SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020 – 8:30 AM

GATHERING TOGETHER
Welcome to God’s grace – where the world’s labels don’t apply.

Step into God’s time and presence. Hear God’s gentle whisper: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Let your body and mind rest, and open your heart to God in worship and prayer. Welcome each
other in the love of Christ. Extend hospitality to those new in our midst. “This is the day the Lord has
made. Let us rejoice in it!”

GATHERING MUSIC & RINGING OF THE BELL

PRAYER TREE
TODAY’S WORSHIP THEME
Today we encounter the paradox that defines our faith: Jesus Christ is
glorified king and humiliated servant. We too are full of paradox: like Peter,
we fervently desire to follow Christ, but find ourselves afraid, denying God.
We wave palms in celebration today as Christ comes into our midst, and we
follow with trepidation as his path leads to death on the cross. Amid it all
we are invited into this paradoxical promise of life through Christ’s broken
body and outpoured love in a meal of bread and wine. We begin this week
that stands at the center of the church year, anticipating the completion of
God’s astounding work.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, +one God, who is present, who gives life, who
calls into existence the things that do not exist. Amen
If you were to keep watch over sins, O Lord, who could stand? Yet with you
is forgiveness, and so we confess.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Gracious God,
Have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned away from you,
knowingly and unknowingly. We have wandered from your
resurrection life. We have strayed from your love for all people. Turn
us back to you, O God. Give us new hearts and right spirits, that we
may find what is pleasing to you and dwell in your house forever.
Amen
Receive good news: God turns to you in love. “I will put my spirit in you,
and you shall live,” says our God. All your sin is forgiven in the name of
+Jesus Christ, who is the free and abounding gift of God’s grace for you.
Amen
STAND

GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
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PRAYER OF THE DAY
Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our
Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the
cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will
and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
SIT

HEARING THE WORD

God speaks to us in scriptures sung, read, and proclaimed.

BLESSING OF THE PALMS

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna to the Son of David.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
We raise our palms for the blessing.
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, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever. Amen
GATHERING HYMN ELW #344 “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” vs. 1, 5
PASSION READING Matthew 26:14—27:66
SPECIAL MUSIC “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” Peter Niedmann
STAND

APOSTLES’ CREED
There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. United in Christ, let us
confess the faith we hold in common.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to
the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he
is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
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I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and
the life everlasting. Amen

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Turning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the
church, the world, and all who are in need.
A brief silence
God of life, bind your faithful people into one body. Enliven the church with
your Spirit and bless the work of those who work for its renewal.
Accomplish your work of salvation in us and through us, for the sake of the
world. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of life, you love the world you have made and you grieve when creation
suffers. Restore polluted lands and waterways. Heal areas of the world
ravaged by storms, floods, wildfires, droughts, or other natural disasters.
Bring all things to new life. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of life, show redemption to all who watch and wait with eager
expectation: those longing for wars to cease, those waiting for immigration
paperwork to finalize, those seeking election, and those in dire need of
humanitarian relief. Come quickly with your hope. Hear us, O God. Your
mercy is great.

God of life, you weep with those who grieve. Unbind all who are held
captive by anxiety, despair, or pain. Fill us with compassion and empathy
for those who struggle, and keep us faithful in prayer. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of life, we give thanks for opportunities for this congregation to
collaborate with our community in caring for the needs of our neighbors.
Strengthen our ties with other local congregations, agencies, and services.
Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as
we commend them to you; through Christ our Lord. Amen

OFFERING PRAYER
Holy and generous host,
You set a table where we feast as friends. Prepare us to witness to
your goodness with every gift you have given us to share, that all
people may know your peace through Jesus Christ, now and forever.
Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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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 trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen
SIT

SENT FORTH TO SERVE

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
STAND

BLESSING
Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. Holy God, speaking,
spoken, and inspiring, + bless you, unbind you, and send you in love and in
peace. Amen

SENDING HYMN ELW #328 “Restore In Us, O God”

SENDING
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.