Order of Service
Organ prelude: Cornet Voluntary – Anon. 18th century
Welcome
Lent Liturgy for Palm Sunday Sunday
As we follow our Lord through the events of his Passion, we remember today how he entered Jerusalem while the crowd cheered him and laid palm branches on his way.
[pause]
Ride on! ride on in majesty!
Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry;
thine humble beast pursues his road
with palms and scattered garments strowed.
Ride on! ride on in majesty!
in lowly pomp ride on to die;
O Christ, thy triumphs now begin
o’er captive death and conquered sin.
H. H. Milman (1791-1868)
Opening Prayer
Lord God, redeemer King, we come to bring you our praise and worship, for who you are and what you have done for us. On this Palm Sunday, as we think about your Passion, we give you praise as the disciples and the people of Jerusalem did when you came riding in on a donkey. And yet you knew what you were riding to, what seemed like the end of everything, and yet was the redemption of the whole world. We come humbly before you, the one who lived and died for us in humility. We are conscious of how so often we are not humble, but proud and unforgiving of others, falling to harsh words and thoughtless actions. We ask to be forgiven. We give thanks for the assurance that you are pleased to forgive us when we repent. So, in this time in your presence, we offer all our worship to you, our music, our readings and our prayers, that it may all glorify you alone, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For we ask and we come in your name, Amen.
HYMN We sing the praise of him who died
Text: Thomas Kelly (1769-1855)
Music: Bow Brickhill – Sydney H. Nicholson (1875-1947)
Reading – Matthew 21: 1—11
Reading The Donkey – G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
HYMN All glory, laud and honour
Text: Theodulph of Orleans (d. 821); tr. J. M. Neale (1818-66)
Music: Prelude on St Theodulph – Rebecca Groom te Velde (b. 1956)
Reading – Luke 22: 1—6
HYMN Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended
Text: Robert Bridges (1844-1930), based on Johann Herman (1585-1647)
Music: Herzliebster Jesu Johann Crüger (1598-1662); harm. J. S. Bach (1685-1750);
Chorale Prelude on Herzliebster Jesu – Johannes Brahms (1833-97)
Reading – Luke 22: 14—22
HYMN Now, my tongue, the mystery telling
Text: Thomas Aquinas (c1227-74); tr. Edward Caswall (1814-78) and others.
Music: Picardy – 17th century French melody
Prelude on Picardy – Craig Phillips (b. 1961)
Reading – Luke 22: 39—53
HYMN Praise to the holiest in the height
Text: John H. Newman (1801-90)
Music: Gerontius – J. B. Dykes (1823-76)
Pastorale on Gerontius – David Blackwell (b. 1961)
Reading – Mark 15: 1—20
HYMN O sacred head
Text: Paul Gerhardt (1607-76); tr. H. W. Baker (1821-77) and others.
Music: Passion Chorale – melody by Hans Leo Hassler (1562-1612); harm. J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Chorale Prelude on Wie soll ich dich empfangen – Delphin Strungk (1601-94)
Chorale Prelude on Herzlich thut mich verlangen – Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901)
Reading – Matthew 27: 33—44
Reading – Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross – Malcolm Guite (b. 1957)
HYMN When I survey the wondrous cross
Text: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Music: Rockingham – Edward Miller (1735-1807)
Prelude on Rockingham – Christopher Tambling (b. 1964)
Reading – Matthew 27: 45—50
Prayers of intercession and the Lord’s Prayer
HYMN My song is love unknown
Text: Samuel Crossman (1624-84)
Music: Love unknown – John Ireland (1879-1962)
Meditation on Love unknown – Matthew Corl (b. 1965)
Benediction
Go from this worship in the peace of Christ.
And may the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and those you love, now and always,
Amen.
Organ Voluntary: Chorale Prelude on Wir glauben all an einen Gott – J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
