PRELUDE: Marche Religieuse, Alexandre Guilmant
SALUTATION AND WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP, Matthew Chu
Leader: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
People: Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Leader: Lo, your king comes to you;
People: Triumphant and victorious is he,
Leader: Humble and riding on a donkey,
People: On a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: Hosanna in the highest!
* OPENING HYMN and DISTRIBUTION OF THE PALMS
The Palms (to be sung by congregation and Choir), Jean Faure
Palm trees and flow'rs unite upon our way, Greetings they bring to us of joy and gladness; Lo! Jesus comes! All hail auspicious day! He comes to banish gloom and care and sadness.
REFRAIN:
People and tongues shall chant His praise, Tune ev'ry voice, His name be gladly singing Hosanna! Glory to God! Glory to Him who comes, bringing salvation, salvation.
His gentle voice pervades the living throng; Bringing to life anew the soul forsaken; 'Tis He who gives the darkest night a song, And joy to those who in His love awaken.
Shout, shout aloud, O fair Jerusalem, Now let thy notes in joyous praise ascending; God by the wondrous grace of Bethlehem Shall hear in perfect song our voices blending.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
O Lord, who on this day entered the rebellious city that later rejected you, we confess that our wills are as rebellious as Jerusalem’s, that our faith is often more show than substance, that our hearts are in need of cleansing. Have mercy on us, Son of David, Savior of our lives. Help us to lay at your feet all that we have and all that we are, trusting you to forgive what is sinful, to heal what is broken, to welcome our praises, and to receive us as your own. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: Ride on! Ride on in Majesty, W. Glen Darst
Ride on! Ride on in majesty! Hark! All the tribes Hosanna cry; O Saviour meek, pursue Thy road With palms and scatter’d garments strow’d. Ride on! Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
Ride on! Ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin O’er captive death and conquered sin. Ride on! Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
Ride on! Ride on in majesty! Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh; The Father on His sapphire throne Expects His own anointed Son. Ride on! Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
Ride on! Ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain, Then take, O God, Thy power, and reign. Ride on! Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer Response, David H. Williams
Thy road is ready; and Thy paths, made straight, With longing expectation seem to wait The consecration of Thy beauteous feet, And silently Thy promised advent greet!
* HYMN No. 205: Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 118:19-29, Pew Bible, page 493
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.
Matthew 21:1-16, Pew Bible, page 802
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself’?”
THE SERMON: Unexpected Jesus, Rev. Blaine Crawford
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: Procession of Palms, Malcolm Williamson
Elizabeth Mahowald and Dorien Day, sopranos
Ride on! ride on in majesty! Hark, all the tribes Hosanna cry; Thine Humble beast pursue his road With palms and scattered garments strowed.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die: O Christ thy triumph now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! The winged squadrons of the sky Look down with sad and wond'ring eyes To see th'approaching sacrifice.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! The last and fearful strife is nigh; Thy father, on his sapphire throne, Expects his own anointed Son.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; Bow thy meek head to mortal pain, Then take, O God, Thy power, and reign.
All glory, laud, and honour To thee, Redeemer, king. To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David's royal son, Who in the Lord's name comest, The King and blessed one.
O Saviour of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us, save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
Benedictus Blessed is He Qui venit in nomine Domini that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in excelsis! Hosanna in the highest!
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
* HYMN No. 203: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
* BENEDICTION
Response: Ride on! Ride on in majesty!, W. Glen Darst
POSTLUDE: We All Believe in One God, Everett Titcomb
OUR FLOWERS are given by Betty Gessner and Family in memory of Arnold Gessner on the anniversary of his birth.
TODAY’S COFFEE HOUR is hosted by Sarah, Bob and Annabel White and given by the Congregational Care Committee in honor of everyone with a March Birthday. All are invited.
LENTEN BIBLE STUDY: Every Wednesday during Lent, Pastor Blaine and Elder Sally Ann Castle will lead a book study on Forgiveness: A Lenten Study by Marjorie Thompson. They will meet in the Folensbee Lounge at 7:30 P.M. If you are interested, speak to the Pastor or Sally Ann Castle.
LENTEN ENVELOPES: Your special offering during Lent will be placed in the Deacons Fund. Please use the envelope in the bulletin. Thank you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE COTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND provides assistance to students who are part of our church community. Scholarships are available to graduating high school students and students enrolled in post high school studies. Applications are available in the church office and must be returned by May 1st.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Drivers: Gary LiBert (AM), Buck Kellaway (PM)
Greeters: Nina and Bill Proschel, Dorothea Zelnick
Ushers: The YPF
Children and Worship: Sharon Rivilli, Michael Iovale
WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN CIRCLE: Saturday, April 18, 2015
After the luncheon, the program is a story of Esther, written and portrayed by our Thespian Group.
CHILDREN AND WORSHIP PROGRAM: Children ages 3 through 7 will share in the service through the Junior Sermon, then go to Room 2E for the Children and Worship Program.
COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Please pick a date on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Gessner Hall or speak with Rhoda Jabbour.
VAN MINISTRY: Volunteers are desparately needed to assist with driving members to worship services. If you can help, speak with Gerry Mendler after church or call (917) 362-6284 (day) or (718) 464-3464 (evening).
Also, if you need a ride to church on Sunday, speak with Gerry Mendler.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Helga Brenner-Khan, Marilyn Cooney, Letty Delgardo, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Jackie Fraser, Elaine Good, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Michael Patras, Keith Pearson, Josephine Rivera, Matthew Schulman, Janice Serra, Emily Testut