Holy Week | Palm Sunday 29 Mar 2026
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God,
in your tender love for us
you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ
to take upon himself our nature,
and to suffer death upon the Cross,
giving us the example of his great humility:
Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering,
and come to share in his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus was in the center of the procession,
and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God for the Son of David!”
(Matthew 21:9)
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All Glory, Laud, and Honor – Koine
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Gospel Reading: Matt 21:1-11 (NLT)
Jesus’ Triumphant Entry
21:1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”
+ This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
+ “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.’”
21:6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.
+ Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
+ The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.
+ And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
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From Psalms: Psalm 118 – Psalm 118 sung in Hebrew – א֭וֹדְךָ – תְּהִלִּים קיח | Julie Geller
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NT Reading: Phil 2:5-11(NLT)
2:5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
+ Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
+ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
+ he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
2:9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
+ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
+ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
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At the Name of Jesus | ILP music
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Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of men; that you would be pleased to make your ways known to them, your saving health to all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal, that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate, [especially in the Middle East]; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who bore our sins on the cross,
set us free to serve him with joy.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
1:27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
1:3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
22:29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.
The Peanut Gallery 