Worship Resources for Palm Sunday

Posted on March 22, 2021 by revlisad

Palm Sunday by William Hemmerling

Christians celebrate Palm Sunday the Sunday before Easter, remembering Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This event is mentioned in all four Gospels. (Mark 11:1–11; Matthew 21:1–11; Luke 19:28–44; and John 12:12–19).

Palm Sunday is also the first day of Holy Week, a time when many Christians reflect on the last week of Jesus’ life in preparation for Easter.

I pray these resources are helpful to your meaningful celebrations. – Lisa <><

PRAYERS
Opening Prayer for Palm Sunday by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
ONE:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
In Jesus Christ, you rule and reign,
Not as a tyrant, but as a humble servant
Riding on a donkey, washing feet, suffering from injustice
Open our hearts this day, take your throne
Open our lips this day with shouts of praise

ALL:
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!

Palm Sunday Prayer– a prayer of petition on the theme Hosanna, Save Now! by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
What did they cry out that first Palm Sunday?
Hosanna!
Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord!
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Hosanna in the Highest!
Hosanna! Save Now!

Jesus, save us
Save us from the oppression of the Romans
Save us from the corruption of the Temple
Save us from slavery to sin and death
Save us from hunger and thirst
Save us

What are you crying out for God to save?

add our own petitions

Jesus, you are our Living Hope
You are One Who Saves

Salvation means wholeness
Lord, we need it
We need it for ourselves
We need it for our families
We need it for our places of work
For our schools
For our community
For your church
For those who are suffering in body, in mind, in spirit
For our world

For an end to the evil, injustice, and oppression
For an end to the hate, the division, the despairing

Lord, we need your salvation
We need your wholeness and we need it now
In our mourning, our grieving,
In our lamenting, and in our loss

We need it in our rejoicing and our celebration
We need your salvation
We need your wholeness

You are the Lamb of God
You are the King of Kings
You are the Christ, the Anointed One, the Savior of us all

We cling to you and we cling to your cross
We cry Hosanna! Save Now!

Make this real in us
Real in your church
Real in your world

conclude with the Lord’s Prayer

Consider using Blessed is the King by Steve Garnaas Holmes as an affirmation of faith or prayer of commitment. Coming Kingdom is a powerful call to action. He also supplies several resources entitled Hosanna on his blog, Unfolding Light:
Resource 1
Resource 2
Resource 3
Resource 4

READER’S THEATRE SCRIPTURE SCRIPTS
Reader’s Theatre: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Based on Matthew 21:1-11 NIV
Parts: Narrator, Jesus, Prophet, All (congregation as the crowd)

NARRATOR
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them

JESUS
Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.

NARRATOR
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

PROPHET
Say to the Daughter of Zion, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

NARRATOR
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.

Introduction to the song begins
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds went ahead of him and those that followed shouted

ALL SHOUTING:
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!

ALL SINGING:
Use one of the suggested songs or one of a similar theme. A choir anthem, solo, or song led by a praise band could also be used at this point.

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, United Methodist Hymnal #278
Mantos y Palmas, United Methodist Hymnal #279
All Glory, Laud and Honor, United Methodist Hymnal #280
Hosanna (Praise is Rising), CCLI #4662491
Hosanna, CCLI #21545
Hosanna (Be Lifted Higher), CCLI 5780152

Speak the final lines during an interlude before the final verse or chorus of the song

NARRATOR
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

ALL:
This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.

Click Here for a Reader’s Theatre script which does not include singing and extends the story a few verses (Matthew 21:1-17).

PALM SUNDAY SERMONS
Pick Your Parade (Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:41-44; Psalm 146)

Jesus the King (Luke 19; Zechariah 9)

The Palm Sunday Path (Mark 11:1-10)

*********************
Palm Sunday Prayer © 2019 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia.
Opening Prayer for Palm Sunday © 2015 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia.
You are welcome to use this work in worship or other devotional settings with proper attribution. Leave a message for posting and publication considerations.

Reader’s Theater: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11)
© 2014 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia.

Midweek Devotion- Matthew 21.33-46

Posted on October 21, 2020 by revlisad

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 21:33-46

SONGS:
My Hope is Built
Bind Us Together

BREATH PRAYERS:
IN: Jesus
OUT: My hope is built on you

IN: Jesus
OUT: I lean on your name

IN: On Christ the solid rock I stand
OUT: All other ground is sinking sand

You’re encouraged to use the following process as you read scripture.
We use this process together on Wednesdays at 8:00AM EST.

STILLNESS: Spend 5-20 minutes in silence looking to God and listening for God.

ATTENTION: Read or listen to the Scripture. What word, phrase or verse captures your attention? Underline it or copy it onto a piece of paper.

CONNECTION: What connections do you see to other scriptures? To your own experience or current situation? Or, to the character or promises of God?

ACTION: What is God inviting you to trust, say, or do? How will your life be different because of this scripture?

PRAY: Talk to God about what you just experienced or anything else on your heart.

Recorded 9/30/2020

My Hope is Built
Text: Edward Mote
Music: William B. Bradbury
Public Domain

Bind Us Together
CCLI Song # 1228
Bob Gillman © 1977
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 686715

_______________________________________
Midweek Devotion- Matthew 21:33-46 © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Prayers based on Matthew 21.33-46

Posted on October 2, 2020 by revlisad

Prayers Based on Matthew 21:33-46
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Prayer: Cornerstone Confession
Rejected
Dismissed and Disregarded
Questioned instead of dignified
Accusation instead of personhood

I’ve felt rejection’s sting and hollowness
As have you, my Jesus
You understand my pain
Heal my wound

I’ve wielded rejection’s blade
Unknowingly, Subtly, and
Fully conscious of its destructive power
You never have, my Jesus
Forgive me and heal all I have hurt

I am most ashamed of aiming rejection at you, my Jesus
Pierce me with your Divine sorrow
Deliver me, renew me, abide in me so there is
More of my true me and
More of your strong foundation
For my healing and the healing of the world
Amen

Prayer: Faith and Field
Generous One
You entrust us with the goodness
Of your faith and field

Yet
We grasp
We scheme
Deliver us from wickedness

We reject
We harm
Deliver us from wickedness

We murder
We seize what belongs to you
Produce and People
Deliver us from wickedness

Redeem and Renew in us
Strength to work
Joy in the work
A generosity of spirit
So we may give freely and live righteously
At your bidding
Now and forever, Amen

______________

For the next few months, I’ll be posting prayers to accompany Bishop Ken Carter’s Bible Study on Facebook. Each week, Bishop Carter will bring in a guest to speak about the passage. We’ll be walking through the last chapters of the Gospel of Matthew.

You’re most welcome to read along and to join this Facebook discussion group. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

May the grace of God’s word, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <

Cornerstone Confession © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Faith and Field © 2010 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Prayers based on Matthew 21.23-32

Posted on September 25, 2020 by revlisad

Prayers Based on Matthew 21:23-32
The Authority of Jesus is Questioned

Prayer: All Authority
Merciful and Mighty Christ
You proclaim and answer with authority
You reveal the way of righteousness

All authority in heaven and earth is yours
Receive the sacrifice of our trust and time

You deliver and heal with authority
You call for our turning and transforming

All authority in heaven and earth is yours
Receive the sacrifice of our trust and time

You breathe and share your authority
You send us to work and witness in your world

All authority in heaven and earth is yours
Receive the sacrifice of our trust and time
For the honor and glory of your name
For the building of your kingdom
For the saving of all creation. Amen

Prayer: Steadfast Surrender
Faithful One, make me faithful.
Steadfast One, make me steadfast.
Unchanging One, change me.
I surrender to your Word and ways, your call and claim.
Fulfill your good purposes in me and through me, now and forever. Amen.
______________

You’re most welcome to read along and to join this Facebook discussion group. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

May the grace of God’s word, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <

All Authority © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Steadfast Surrender © 2010 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Prayer for Wholeness, based on Matthew 21

Posted on June 21, 2020 by revlisad

Based on Matthew 21:1-11
Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday

Hosanna doesn’t mean Hooray! It means Save Now! Salvation doesn’t mean fixed like magic, problems solved without the labor of new life. Salvation means wholeness.

We need it for our families
We need it for our economy
For Christ’s church
For healthcare and education systems
For our government
For every expression of discrimination and injustice
For neighbors, strangers, ourselves, and …

This is what we need, what we always need.

Jesus, Messiah
We cry out for your saving power
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!

We need your wholeness and we need it now
In our sickness, our suffering
Our lamenting, our loss
Our division, our fear
Our poverty, our blindness
Our hardheartedness

You open yourself
Offer yourself
And it is given

Offer your own petitions here

Blessed is the one who comes, King of kings
Blessed is the one who comes, Lamb of God
Blessed is the one who comes, Anointed Savior

Hosanna! Save Now!
We cling to you and your cross
Make your wholeness real in us
And real in all
Amen
_________________________

For the next few months, I’m reading a chapter from the Gospels each day. This is part of the Summer in the Scriptures reading plan sponsored by the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Click Here for the reading plan.

You’re most welcome to read along and to join the Facebook discussion group, Summer in the Scriptures. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

As part of the Facebook group, I’ve been supplying prayers based on the day’s reading. Feel free to post your prayers and observations based on the readings here or there as well.

May the grace of the Gospels, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <><

Prayer for Wholeness (Matthew 21) © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

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Tag Archives: Matthew 21

Worship Resources for Palm Sunday

Midweek Devotion- Matthew 21.33-46

Prayers based on Matthew 21.33-46

Prayers based on Matthew 21.23-32