March 29, 2026 Palm Sunday Order of Worship

Toccata on Ellacombe (setting by Mark Thallander and Bruce Wilkin) – Geoffrey Liu

Welcome – Terry Bolender

Time with Young Disciples – Stephanie McIlwain Miller

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna with Palm Procession – UMH #278

Opening Prayer – Dana Bowne

Leader: Hosanna in the highest!

People: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Leader: God, you know how much easier it is for us to praise you when things are going well.

People: Hosanna in the highest!

Leader: But when life is hard, when justice and mercy are nowhere to be found, we promise to remain faithful to you!

People: We will follow you, King Jesus, Prince of Peace!

Leader: From these palms we are waving to turning tables in the Temple, from turning tables to the Passover meal, from the Last Supper to the garden of betrayal, from the garden to the cross, from the cross to the empty tomb, and from the empty tomb to the upper room,

People: We will follow you King Jesus!

Leader: When the way is dark and the powers threaten to overwhelm all that is good, we will shout all the louder: Hosanna in the highest!

People: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Celtic Hosanna – Sanctuary Choir

Scripture Reading – Dana Bowne

Introduction to the Gospel Reading

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is introduced as the Messiah from the line of David, the new Moses, and Immanuel which means God with us. In Matthew, Jesus was accepted by many but rejected by others, especially Israel’s religious and political leaders. On Palm Sunday, when Jesus comes to Jerusalem for the Passover, the Kingdom he’s proclaiming clashes with the kingdom of Israel’s leaders. Listen now to the Gospel story from Matthew 21…

Matthew 21:1-11 and 45

When Jesus and all those who were traveling with him 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.’ They will listen to you and send the animals immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:

“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 Jesus 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 Jesus 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.”

After entering the city, Jesus went to the temple where he healed people, turned over tables and confronted economic injustice, told parables and challenged the leaders who were not always acting in the best interest of all the people. Seeing all this, many of the leaders wanted to arrest Jesus but they feared his popularity so they waited for the right time.

Kneel to the King – Pastor Jim

Mantos Y Palmos – UMH #279

Offering Our Gifts to God – Farewell I Gladly Bid Thee (setting by Flor Peeters) – Geoffrey Liu

Doxology – Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow, UMH #94

Prayer of Dedication

Leader: All that we have, we have from you, Creator and Preserver of all.

People: Accept these gifts which we now offer. Help us to make the whole of life an offering and every thought a prayer.

All Glory Laud and Honor – UMH #280, vss. 1, 2 & 5

Blessing

All for Jesus (John Stainer, arr. Malcolm Archer) – Geoffrey Liu

Resources for Worship

Opening Prayer is by Jim Head-Corliss for worship at KUMC, April 13, 2025.