Liturgy for 2nd April

Week 1 – Palm Sunday

Leader:

O Christ, you entered the city as a poor man, not in style, but simply, yet still you caused uproar and questions everywhere; you satisfied the expectations of a hungry crowd, and brought buried conflicts to light.

May we, who are sometimes swayed by the crowd’s approval, and who often avoid conflict for fear of its cost to us, hold fast to the Gospel of truth and justice and follow faithfully in your way of compassion and solidarity with those who are poor and excluded, wherever it may lead us.

Amen.

Opening Responses

Jesus is coming

SHOUT HOSANNA

He’s riding on a donkey

SHOUT HOSANNA

Open the gates

SHOUT HOSANNA

Open the ancient doors

SHOUT HOSANNA

Don’t be afraid

SHOUT HOSANNA

Wave the branches

SHOUT HOSANNA

Spread out your coats

SHOUT HOSANNA

Peace in heaven

SHOUT HOSANNA

Glory in highest heaven

SHOUT HOSANNA

Read:​Read Philippians 2 verses 5 - 11

Hymn or song – If you felt inclined you could sing a Palm Sunday hymn here. Ride on! Ride on in Majesty is my favourite.

Read: Psalm 118 verses 1 – 2 and 19 - 29

Prayer

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?

Those who have clean hands and pure hearts.

Lord Jesus, you came in triumph to a city where people were gathered for a festival, and you also came to challenge power and vested interests and to overturn status and wealth

COME, LORD JESUS, IN TRIUMPH AND SORROW

HOSANNA IN THE NAME OF THE LIVING GOD.

You came in celebration with a royal welcome, declaring God’s reign of love, and you also came to rejection, to the fearful and proud who planned to sacrifice you to preserve their power.

COME, LORD JESUS, IN TRIUMPH AND SORROW

HOSANNA IN THE NAME OF THE LIVING GOD.

You came to acclamation, to people waving and shouting praises, to a procession of joy, and you also came to abuse and to shouts which lead to a false trial, the way of the cross and crucifixion.

COME, LORD JESUS, IN TRIUMPH AND SORROW

HOSANNA IN THE NAME OF THE LIVING GOD.

Lord, if on our journey through Lent – or our journey through life – we have failed to be your faithful followers

CLEANSE US BY YOUR MERCY

If we have shown greed or pride or resentment

CLEANSE US BY YOUR MERCY

If we have turned aside from our pilgrimage to follow the world’s ways, or to seek false gods

CLEANSE US BY YOUR SPIRIT

Lord, you forgive the sins of those who turn to you in sincerity. Forgive us, we pray, and give us new strength to follow on your way, so that even we may ascend the hill of the Lord, and stand in the holy place.

And now hear us as we pray further in the words Jesus taught his disciples saying:

OUR FATHER

Read:​Matthew 21 verses 1 - 11

Reflection

I was going to offer a written reflection each week but things have moved on and people have offered to “zoom” reflections. This is much better but I offer the following well-known poem for you to reflect upon:

The Donkey by G.K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked

and figs grew upon thorn,

some moment when the moon was blood

then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry

and ears like errant wings,

the devil’s walking parody

on all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,

of ancient crooked will;

starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,

I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour:

One far fierce hour and sweet:

there was a shout about my ears

and palms before my feet.

Prayer

This is a time for prayers for the world, for the communities in which we live; for the Church and those who minister here in any capacity; for those who are sick at this time, whether with coronavirus or other illnesses; for all health workers and carers; for those whose income is uncertain; for those known to us to be in particular need of our prayers; for ourselves.

CLOSING RESPONSES

We tell your story

We follow in your footsteps

LEAD US INTO HOLY WEEK

We walk towards the city

We wait in the garden

LEAD US ONTO HOLY GROUND

We journey towards the cross

We hope for resurrection

LEAD US INTO HOLY JOY

Material adapted (and added to) from “Eggs and Ashes” and “Spring”, both Wild Goose publications.