CANDLE LITURGY:  Lent 6 Lent 6 Palm/Passion Sunday (1 purple and white candle are lit before the service)
Matthew Boskill & Sophie Maunula
Voices, so many voices! Some condemning, some proclaiming. Accusations, lament, praise, questions, answers.
God hears our voices, voices raised to God!
Let us journey through the shadows toward the light.
(1 purple candle is extinguished.)
     Used with permission from Gathering Lent/Easter 2014; Cindy Randall

Sung Response: VU 108 “Throughout these Lenten Days and Nights”  Verse 6
6. Rejoice, O sons and daughters! Sing
and shout hosannas! Raise the strain!
For Christ, whose death Good Friday brings
on Easter Day will rise again!

1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
This day brings with it joy and celebration, uncertainty and anticipation.
This day brings us to a new place of discernment and preparation.
This day leads us into the realities of Holy Week, into the truth and challenges of living the promise of faith and hope.
This day leads us beyond the past and into a future that is yet to be revealed.
This day we are led into worship with palms and hosannas. Let us worship.
     Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026 Bill Steadman

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Hosanna! Come save us! Blessed are you, the One who comes in the name of the Lord, meek, yet all-powerful; lowly yet given a name above all names. It is you, Jesus, who alone can welcome, heal, call us friends, and forgive all our sin. Hosanna! Come save us!  Amen.
     Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Carol E. Bayma

3. LEARNING TIME: Palm Parade when we sing the hymn

4. HYMN VU 123 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
1.  Hosanna, loud hosanna the happy children sang;
through pillared court and temple the joyful anthem rang;
to Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

2.  From Olivet they followed 'mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving, and singing clear and loud;
the Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
content that little children should on his bidding wait.

3.  'Hosanna in the highest!' That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer; earth, let your anthems ring.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
and in his humble presence eternally rejoice!

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Spirit of God, breathe your power into our hearts, that we may hear your word for us today.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

6.  PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
O God, on a day like today, a crowd gathered to greet Jesus. The energy was palpable. Their joy was infectious. Yet we remember that so quickly it all turned wrong.
Holy God, we are a fickle people, one moment faithful, the next fallen. One moment we hail Jesus as a sovereign, the next we cry,“Crucify!” One moment we trust, the next we fear. And yet in great love, Jesus showed us your glory, asking for forgiveness for us, pleading that we did not know what we were doing.
It is true. We often do not know what we are really doing, or why. We need to worship. We need to be in your holy presence. We need you to constantly turn us back to you.
And so we cry, “Hosanna! God save us.” Return us to a healthy journey with you. Keep our spirits open this long Holy Week, so we may grow in our understanding and faith, for we are a fickle people. Help our hearts cry, “Bless him ”more often than “Crucify.” In the name of our one and only Saviour Jesus Christ, we pray.  Amen.
     Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2026; Elaine Bidgood Sveet

7.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
It is true. God's love is more powerful than we can comprehend. Holy Week proclaims: God's love is great. God's power is outrageous. Truly we are blessed, forgiven, and made new by God's powerful love.
Thanks be to God!
     Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2026; Elaine Bidgood Sveet

8.  SUNG RESPONSE: VU 135 “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”
1.  Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand:
the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land,
a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat and the burden of the day.

2.  Upon the cross of Jesus my eyes at times can see
the very dying form of one who suffered there for me;
and from my smitten heart, with tears, two wonders I confess,
the wonder of his glorious love, and my unworthiness.

3.  I take, O cross, your shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face,
content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame, my glory all, the cross.

9.  Affirmation of Faith: “The Nicene Creed” VU 920
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
in accordance with the Scriptures;
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 in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

10.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
May Christ's values of generosity, grace, and love guide our giving of time, talent and treasure. May these values become the focus of our thoughts during this time of offering. Let us present our morning offering.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

11. OFFERTORY  Tune Franconia  (VU 542)
These Lenten gifts we bring,
Our living faith express.
We offer them most lovingly,
and thus our hearts are blessed.
O loving God receive,
these gifts we gladly give
That show our faith and hope and trust;
Your way we seek to live.
     Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2013

12.  OFFERING PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
We give you thanks, Christ Jesus, for your goodness and your grace. Blessing the gifts and lives we offer to you, that they may bring goodness and grace to your world. In gratitude and joy, we pray. Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

Please give by contributing online using “E-transfers” or PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) or by placing your offering in the plate.

13. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:

14. HYMN   365 VU  “Jesus Loves Me”
1. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so;
little ones to him belong, in his love we shall be strong.
Refrain:
     Yes, Jesus loves me!
     Yes, Jesus loves me!
     Yes, Jesus loves me!
     The Bible tells me so.

2.  Jesus loves me, this I know,
s he loved so long ago,
taking children on his knee, saying,
'Let them come to me.'   Refrain

3.  Jesus loves me still today,
walking with me on my way,
wanting as a friend to give
light and love to all who live.  Refrain

15.   BLESSING:
With songs in our hearts,
we move toward the cross.
May God bless us,
with strength for the journey
Go with God,
knowing Christ is on the journey with us.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

16. THREE FOLD AMEN

• Matthew 21:  1 - 11
  Jesus Enters Jerusalem


• Responsive Reading:  Psalm 118 Parts 1, 3, 4 VU page 837
  REFRAIN: “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”


• Isaiah 50: 4 - 9a
  God's Servant Must Suffer


• Philippians 2: 5 - 11
  

Next Sunday:  Sunday of the Passion: EASTER SUNDAY
        April 5, 2026:
         Acts 10: 34 - 43   Psalm 118: 1 - 2, 14 - 24;
         Colossians 3: 1 - 4;  Matthew 28: 1 - 10.

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