02 Apr BULLETIN – SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2023
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday, April 2, 2023
PALM SUNDAY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
READING MATTHEW 21:1-11
A prophet foretold God’s people that a king would come humbly mounted. He rode upon the foal of a donkey, not in a golden chariot drawn by white horses, which was the parade float of Jesus’ time, not by fire truck, customized vehicle, vintage car or tractor. His escorts were mere disciples without costume or cloak. They’d removed those and draped them over the colt’s back. Though the streets were lined, no candy or other novelties were handed out. What seemed weirder still, members of the crowd began spreading their jackets, hoodies and overcoats upon the road. Others did likewise with branches cut from trees. Onlookers decided to join the procession, stepping off sidewalks and curbs. Lots of energy flowed in and among the crowd. Voices ahead and many that followed [waved palm branches] and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” In the city of Jerusalem, turmoil brewed. People wondered, “Who’s this?” The crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
(The preceding was adapted from Matthew 21:1-11 and embellished by PNB.)
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, [+] one God, who always journeys with us and sustains us by the gift of grace.
Amen.
Let us acknowledge before God and one another our need for repentance and God’s mercy. Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy King, we confess our faults and failings. Too often we neglect and do not trust; we take instead of give, overindulge rather than practice discipline; without meaning to, we cause hurt. Our tendency is to become concerned for ourselves and forget compassion for others. Forgive, renew, and heal us from within, for we truly seek to follow you. Amen.
Because of Jesus Christ, nothing separates us from approaching God or experiencing God’s presence. Forgiveness is a sign and promise that God is full of life, not death, about mercy, not imposing penalties. Jesus, too, became humble, was tempted, and overcame all things by trusting God’s mighty power to love and sustain. Accept forgiveness by virtue of the [+] Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE
This is the Feast… Pages 60-61
The Lord be with you.
And also, with you.
Let us pray.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and establish your rule in the human heart. Enable us to share his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection. By your Spirit, keep us in joyful procession with those who confess Jesus as Lord and by their actions praise him as Savior. Gather us around the mystery of the passion of your Son and the cross of Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN
All Glory, Laud, and Honor #108
GOSPEL MATTHEW 26:14-27:1-27
Part A
One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, my time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” So, the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
HYMN of the DAY
My Song Is Love Unknown #94
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
Let the vineyards… Page 66
COMMUNION
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it again with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
LORD’S PRAYER
EXCHANGE of PEACE
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE Pages 72-73
Part B
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again, he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
Part C
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?”
READING ISAIAH 50:4-9a
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
Part D
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again, he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
PSALM 31:9-16
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
I am the scorn of all my enemies, a disgrace to my neighbors, a dismay to my acquaintances; when they see me in the street they avoid me.
Like the dead I am forgotten, out of mind; I am as useless as a broken pot.
For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. I have said, “You are my God.
My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”
Part D (continued)
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason, that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Part E
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time, they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. After they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, (READ SILENTLY.) “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, (READ SILENTLY.) “Let him be crucified!” So, when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, (READ SILENTLY.) “His blood be on us and on our children!” So, he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
HOMILY
SPECIAL MUSIC
The Palms
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in [us] that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness and form. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
Sustained by God’s abundant grace, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of creation. A brief silence.
God, your Son was so much more than a prophet. Enable us to humbly, boldly confess by word and deed that Jesus Christ is Lord. Help us be your servants. Equip our congregation, synod, denomination and faith to proclaim your extravagant love for all. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Omnipotent Creator, give us renewed appreciation for every living creature and thing, especially those who labor for our sake or devote their lives to serving humans, including plants and trees. Halt abusive treatment and unnecessary harm. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Mighty Savior, restore dignity to those who are scorned, persecuted, or betrayed. Help the guilty repent and find forgiveness. Deliver the innocent from the hands of enemies or criminals. Bring peace to wherever misunderstanding, hatred or conflict runs deep. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Most calm composed healer and judge of humankind, as you watch over all who suffer, are accused, incarcerated or awaiting trial, fight for those who experience injustice or inequality. May your presence be perceived and bring comfort to those feeling isolated, lonely, or fearful, especially those on our prayer list or most recently impacted by unfortunate events). Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Principle of Divine Reason, Author of Scripture, Inspiration for your Word, bring more participation during Holy Week. Help the church retell the story of your passion in memorable, meaningful ways. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Redeemer of all, we give thanks for saints of old who embodied servant love. As you came to their aid, so deliver us in times of trial, that every knee will bend in praise to you. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Lord, we began worshiping you today with palms waving, now with eyes closed and palms folded, we lift our prayers and voices to you. O God, we trust your steadfast love and faithfulness. Position us to take a stance, yet remain open. Protect us in your fold.
Amen.
BENEDICTION
CLOSING HYMN
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded #117
DISMISSAL
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Altar flowers at St Peter have been presented by Ron and Doris Rode in memory of our parents.
Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Ernie and Marilee Beinhaur in memory of loved ones.