Sunday, April 14, 2019
Sixth Sunday of Lent
Palm Sunday
Musician: Sea Raven on piano
Prelude: Laudate Dominum (Taize)
For Meditation and Reflection:
On Palm Sunday, the church remembers Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem just days before his death. The gospels report that he arrived in the city on a donkey and was greeted by an expectant crowd in a manner fit for a king: the people waved palms in reverence and laid them in his path. Acknowledging the one who had come to save, they shouted “Hosanna,” a word derived from the Hebrew scriptures, meaning “Save, we pray.”
The liturgical color for this day is red, the color of the Passion. On this last Sunday of Lent, we are closer than ever to the hope of Easter, but we are also entering into Holy Week, the most solemn week of the church year, set aside for remembering the events of Christ’s last days.
– Beth Bevis, God For Us
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Prayer (Pastor)
Call to Worship:
Pastor: Hosanna to the Son of David!
People: Hosanna in the highest!
Pastor: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: Hosanna in the highest!
Opening Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor #216
Prayer for Illumination (Pastor)
Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40
Sermon A Change to Live With by Mike Lyle
The Offerings
Offertory Music: Roslin Castle (Traditional Scottish)
A Litany of Thanksgiving
Pastor: All things come from you, O God, and with gratitude we return to you what is yours. All that we are, and all that we have, is your gift to us.
People: And so, in gratitude for all your gifts, we offer ourselves, and all that we have. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.
All: Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reflective Hymn: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, #226
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Prayers of the Pastor and People
Lord’s Prayer [Traditional, with “debts”]
Closing Hymn: Were You There, #229
Benediction (Pastor)
Go forward in the comfort and strength of God’s blessing. Remember that you are loved, that God is ever near, and that divine mercy is your way in the world. Amen.
Postlude: Adoremus Te Criste (Taize)
Sharing the Peace as we go… And we hope you can stay for post-worship coffee and conversation in the Fellowship Hall.
Reverend Lyle is happy to stay following the service to talk about questions, concerns or thoughts you may have about today’s worship.
Thoughts for the Day/Week
“Our protection is a God who spurned protection. Our protection is a God of vulnerability . . . The pledge of Lenten observance is this: we will be vulnerable as the children of Israel were vulnerable in the desert, and as God sheltered them, so might God shelter us. We will be vulnerable as Christ was vulnerable, and it is in Christ himself where we will find our shelter.”
~ Lauren F. Winner, God For Us
ANNOUNCEMENTS
This Sunday, Apr 14th: Palm Sunday
9:30 am – Church Council Meeting
11:00 am – Worship led by Rev. Mike Lyle
Next Sunday, Apr 21st: Easter Sunday Schedule
8:30 – 9:30 – Potluck Easter Breakfast
9:30-10 – Children’s Sunday School and Easter Egg Hunt!
10:00 am – Worship led by Rev. Samantha Tuttle
Sunday, Apr 28th: 11 am Worship led by Rev. Mike Morse
Childcare is available during services in the Fellowship Hall.
Lovettsville Food Bank Donations: Please bring non-perishable food to church. Thanks to Tena for delivering it!
Fellowship Hall Update:
Help Needed – Before Easter Sunday breakfast, we need 2- 3 volunteers for 2-3 hours to re-stock the new kitchen cabinets with our supplies. Please contact Janell to volunteer.
Progress – This week, our new kitchen sink got its new garbage disposal installed and got hooked up to the our new water heater and water supply – yippee! All that remains to complete the kitchen is installation of our new Bosch dishwasher, which has been ordered, and a few minor items.
Getting back into the Sunday school room is top priority; the Trustees and Council are looking at options and costs. Stay tuned!
Our Statement of Faith
We gather as an open and affirming community to worship God, however known. We welcome everyone, no exceptions. Together we seek spiritual comfort and challenge, learn from ancient texts, and discover new dimensions of truth. We practice following the way of Jesus. We dare to demonstrate God’s love by working for justice and peace among all people.