The Liturgy of the Palms

OPENING HYMN: # 156 Ride On, Ride On in Majesty

OPENING ANTHEM

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

The Word of God

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

Celebrant People Celebrant

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.

Almighty and ever-living God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lessons

FIRST READING: Isaiah 50:4-9a

The people sit.

A Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

4The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

7The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8he who vindicates me is near. Who will

contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. aIt is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.

Silence may follow.

PSALM: Psalm 31:9-16

The choir will chant the psalm.

9Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; * my eye is consumed with sorrow,

and also my throat and my belly.

10For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; *

my strength fails me because of affliction,

and my bones are consumed.

11I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *

when they see me in the street they avoid me. 12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *

I am as useless as a broken pot.

13For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; *

they put their heads together against me;

they plot to take my life.

14But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *

I have said, “You are my God. 15My times are in your hand; *

rescue me from the hand of my enemies,

and from those who persecute me.

16Make your face to shine upon your servant, *

and in your loving-kindness save me.”

SECOND READING: Philippians 2:5-11

The people sit.

A Reading from Paul's letter to the Church in Philippi.

5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.

Silence may follow.

SEQUENCE HYMN: # 435 At the Name of Jesus

All stand.

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 21:1-11

Priest The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, 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 been spoken through the prophet, 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 brought the donkey and the colt, 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 went ahead of him and that followed 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 is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

Priest The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE SERMON

BLESSING OF THE PALMS

The Celebrant then says the following blessing

Celebrant People Celebrant People

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

SECOND ANTHEM

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Deacon Let us go forth in peace. People In the name of Christ. Amen.

PROCESSION HYMN: # 154 All Glory, Laud, and Honor

THE SERMON

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

All remain standing.

With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this city , for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air [or through outer space], let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

In our parish cycle of prayer, for Jeanne, Luma, & Caedman Adams; Linda Adams; and Janet Alden, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Defend us, deliver us, and in thy compassion protect us, O Lord, by thy grace.

Lord, have mercy.

In the communion of the blessed Mary, Blessed Peter our Patron, and all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

To thee, O Lord our God.

Silence

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.

THE PEACE

All stand.

Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you.

Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

The Holy Communion

OFFERTORY SENTENCE

The Celebrant says

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 50:14

OFFERTORY ANTHEM: His The Scepter (Nagy)

The Great Thanksgiving

SURSUM CORDA

The People remain standing.

Celebrant People Celebrant People Celebrant People

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. For our sins he was lifted high upon the cross, that he might draw the whole world to himself; and, by his suffering and death, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who put their trust in him.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

SANCTUS S129

Celebrant and People

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Celebrant continues

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. AMEN.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

People and Celebrant

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.

The Breaking of the Bread

FRACTION ANTHEM

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

therefore let us keep the feast.

INVITATION

The Celebrant says

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people. The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants with these words

The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life. Amen.

COMMUNION ANTHEM: What Love Is This (Nix)

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Eternal God, heavenly Father,

you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,

and you have fed us with spiritual food

in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

Send us now into the world in peace,

and grant us strength and courage

to love and serve you

with gladness and singleness of heart;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESSING

The Priest blesses the people, saying

Bow down before the Lord

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: # 168 O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded

THE PASSION GOSPEL: Matthew 26:36 – 27:66

The Passion Gospel may be read or chanted by lay persons. Specific roles may be assigned to different persons, the congregation taking the part of the crowd.

The customary responses before and after the Gospel are omitted.

The congregation may be seated for the first part of the Passion. At the verse which mentions the arrival at Golgotha (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33) all stand.

MEDITATION: He Was Despised (Smith)

Antonio Rodrigues, soloist