This is part of the worship series,
"The Way of the Cross”
Series Introduction | Lent 1 | Lent 2
Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5 | Palm Sunday |
Good Friday | Easter | Pentecost
First Sunday of Lent
Gathering Song
“Come into God’s Presence Singing ‘Alleluia’” Anon.
Call to Worship
Behind all things
behind the grey surface
there is a glory escaping
born of heaven
and belongs to heaven
a light that welcomes
a more profound way of seeing things
that transfigures the world
that casts a spell of hope
that sees the glory in the cross
and life within death
it is a glory
that meets us here
on this mountain
where Jesus Christ
covered in the dust of the world
is caught up in the glory of heaven
welcome to the mountain
—Roddy Hamilton, New Kilpatrick Parish Church of Scotland, nkchurch.org.uk. Used by permission.
Songs
“Holy Lord” Bell
“Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates” Polman
“Hosanna (Praise is Rising)” Brown, Bloche
Confession and Assurance
God of grace,
sometimes discipleship is so difficult.
We see you standing in front of us and we look for glory.
Then you tell us to expect heartbreak and challenge.
We get a glimpse of your glory,
and we are confused, frightened, unsure what to do or say.
God of grace, made known in Jesus the Christ,
in the challenge and in the glory
you call us to look toward you,
to listen to you.
Grant us the grace and wisdom to watch,
to listen,
to follow,
to learn,
and, in the end,
to possibly understand,
as we join you on The Way,
as we explore the glorious Kingdom. Amen.
—”Prayer for Grace,” Rev. Gord Waldie, inspired by Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–9; Luke 9:28–36, worshipofferings.blogspot.com/2016/02/, Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License.
Song
“Your Name” Packiam, Baloche
Message
Mark 11:1–11, “Triumphal Entry”
Sermon Notes
The overriding thought is the contrast between this joyful entry full of hope and celebration versus the looming betrayal and suffering of the cross. The main theme of the triumphal entry, naturally, is triumph, or victory. Triumph means that the war has been won. That’s an important message. In Winston Churchill’s words: “This isn’t the beginning and it isn’t the end, but is the beginning of the end.” The people who celebrated at Jerusalem had that notion in their minds. They might not have understood the event correctly, but on that day they got the celebration right.
Song of Response and Offering
“Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” Wesley
Prayer of the People
Sending Litany
This is a vision of the way it can be, the way it should be—
Shouts of welcome, a joyful procession,
a community celebrating together.
The same vision is offered to us today:
We can welcome Christ into our lives;
We can celebrate his transforming power.
How swiftly things changed back then,
How swiftly we, too, can be distracted.
May we hold fast to his vision of goodness—
Peace from the practice of justice,
equality from the practice of respect.
As this week unfolds,
We will let ourselves be overtaken by God’s love
We will pour it back out into the world.
—Jeanyne Slettom, 2015, © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike.
Closing Song
“Shout to the Lord” Zschech
