ORDER FOR WORSHIP
PRELUDE: Reverie Debussy
LITURGICAL DANCE: I Shall Not Want Audrey Assad
Alicia Rivera, Gia Antonucci, Denivia Rivera
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP Simon Walsh
You are holy, O God of majesty,
And blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Lead us, O God, in the way of Christ.
Give us courage to take up our cross, and in full reliance upon your grace, to follow him.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
* HYMN
The Palms 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.
(REFRAIN)
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.
(REFRAIN)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Carlos Rivera
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.
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.
(Prayers of Silent Confession)
Kyrie (sung): Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON/WISDOM FOR LIFE
In our baptisms, we have been adopted by God.
We are God’s beloved children, and brothers and sisters to one another.
In our baptisms, we have been washed by Jesus Christ.
We are forgiven; our shame and guilt are wiped clean.
In our baptisms, we have been anointed with God’s Spirit.
We are temples of the Holy Spirit and signs of God’s restorative work.
In our baptisms, we have been called to God’s mission.
We are disciples, followers of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, called to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: Lift High the Palms of Praise Brad Nix
Lift high the palms of praise!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Sing out! Prepare the way!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
As He slowly rides along people shout a joyful song.
Now we add our voices strong, Hosanna to the King!
Lift high the palms of praise!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Sing out! Prepare the way!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Let the people now rejoice. All creation find her voice.
Come and make a joyful noise, hosanna to the King!
Open wide the gates of every heart.
Wave the palms and let the celebration start.
With our strength God's glory we proclaim.
With our might, we praise His holy name!
Lift high the palms of praise!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Sing out! Prepare the way!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
He is David's royal Song. He is heaven's holy One.
Oh, what wonders He has done, hosanna to the King.
Hosanna to the King!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Congregational Response:
The Lord is my light and my salvation,
of whom should I be afraid,
of whom should I be afraid?
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
* HYMN No. 221 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Prayer of Illumination
Loving Father, as we journey with your Son in this week of remembrance and hope, help us to understand you and your love for the world more clearly.
Transform us by the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
and prepare us for service in your kingdom, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Isaiah 50:4-9a p. 594
Mark 14:3-9 p. 826
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON Beautiful Things Rev. Blaine Crawford
* CONFESSION OF FAITH:
Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 88-90
Q. What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?
A. Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the rising-to-life of the new.
Q. What is the dying-away of the old self?
A. To be genuinely sorry for sin and more and more to hate and run away from it.
Q. What is the rising-to-life of the new self?
A. Wholehearted joy in God through Christ and a love and delight to live according to the will of God by doing every kind of good work.
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory: There is a Green Hill Far Away Herbert Sumsion
There is a green hill far away, without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified, to save us all.
We may not know, we cannot tell, what pains he had to bear
but we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there.
He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good;
That we might at last go to heaven, saved by His precious blood.
There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate of heaven, and let us in.
O dearly, dearly has he loved, and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood, and try his works to do.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* HYMN No. 218 Were You There?
* BENEDICTION
Response: Jesus Remember Me
Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom
POSTLUDE: Fantasie in F-minor (final portion) Chopin ??
Announcements
March 25, 2018
YPF Casserole Sale, during coffee hour, in Gessner Hall
The young people are selling home-cooked casseroles to fund their mission trip. Please support our youth.
Lenten Offering Envelopes
The special Lenten offerings will be given to the refugee family that COTH has adopted in this season of Lent. This family has arrived and settled in Edison, New Jersey.
Holy week schedule
Maundy Thursday, March 29
6:30 p.m. Potluck Supper
7:15 p.m. Communion
If you cannot attend the supper, come at
7:15 p.m. to share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion
Good Friday, March 30
8:00 p.m. “The Seven Last Words of Christ”
The choir and soloists will be accompanied by organ, harp, clarinets, cello and timpani.
Easter Sunday, April 1
7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service (Bowne Park, by the pond)
11:00 a.m. Celebration of the Resurrection
12:00 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt (on the church lawn)