Welcome to Holy Week

 

This is the kick off of Holy Week. Together we remember, recount, and lean heavily on the historic events of Jesus’ passion week. Today is Palm Sunday, the day of the year we recall Christ’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem.

 

The week begins with praise, adulation and triumph but quickly shifts to utter despair, confusion, state sanctioned murder and loss. There is a culminating moment on Easter Sunday, but we aren’t there yet. Let us all begin our journey through Holy Week. Let us worship.

 

Call to Worship

 

The streets were crowded.
A parade mood filled the air.
Shouts came from deep in the heart.
Hosanna. Save us.

 

Save us from lukewarm faith.
Hosanna. Save us.

 

Save us from callous indifference.
Hosanna. Save us.

 

Save us from paltry hopes and petty dreams.
Hosanna. Save us.

 

Save us from unquenchable greed.
Hosanna. Save us.

 

Save us from lazy habits and faithless commitments.
Hosanna. Save us.

 

Save us from soft-mindedness and hard-heartedness.
Hosanna. Save us.

 

We cry from the depth of our hearts and the very pit of our souls.
Hosanna. Save us. Save us now.

 

Prayer

By John Van de Laar

 

 

Scripture Reading – Mark 11:1-11

 

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

 

Reflection

 

This Holy Week feels awfully different from those of the past. We don’t get to gather. We don’t get to waive palm branches or hear our children sing. We will miss out on our Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday service, Holy Saturday service, and Easter too will be different. We normally have a carnival, wear our best clothing, and share meals with beloved family and friends. If I am being completely honest, I don’t know if I’ll even get out of my pajamas on Easter.

 

Rachel Held Evans, God rest her soul, wrote a lovely reflection on the imperfections of Holy Week. Might her words bring peace and meaning to us in our isolation.

 

Rachel writes:

 

“Holy Week wasn’t perfect for the disciples. They betrayed, ran away, lied, despaired, and doubted.

 

Holy Week wasn’t perfect for Jesus. He wept. He wondered if there was another way. He experienced the same agony and isolation that inspired the poet David to ask, “My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?”

 

Holy Week isn’t perfect for the Church. It comes amid scandal, division, persecution, and complacency.

 

Holy Week isn’t perfect for God, as he looks down upon the messes we have made, the stupid wars that we wage, and the imperfect representation of His son that we clumsily project to the world.

 

For most of us, holy week isn’t so holy. In fact, it’s more like the unholy mess spread across my kitchen table on a cold and rainy Palm Sunday afternoon.

 

But maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. Maybe Holy Week isn’t about perfection maintained, but about imperfection restored—an execution device transformed into a symbol of pardon, three denials transformed into three declarations of love, a tomb transformed into the birthplace of hope.”

 

Reflection

 

Spend the following moments reflecting on Holy Week. How is this year different?

 

How is it the same?

 

What has you shouting “Hosanna!” from the depth of your soul?

 

What betrays your allegiance to Christ?

 

How do you fear you may be letting Christ down?

 

What do you want Jesus to redeem in your life?

 

If you are in a group, spend some time sharing your reflections.

 

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

By David Lunan

 

Lord Jesus Christ, we welcome you,
our Lord and our Saviour, our Servant and Friend.
We welcome you to this place, where your people have gathered.
We welcome you to our worship, we welcome you to our lives.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

 

Blessed art thou Redeemer King,
for you reign sovereign in our hearts.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed art though
O saviour of the world,
for you have saved us from ourselves,
giving yourself for us in love.

 

We greet you that we might learn of you,
we learn of you that we might love you.

 

Yet our love is lukewarm so quickly;
we forget you so easily;
we disown you so readily.
We are changeable in our devotion to you,
bending with the strongest wind, blown off course,
capitulating to our culture.
Lord have mercy.

 

We want you to help us, without our helping you;
we want your words of comfort, but not your words of rebuke.
Lord have mercy.
We want you to be nice, even if we are not.
We seek heaven hereafter, but worldliness now.
Christ have mercy, and grant us your peace.

 

Lord save us from our fickleness;
help us to stay the course, to stay with you,
to stand with you, and for you, and beside you.
Grant us your grace to overcome our sin,
grant us your Holy Spirit to enable us to follow you, Lord Jesus,
to have your compassion, your courage, your obedience;
that we might be strong enough to forgive others,
to love our neighbours, to strive for justice, to endure the cross,
and to conquer all things with love.

 

Help us o Father, to open ourselves to receive your Spirit,
and to walk with your Son;
that even we might be blessed in the name of the Lord;
that even we might sing, now and forever,
‘Hosanna in the highest!’

 

Hear this our prayer o God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

 

Communion

This is the first Sunday in Covid19 isolation that we celebrate the gift of bread and wine. You are free to partake in the simple elements in your home. Whether alone or with others, share in the meal knowing that the very presence of Jesus is with you.

 

We have created a short video to watch in preparation for for the holy mystery of communion.

 

 

Benediction

By Joanna Harader