Palm Sunday Worship Service Celebration

1. April 9, 2017 Welcome to OPC

2. Chimes “Lift High the Cross” Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

3. Prelude “The Palms” Duet~Norma Jones & Harry Pittman Lighting of the candles Introit “Blessed Be the King”~Griffitts/Wingate

4. *CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Rejoice, sisters and brothers, for today your King comes to you. P: We greet him with shouts and joy!

5. L: He is not like other kings and rulers. P: Yes, he is a servant; he is kind and compassionate. L: His kingdom is not like other kingdoms.

6. P: Yes, his kingdom is filled with fairness and mercy, peace and love. L:Today Jesus rides into Jerusalem a hero.

7. P: Later he is called a criminal and killed. L: Holy God, help us to walk with him this difficult week. P: May we experience what he experienced:

8. joy, fear, pain, love, and resurrection. L: Let us meet our God and king this day with hope and joy.

9. P: May we learn to be servants of the true King this hour.

10. *HYMN #89“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” v.1 Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang; Through pillared court and temple the joyful anthem rang;

11. *HYMN #89“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” v.1 To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to His breast, The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

12. *HYMN #89“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” v.2 From Olivet they followed ‘mid an exultant crowd, The victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud;

13. *HYMN #89“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” v.2 The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state, Nor scorned that little children should on His bidding wait.

14. *HYMN #89“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” v.3 “Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing, For Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King.

15. *HYMN #89“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” v.3 O may we ever praise Him with heart and life and voice, And in His blissful presence eternally rejoice.

16. *PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Glorious God, on this day we love to shout “Hosanna” and wave palm branches. Yahoo!

17. And yet at the same time we remember the times we lift our voices to praise you, then turn around and speak cruelly to someone else.

18. We joyfully tell you how amazing you are and then yell at another of your children. We give thanks to you for blessing us with so much, but then we withhold our

19. blessings from others who need it. Your Word tells us this is not what your kingdom is, O God. Forgive us, and help us to live our praise by treating others

20. with your love and compassion. We pray this for the sake of Christ’s present and coming kingdom. Amen.

21. (silence is observed for reflection and prayer)

22. ASSURANCEOF PARDON L: Friends, hear the Good News: In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we learn that God’s love has no bounds.

23. In Christ we are forgiven, and are empowered to begin anew. Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel. P: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

24. CHOIR ANTHEM “Beautiful One” ~T . Hughes Solo – Beth Resch

25. Time With Young Christians

26. PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 118:1-2,19-29

27. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks tothe Lord.

28. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteousness shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

29. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

30. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of thealtar.

31. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

32. SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 21:1-11

33. When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethpage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediatelyyou will find adonkey tied,

34. and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfill what had beenspoken throughthe prophet,

35. saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they broughtthe donkey and the colt,

36. and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that wentahead of him andthat followed

37. were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil,asking, ‘Who isthis?’

38. The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’ L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

39. “Who Is This?” Rev. Tedd Pullano

40. *HYMN #83“O Love, How Deep, How Broad…” v.1 O love, how deep, how broad, how high, how passingthought and fantasy, That God, the Son of God, should take our mortal form for mortals’ sake!

41. *HYMN #83“O Love, How Deep, How Broad…” v.2 For us baptized, for us he bore his holy fast and hungered sore; For us temptations sharp he knew, for us the tempter overthrew.

42. *HYMN #83“O Love, How Deep, How Broad…” v.3 For us to evil power betrayed, Scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed, He bore the shameful cross and death, For us gave up His dying breath.

43. *HYMN #83“O Love, How Deep, How Broad…” v.4 For us He rose from death again; For us he went on high to reign; For us He sent the Spirit here to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

44. OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” ~P. Keveren

45. *DOXOLOGY #592 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

46. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed are the gifts that are received in Christ’s name.

47. We come before you, O God, aware of the many blessings that you have bestowed upon us. Accept and bless what we bring this day,

48. so that others can shout, “Hosanna, Christ is King!” Amen.

49. RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

50. The Lord’s Prayer (unison) Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.