Sunday 17 April, 2011- The Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday), Year A

By Trudi, on April 4th, 2011

Here are the resources you need for this Sunday. Please feel free to choose what is suitable for your congregation’s needs. You will notice that the orders of service are available in different formats: choose the “pdf” format if you want something that is ready to print and photocopy, the “doc” or “rtf” format if you wish to change the formatting yourself or the “ppt” format if you use PowerPoint.

THEMES OF THE DAY

As the double name (and the two sets of readings) suggest, this Sunday has a double theme.

One (and the oldest) theme for the service on this Sunday is the passion of Jesus. In a way similar to the service on Good Friday, the service for Passion Sunday focuses on the suffering and death of Jesus. The central focus of the service is the reading of the long gospel, usually the entire passion narrative of the gospel for the year (for year A, the Gospel of Matthew). Drama may be added by using three or more readers to read this narrative. The first and second readings, and the accompanying psalm, reflect this emphasis.

The other theme for this Sunday is Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before his death. In Jerusalem in the late fourth century, pilgrims gathered on Sunday afternoon on the Mount of Olives for the reading from the gospel of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Then, while singing hymns and psalms, they carried palm or olive branches down into Jerusalem in procession. In the Western church, this ceremony was added onto the beginning of the eucharist for Passion Sunday. In Lutheran practice, following late medieval piety, the focus on the Sunday in Holy Week became almost predominantly Palm Sunday.

It is important to note that the readings given by the Revised Common Lectionary are intended to be used in the following way:

* The Palm Sunday gospel and psalm are used for the palm procession and/or entry into the church

* The Passion Sunday readings, psalm and gospel are for use in the service itself.

It is possible to omit the palm procession, and to use the Palm Sunday psalm and gospel in the service itself instead of the Passion psalm and gospel, but this may result in a rather odd mixture of triumphant jubilation and sorrowful reflection. When we observe the separation of the two themes, the day appropriately begins in shouts of joy, but ends in silence.

Altar colour: Violet
Bible readings:
FIRST READING
For palm procession: Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem
For passion theme: Isaiah 50:4-9a The obedience of the Lord’s servant
PSALM
For palm procession: Psalm 118:1,2,19-29
For passion theme: Psalm 31:9-16
*For musical settings of these Psalms, please see the song suggestions below*
SECOND READING Philippians 2:5-11 Christ- obedient servant and exalted Lord
GOSPEL
Matthew 26:14 – 27:66 Jesus’ suffering and death
OR, a shorter version Matthew 27:11-54 Jesus’ suffering and death
Sermons:
Lay-readers please note: the linked sermons have not been edited for general use. As part of your preparations, keep in mind that they have been written for specific people in a specific context, and for this reason the issues they address or the examples they use may not be entirely suitable for people in your congregation. If you feel this is the case, you may need to make minor adjustments or find another sermon
Based on Matthew 21: Pr Stephen Pietsch ; Pr Vince Gerhardy
Based on second reading: Pr Roger Atze ; edited for lay reading doc
Orders of service:
Palm/Passion Sunday Word & Prayer (pdf / doc / ppt )
Service of the Word (pdf / rtf / ppt)
Morning Praise (pdf / rtf / ppt)
Service without communion (pdf / doc / ppt)
Prayer of the Day (Collect): Choose one of the following

Traditional

Almighty and eternal God,
since you sent your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
to take our nature upon himself,
and to suffer death upon the cross:
Mercifully grant
that we may patiently follow
the example of his great humility,
and share in his resurrection;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Almighty and eternal God,
you sent your Son, our Saviour,
to take our nature on himself
and to suffer and die on the cross.
Lead us to follow
the example of his great humility,
and bring us to share in his resurrection.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, new (revised alternative)

(Let us pray for humility. [silence])

Loving Father of all,
your only Son came as a servant
and was obedient
all the way to his death on the cross.
Make us humble like Christ,
and bring us to be with him in his glory.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Prayer of the Church/ General Prayer: Palm/Passion Sunday A
NEW! Link to site with visual images for the day: His Word in Pictures
Song/Hymn suggestions: * = Modernised version available (please click here) ;G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .; GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
Palm gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
LHS
5   O bride of Christ, rejoice* G4
7   Come, Thou precious ransom, come G8
10   O how shall I receive Thee (vv 1,2)* G3
18   Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates* G5
62   My song is love unknown G8
86   All glory, laud and honour* G5
87   Ride on, ride on in majesty (tune Winchester New, TIS 348)
733   Daughter of Zion, O rejoice G6
737   Prepare the royal highway G4
AT
211   Hosanna!
328   Tell the city
335   And we stood right there (v 1)
344   The New Road (from v 5) (Replace ‘Alleluia’ with ‘Sing hosanna’)
TIS
219   Jesus comes with all his grace
244   Trotting, trotting through Jerusalem
267   Lift up your heads, you mighty gates
279   The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices
333   All glory, praise and honour
336   O bride of Christ, rejoice
341   My song is love unknown
346   Prepare the royal highway
348   Ride on, ride on in majesty
353   The glory of our King was seen
724   Hosanna!

First reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
LHS
48   Lamb of God most holy* G5
52   O sacred head, now wounded (vv 1,2,4,5)* G6
55   O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken* G4
57   A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth (Pt 1)* G5
60   Christ, the life of all the living G5
62   My song is love unknown G5 (alt tune A8, G8)
70   Stricken, smitten and afflicted* G3
406   God still lives and His compassion G7
413   Why should cross and trial grieve me? (vv 1,2,5,6) G5
AT
245   You are the prisoner
347   O dearest Jesus
TIS
337   O dearest Jesus, why aren’t you acquitted
339   O sacred head sore wounded
341   My song is love unknown

Second reading: Philippians 2:5-11
LHS
11   The advent of our King G4
36   Jesus, name of wondrous love* G6
166   All hail the power of Jesus’ name G8 (see also TIS tune 224(i))
174   All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine G7
239   Son of God, eternal Saviour G4
782   At the name of Jesus G7
790   O Lord of light, who made the stars (alt tune 346) G5
807   Lift high the cross GS
857   Low, the way is low GS
AT
31   Freely, freely
50   I will sing (v 5)
55   His name is wonderful
139   Christ humbled himself
157   Jesus, name above all names
190   Low, the way is low
261   The Servant King
370   You are glorious
TIS
174   Morning glory, starlit sky
218   Jesus! The name high over all
224   All hail the power of Jesus’ name
225   My heart and voice I raise
231   At the name of Jesus
247   Let all be one in mind and heart
256   From heaven you came, helpless babe
271   The advent of our God
351   Lift high the cross
373   Hail, our once despised Jesus
422   Come Holy Spirit, come (vv 1,2,5,6)
448   Blest are the pure in heart
606   Son of God, eternal Saviour
746   The heavens shall declare

Gospel: Matthew 26:14 – 27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54
LHS
51   Let Thy blood in mercy poured* G5 (before holy communion)
53   Jesus, refuge of the weary* G3
55   O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken?* G4
59   Jesus, I will ponder now* G8
60   Christ, the life of all the living G5
62   My song is love unknown (final song) G5 (alt tune A8, G8)
65   Lord Jesus, we give thanks to Thee* G5 (final song)
70   Stricken, smitten and afflicted* G3
73   Go to dark Gethsemane* G5 (preparation for Holy Week)
79   Lord Jesus, when we stand afar G8 (final song)
85   According to Thy gracious word G5 (final song)
281   Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour G8 (holy communion)
285   To Thy most holy supper, Lord* G5 (holy communion)
620   O dearest Lord, Thy sacred head G6
752   A purple robe, a crown of thorns
753   Downtrodden Christ, to you we pray (final song)
754   Jesus dying on the cross GS (final song)
758   The royal banners forward go G8
759   When his time was over GS
840   Lord Jesus, we humbly pray G8 (holy communion)
857   Low, the way is low GS
AT
22   He was wounded
135   Bitter was the night
139   Christ humbled himself
143   Jesus dying on the cross (final song)
147   When his time was over
190   Low, the way is low (final song)
261   The Servant King
287   Stay here and keep watch with me (final song)
335   And we stood right there
347   O dearest Jesus
374   Always remember me
387   Jesus, remember me
449   Walk him along
TIS
256   From heaven you came
332   The royal banners forward go
337   O dearest Jesus, why aren’t you acquitted
340   Before the cock crew twice
341   My song is love unknown (final song)
345   Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (omit v 6?)
352   O dearest Lord, thy sacred head
354   O Jesus crucified
357   When his time was over
501   Sing my tongue, the Saviour’s glory (holy communion)
502   Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast (holy communion)
515   According to thy gracious word (final song)
519   And now, O Father, mindful of the love (holy communion)

‘ALL TOGETHER’ SONGS SUITABLE FOR PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
Select from the following songs.
For a Palm theme:
166   Clap your hands
211   Hosanna
252   He is exalted
328   Tell the city
335   And we stood right there
344   The New Road
536   If you were a king

For a Passion theme:
22   He was wounded
24   God’s love (without verse 6)
27    Lord of the Dance
67   Let your word fill my days
125   Celebration song
133   Jesus set us free (Replace ‘hallelujahs’ in the chorus with ‘Let us praise him, let us praise him’)
135   Bitter was the night
139   Christ humbled himself
143   Jesus dying on the cross
147   When his time was over
190   Low, the way is low
231   A cry in the night
235   In your hand, my Saviour
245   You are the prisoner
261   From heaven you came (Servant Song)
287   Stay here and keep watch with me
335   And we stood right there
342   Jacob struggled for a blessing
344   The New Road (especially verses 5-8; begin verse 5 with ‘Sing hosanna’ instead of ‘Alleluia’).
345   Nothing but the blood
347   O dearest Jesus
349   There is a redeemer
387   Jesus, remember me
444   Hey, King!
449   Saviour of the world

PSALM 118:1,2,19-29
The following paraphrase of Psalm 118 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune St Denio (LHS 768, TIS 143). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

verses 1-2,14
Give thanks to the Lord, for his goodness and love.
‘His love is forever’, let Israel say:
The Lord is my strength, my salvation and might,
the homes of the righteous are filled with glad songs.

verses 19-21
So open the door of the temple to me,
and let me go in to give thanks to the Lord.
The righteous shall enter the door of the Lord.
‘My saving God, thank you for hearing my prayer.’

verses 22-24
The stone that the builders rejected is now
the chief cornerstone of the temple of God.
The Lord God has done this, a marvelous sight,
The Lord made this day, let’s rejoice and be glad.

verses 25-27a
O Lord, come and save us, and give us success!
We bless you who come in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from Zion, the house of the Lord!
The Lord is our God, he has given us light.

verses 27b-29
In festal procession, with branches in hand,
we go to the altar to give thanks to God.
For you are my God, whom I thank and I praise!
Give thanks to the Lord, for his goodness and love.

PSALM 31:9-16
The following paraphrase by David Schütz may be sung to the tune Von Gott will ich (Erfurt), LH 400, or Von Gott will ich (Crüger), LH 130. If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

O Lord, be gracious to me,
for I am in distress.
My eyes are sore from crying,
my soul and body too.
My life is spent in grief,
my years are spent with sighing,
I’m weak from all my troubles,
my bones all waste away.

My enemies reproach me,
my neighbours run in fear,
my friends in fright run from me,
and all who see me flee.
Forgotten like the dead,
I’m like a broken vessel.
I hear the whisp’ring schemers:
they plot to take my life.

And yet, O Lord, I trust you,
I say, ‘You are my God.’
My life and times and future
all in held in your hand.
Deliver me, O Lord,
from those who seek to harm me,
and let your face shine on me,
and rescue me in love.

NEW! For congregations who use Music Resources Vol. 3- Psalm settings in their services, you can download printable antiphons for the congregation to use here:
Psalm 118: p 200
Psalm 31: p 54, p 55, p 56