Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Sunday

Date
March 28, 2021
Author
Don Bennett
Category
Bulletins

Created, saved and gifted by god, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION
MARCH 28, 2021
10:30 A.M.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
901 East Stroop Road
Kettering, OH 45429-4688
(937) 298-0136

Introduction

This week, the center of the church’s year, is one of striking contrasts: Jesus rides into Jerusalem surrounded by shouts of glory, only to be left alone to die on the cross, abandoned by even his closest friends. Mark’s gospel presents Jesus in his complete human vulnerability: agitated, grieved, scared, forsaken. Though we lament Christ’s suffering and all human suffering, we also expect God’s salvation: in the wine and bread, Jesus promises that his death will mark a new covenant with all people. We enter this holy week thirsty for the completion of God’s astonishing work.

Blessing of the Palms

Congregations across the world were asked to refrain from worshiping in person during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to stem the spread of the deadly virus. For many, the loss was felt most sharply on Palm Sunday just as Holy Week services were scheduled to begin.
One congregation in Central Washington State worshiped in their homes that morning via conference call. They hadn’t been able to distribute palms to one another, so pretending to wave imaginary branches in their own homes felt inauthentic and strange. Absent their usual practices, the pastor of the little church composed a non-traditional “Blessing of the Palms” for worship as they gathered in the safety of their homes. Instead of blessing palm branches on that Palm Sunday morning, the assembly was invited to bless the palms of their own outstretched hands.
The word hosanna, shouted by those witnessing Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in Mark’s gospel, can be translated, “Help, please, now!” With this very word on our lips, today we are invited to lay down more than coats and leafy branches at the foot of Jesus. We are invited to lay down our very own palms just as they are.
Imagine today that the palms laid out at the feet of Jesus today are the very palms of hands we meet every day in our own community and in the world. Some of these will be cracked, old, and tired with work; others will be sweating and nervous with worry; still others might be hopeful and open, excited or twitching with anticipation. Today we are invited to lay every one of those things that excite, demand, and trouble us at the foot of Jesus with a word of “Hosanna!” on our lips.

GATHERING

WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL – John 12:1-19

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 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!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 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. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”

BLESSING OF PALMS

The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
We praise you, O God, for redeeming the world through our Savior Jesus Christ. Today he entered the holy city in triumph and was proclaimed messiah and king by those who spread garments and branches along his way. Bless these branches and those who carry them. Grant us grace to follow our Lord in the way of the cross, so that, joined to his death and resurrection, we enter into life with you; through the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.