This order of service is designed to be used with the service sheet email earlier but which is available here to download. The songs link to YouTube versions of the songs. After viewing or singing along with the song the YouTube window may need closing to return to the rest of the service.
Call to Worship
`Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey’ (Zechariah 9:9).
Opening prayer and confession.
Almighty God, we come rejoicing this morning with praise in our hearts and on our lips, for in your love towards all you have made you gave your Son Jesus to be our Saviour. As he entered Jerusalem to suffer and die upon the cross, may we follow his example of humility and love.
Loving God, we have sinned against you in our speaking and in our silence; in our thinking and in our thoughtlessness; in our actions and in our inaction. Forgive us and lead us in the way of your kingdom, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Assurance of forgiveness
Receive God’s forgiveness and be at peace. Amen.
Opening Song
There is a time to laugh and a time to cry.
Bible reading, Sermon and Prayers
Watch Marks sermon on Matthew 21: 1-11. Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Prayers of intercession
Lord, in this time when many find it difficult to praise you, we pray for our health workers, those on the frontline of combatting this deadly virus. We thank you for them and for their self-sacrifice.
We thank you for the millions of people who have volunteered to help others during this time, and for all the good that is being done because of love for our neighbours. We especially pray for the partnership between the church and NR5 Helping Hands and the food distribution taking place each week. We pray that through their efforts no-one would be left behind or forgotten.
Lord, we pray for our family and friends, all those whom we love but cannot be with due to the lockdown. We thank you that there are many ways we can communicate with them, either through phone calls, social media or visual means such skype, facetime or zoom.
Finally, Lord, we pray for those who have lost loved ones at this time but are unable to attend their loved ones funeral. Lord, may they turn to you and know you as the Prince of Peace and Lord of Life.
All these things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those
who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Closing Song
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you that you are the King who suffered and died for the life of the world. As we enter Holy Week and journey to the cross, accept our praises for all you continue to do for us; for your glory’s sake. Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you and all whom you love this day and for evermore. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.