FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Palm Sunday
March 24, 2024
PRELUDE
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
- PIECES AND PRAYERS will meet on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM at the FPC Quilting Room.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
-MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE OF COMMUNION will be held at the sanctuary on Thursday, March 28 at 5:30 PM.
- LILIES AND SPRING FLOWERS FOR EASTER--we are accepting monetary donations for flowers to grace and beautify our sanctuary. If you prefer, you may bring your own flowers or Flowers on Main (Eileen) will deliver flowers purchased there. Names of those honored or remembered will be included in the Easter PowerPoint.
–‘ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING’ SPECIAL OFFERING- donations are being accepted February 14 through March 31. Please use the envelopes by the offering plates or write ‘One Great Hour’ on check memo. Thank you for your generosity!
CALL TO WORSHIP (please wave your palms!)
We raise our voices and wave palms with joyful hope.
Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David!
Our hearts are filled with expectation as we welcome
the coming king.
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We receive into the crowded streets of our lives the Savior of all the earth.
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
*OPENING HYMN #189 (Blue) Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Hosanna, loud hosanna the little children sang;
through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.
"Hosanna in the highest!" That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, you know us well. We are quick to speak of faith, but slow to live it fully. We shout "hosanna" as Jesus approaches, as did the people of Jerusalem many years ago; but we do not want him to come too close -- not close enough to really see. We fear telling our faith story and accepting the responsibility of authentic Christ-like living. Forgive our weakness and fear, and lead us to do your will. In Jesus name, Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC (CHOIR) “The Glory of Our King” Dale Wood
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 118: 19-29 (read responsively)
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Gospel of John 12:12-16
12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
This is the word of God for the people of God. Amen
SPECIAL MUSIC (CHOIR) “Little Grey Donkey” Natalie Sleeth
SERMON “Echoes of the Crowd: Stories of Jesus”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH --
I believe in the living God, the nurturer of all humanity, who creates and sustains the universe through infinite power and redeeming love.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, the Lord of Life. Because of His words and works, His way with others, His use of suffering, His conquest of death, I know what life ought to be and what God is like.
I believe that the Spirit of God is present with us now and always and can be experienced in prayer, in forgiveness, in the Word, in the sacraments, in the fellowship of the church in its diversity, and in all we do.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE (insert) Tell me the Stories of Jesus
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here:
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
First let me hear how the children stood round His knee,
And I shall fancy His blessing resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the love-light of Jesus' face.
Into the city I'd follow the children's band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
One of His heralds, yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas! Jesus is King!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Our homebound or in care members:
Richard & Dolores C, Bob & Jan J, Delores K, Darwin L (Jeanne as caregiver), Bob O (Nancy as caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Bruce & Lori W, Dorothy W, Alan & Sue Y
Those Who Mourn:
The family/friends of Bob Bartling and all who have lost loved ones
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY (on screen)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN (insert) Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! highest archangels in glory,
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children.
In His arms He carries them all day long.
Refrain:
Praise Him! Praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness!
Praise Him! Praise Him! ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
For our sins, He suffered and bled and died.
He our rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus, the crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong. [Refrain]
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown Him! prophet, and priest, and king!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious,
Power and glory unto the Lord belong. [Refrain]
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
.
POSTLUDE
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Palm Sunday
March 24, 2024
PRELUDE
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
- PIECES AND PRAYERS will meet on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM at the FPC Quilting Room.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
-MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE OF COMMUNION will be held at the sanctuary on Thursday, March 28 at 5:30 PM.
- LILIES AND SPRING FLOWERS FOR EASTER--we are accepting monetary donations for flowers to grace and beautify our sanctuary. If you prefer, you may bring your own flowers or Flowers on Main (Eileen) will deliver flowers purchased there. Names of those honored or remembered will be included in the Easter PowerPoint.
–‘ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING’ SPECIAL OFFERING- donations are being accepted February 14 through March 31. Please use the envelopes by the offering plates or write ‘One Great Hour’ on check memo. Thank you for your generosity!
CALL TO WORSHIP (please wave your palms!)
We raise our voices and wave palms with joyful hope.
Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David!
Our hearts are filled with expectation as we welcome
the coming king.
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We receive into the crowded streets of our lives the Savior of all the earth.
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
*OPENING HYMN #189 (Blue) Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Hosanna, loud hosanna the little children sang;
through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.
"Hosanna in the highest!" That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, you know us well. We are quick to speak of faith, but slow to live it fully. We shout "hosanna" as Jesus approaches, as did the people of Jerusalem many years ago; but we do not want him to come too close -- not close enough to really see. We fear telling our faith story and accepting the responsibility of authentic Christ-like living. Forgive our weakness and fear, and lead us to do your will. In Jesus name, Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC (CHOIR) “The Glory of Our King” Dale Wood
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 118: 19-29 (read responsively)
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Gospel of John 12:12-16
12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
This is the word of God for the people of God. Amen
SPECIAL MUSIC (CHOIR) “Little Grey Donkey” Natalie Sleeth
SERMON “Echoes of the Crowd: Stories of Jesus”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH --
I believe in the living God, the nurturer of all humanity, who creates and sustains the universe through infinite power and redeeming love.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, the Lord of Life. Because of His words and works, His way with others, His use of suffering, His conquest of death, I know what life ought to be and what God is like.
I believe that the Spirit of God is present with us now and always and can be experienced in prayer, in forgiveness, in the Word, in the sacraments, in the fellowship of the church in its diversity, and in all we do.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE (insert) Tell me the Stories of Jesus
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here:
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
First let me hear how the children stood round His knee,
And I shall fancy His blessing resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the love-light of Jesus' face.
Into the city I'd follow the children's band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
One of His heralds, yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas! Jesus is King!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Our homebound or in care members:
Richard & Dolores C, Bob & Jan J, Delores K, Darwin L (Jeanne as caregiver), Bob O (Nancy as caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Bruce & Lori W, Dorothy W, Alan & Sue Y
Those Who Mourn:
The family/friends of Bob Bartling and all who have lost loved ones
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY (on screen)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN (insert) Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! highest archangels in glory,
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children.
In His arms He carries them all day long.
Refrain:
Praise Him! Praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness!
Praise Him! Praise Him! ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
For our sins, He suffered and bled and died.
He our rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus, the crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong. [Refrain]
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown Him! prophet, and priest, and king!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious,
Power and glory unto the Lord belong. [Refrain]
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
.
POSTLUDE