles:

Hymn: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” # 133 VU (Verse 2)

The Seventh Hour - Before the Governor
Matthew 27: 1 - 14
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent[b] blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Hymn: '“O Jesus I Have Promised'” # 120 VU (vs 2 and 3 only)

Psalm Reading: Psalm 31: 9 - 16 Pg. # 758 VU (Parts 2 and 3)
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many-terror all around!-as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

The Eighth Hour - Jesus Is Sentenced To Death
Matthew 27: 15 - 31
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Pilate Hands Jesus over to Be Crucified. So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Hymn: “Were You There” # 144 VU (vs 1 only)

The Ninth Hour - Jesus Is Crucified
Matthew 27: 32 - 54
As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice,“ Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah. ”At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God's Son!”

Christ Candle Extinguished

Hymn: “Were You There” # 144 VU (vs 3 and 4 only)

The Tenth Hour - Jesus Is Buried
Matthew 37: 57 - 66
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

Hymn: “Were You There” # 144 VU (vs 5 only)
A Moment's Silent Meditation

Closing Hymn:  “God, as We Rise to Leave” # 417 VU

Commissioning - Benediction - Choral Amen:   # 967 VU

“Let Us Break Bread Together”
1. Let us break bread together on our knees,
let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall down on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh, Lord, have mercy on me.

2. Let us drink wine together on our knees,
let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall down on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh, Lord, have mercy on me.

3. Let us praise God together on our knees.
let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall down on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh, Lord, have mercy on me.

“O Jesus, I Have Promised” (Verses 1 & 4 only)
1. O Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;
remain for ever near me, my Saviour and my friend;
I shall not fear the journey if you are by my side,
nor wander from the pathway if you will be my guide.

4. O Jesus, you have promised to all who follow you,
that where you are in glory your servant shall be too.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Saviour and my friend.

“Go to Dark Gethsemane” (verses 1 & 2 only)
1. Go to dark Gethsemane, you that feel the
tempter's power; your Redeemer's conflict see;
watch with him one bitter hour; turn not from his
grief away; learn from him to watch and pray.

2. See him at the judgement hall, beaten, bound, reviled,
arraigned; see him meekly bearing all;
love to all his soul sustained. Shun not suffering,
shame, or loss: learn from Christ to bear the cross.

“O Jesus, I Have Promised” (verses 2 & 3 only)
2. O let me feel you near me: the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me, around me and within;
but, Jesus, then draw nearer and shield my soul from sin.

3. O let me hear you speaking in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
now speak, and make me listen, O guardian of my soul.

“Were You There” (Verses 1, 3, 4, & 5)
1. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

3. Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

4. Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

5. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

“God, as We Rise to Leave”
1. God, as we rise to leave this shell of worship,
called to the risk of unprotected living,
willing to be at one with all your people,
we ask for courage.

2. For all the strain with living interwoven,
for the demands each day will make upon us.
and for the love we owe the modern city,
God, make us cheerful.

3. Give us an eye for opening to serve you;
make us alert when calm is interrupted,
ready and wise to use the unexpected;
sharpen our insight.

4. Lift from our life the blanket of convention;
give us the nerve to lose our life to others;
be with your church in death and resurrection,
God of all ages.

Lectionary Reading for April 12, 2020   EASTER DAY  Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6;  Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24;  Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43;  John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10.

April 5, 2020