Sunday, April 5, 2020

By Chuck Reeves | April 5, 2020 |

CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

110 N. Second Street,
P.O. Box 323 Ripley OH. 45167

Reverend David Harper, Minister
937-515-2995, home
937-515-7070, cell
11:00 AM WORSHIP
Palm Sunday
April 5, 2020

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, and he has given us light.

Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 NRSV

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Once again we worship beyond the walls of our church building, but we are still the church! May I suggest that you read through the order of worship prayerfully and thoughtfully. Ask questions of yourself or of those you are with. Pause and ponder the words and images that arise as if God or Christ were speaking. Feel your way through the scriptures and hymns. Consider how they speak to our present time. Embrace the loving relationship in which God holds you. Imagine others in our faith community who are also reading and praying at home along with you. After all, especially in hard times, we are one in Christ.Sincerely, Dave

THE CONGREGATION AT WORSHIP
GATHERING THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH

PRELUDE
MINISTRY OF LIGHT

* CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Cry out, people of faith! Rejoice and praise God!

People: If we did not sing praise, the very stones would cry out!

Leader: Cry out, people of faith, for your Savior draws near to Jerusalem.

People: Hosanna! God saves! Blessed is the One who comes in God’s name!

Leader: Blessed is Jesus Christ, who did not turn back for fear of the cross.

Let us praise the God who loves us, sharing Christ’s sufferings, and facing with courage our path of faith.

All: Blessed is the One who comes in God’s name!
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” No. 278

Hymn is available by clicking here

EPISTLE LESSON Philippians 2: 5-11

Scripture is available by clicking here

OPENING STATEMENT

On Palm Sunday we recall the shouts of glad hosanna with which the people greeted Jesus. They were ready to hail him as the Christ, but he was not the Christ for whom they were looking. They were looking for a wearer of the purple, but he traded the robes of royalty for the garment of a servant. They were looking for a swashbuckling warrior, but he praised the makers of peace. They were looking for one who would cater to the cries of the high and mighty, but he ministered to the needs of the meek and lowly. Today, O Lord, let us both recall and reclaim the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, lest our shouts of glad hosanna betray the Christ who came.

MORNING PRAYER

Loving God, present in both sunshine and shadow, we follow the drama of salvation with wonder. As we walk with Jesus during this holy week, each day drawing closer to his inevitable suffering and death, we are thankful for every moment of sunshine that fell on his path. We thank you for the common folk and the little children who sensed a glory that the proud and learned could not see. We thank you for each waving palm frond and every shout of Hosanna. Like latecomers, at the rear of the crowd, we add our praise and pledge our love. Hosanna in the highest! Amen!
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

LITANY

Because of Christ’s love, our prayers reach out to our brothers and sisters.

Holy Friend, we turn to you in prayer for those around us, not trying to twist your arm or change your mind, but linking our little compassion to your boundless compassion for all those whom Christ came to save.

We pray for those who today are faced with a clear choice between doing the lonely will of God or conforming to the cozy will of the majority.