MAR 29, 2026 ORDER OF WORSHIP PALM SUNDAY

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM   

Hear from the Gospel according to Mark how our Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem.

 

“When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 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. 

 

If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 

 

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 

 

Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 

 

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.”

 

Leader:  Hosanna to the Son of David!
People: Hosanna in the highest!

Leader: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

People: Hosanna in the highest!

PROCESSIONAL HYMN Choir

#278 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

VERSE 1

Hosanna, loud hosanna,

The little children sang;

Through pillared court and temple

The lovely anthem rang;

To Jesus, who had blessed them

Close folded to His breast,

The children sang their praises,

The simplest and the best.

 

VERSE 2

From Olivet they followed

’Mid an exultant crowd,

The victor palm branch waving,

And chanting clear and loud;

The Lord of earth and heaven

Rode on in lowly state,

Nor scorned that little children

Should on His bidding wait.

 

VERSE 3

“Hosanna in the highest!”

That ancient song we sing,

For Christ is our Redeemer,

The Lord of heaven our King.

Oh, may we ever praise Him

With heart and life and voice,

And in His blissful presence

Eternally rejoice!

WELCOME Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

Almighty God,

on this day your Son Jesus Christ entered the holy city of Jerusalem

and was proclaimed King

by those who spread their garments and palm branches along his way.

Let those branches be for us signs of his victory,

and grant that we who bear them in his name

may ever hail him as our Lord,

and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life.

In his name we pray. Amen.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PRELUDE Dr. Banks

 

INVOCATION

God of salvation,

on this day we remember the gates thrown open

and the King who entered not with force,

but with humility and peace.

Bless this time of worship,

that we may recognize your saving work,

join the song of those who cried “Hosanna,”

and follow Christ on the road that leads to life.

Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Open to us the gates of righteousness that we may enter and give thanks to the Lord.

People: We will enter through the gates God has opened.

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

People: We come rejoicing in God’s salvation.

Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

People: Hosanna! This is the day the Lord has made.

WORSHIP SONG

“O Come to the Altar” 

Are you hurting and broken within?

Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?

Jesus is calling

 

Have you come to the end of yourself?

Do you thirst for a drink from the well?

Jesus is calling

 

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

 

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes

Come today, there's no reason to wait

Jesus is calling

 

Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy

From the ashes, a new life is born

Jesus is calling

 

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

 

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood

 

Oh, what a Savior

Isn't He wonderful?

Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen

 

Bow down before Him

For He is Lord of all

Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen

 

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

 

PASSING THE PEACE​​

 

OFFERING & OFFERTORY

 

**DOXOLOGY    

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

Zechariah 9:9

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

PASTORAL PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER

 

SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 NRSV

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

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

--

27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar., 

--

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

--

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

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE

Liturgist:  The Word of God for the people of God.

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SPECIAL MUSIC (Choir Piece) Dr. Banks

 

SERMON “The Gates Will Open” Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

**UMH HYMN #297 “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”

VERSE 1

Beneath the cross of Jesus

I fain would take my stand,

The shadow of a mighty rock

Within a weary land,

A home within the wilderness,

A rest upon the way,

From the burning of the 

noontide heat,

And the burden of the day.

 

VERSE 2

Upon that cross of Jesus,

Mine eye at times can see

The very dying form of One

Who suffered there for me;

And from my stricken heart, 

with tears

Two wonders I confess;

The wonders of redeeming love,

And my unworthiness.

 

VERSE 4

I take, O cross, thy shadow

For my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than

The sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by,

To know no gain nor loss,

My sinful self my only shame,

My glory all the cross!

 

FELLOWSHIP BLESSING Youth Representative

As we go from worship into fellowship, go with palms still waving in your hearts and songs of praise still on your lips.

Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

May our shared time of food and laughter overflow with thanksgiving and joy.

Hosanna in the highest!

Amen.

**BENEDICTION Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

POSTLUDE Dr. Banks

Choir sings stanza 1 of “Go to dark Gethsemane” and then be seated while Dr. Banks plays on whatever he’d like to play that is fitting 

(Please be seated as the postlude closes our service)