Grace Presbyterian Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude “The Palms” Jean-Baptiste Faure
Responsive Call to Worship (Mark 11:9, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 118:25,26, Zechariah 9:9)
One: With crowds from ancient times we cry,
All: Hosanna! Save us!
One: O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good!
All: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
One: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
All: We bless you in the house of the Lord!
One: Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, Humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
All: Let us worship the living God!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 89* “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) John 12:12-16
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord– the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
Time with Children
Song “Jesus Loves Me”
Silent Personal Confession
Responsive Assurance of Pardon
One: Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, has defeated the power of sin forever. Hear and believe this good news!
All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
Gloria Patria
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Mark 11:1-11
Message Sit Up and Take Notice! The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 88* “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) Confession of 1967, Inclusive Language
The life, death, resurrection, and promised coming of Jesus Christ has set the pattern for the church’s mission. His human life involves the church in the common life of all people. His service to men and women commits the church to work for every form of human well-being. His suffering makes the church sensitive to all human suffering so that it sees the face of Christ in the faces of persons in every kind of need. His crucifixion discloses to the church God’s judgment on the inhumanity that marks human relations, and the awful consequences of the church’s own complicity in injustice. In the power of the risen Christ and the hope of his coming, the church sees the promise of God’s renewal of human life in society and of God’s victory over all wrong.
Offertory “Total Praise” Richard Smallwood
Doxology (sung to the tune LASST UNS ERFREUEN, LM with Allelluia)
What are you up to for my sake?
What are you up to “for the Good”
Would you come now, follow, join up?
Let us take up, wake up anew,
Let us build up, fill up with you!
Let us lift up, gifts we raise up,
for the sake of, for the shape of,
Heaven on earth.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer concluding with the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn* “Ride On, King Jesus”
Refrain: Ride on, King Jesus,
No man can a-hinder me,
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on,
No man can a-hinder me.
King Jesus rides on a milk-white horse,
No man can a-hinder me;
The river of Jordan he did cross,
No man can a-hinder me. [Refrain]
I know that my redeemer lives,
No man can a-hinder me;
And of his blessing freely gives,
No man can a-hinder me. [Refrain]
If you want to find your way to God,
No man can a-hinder me;
The gospel highway must be trod,
No man can a-hinder me. [Refrain]
Benediction
The liturgy this morning was written either by Pastor Robin, Marcia McFee (the doxology), or Matthew A. Rich (for Presbyterian Outlook/free distribution).
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Holy Week Schedule
(All Services will be held in the Chapel at Union Congregational except where noted.)
March 28, 7 pm, Maundy Thursday Worship Service
March 29, 11 am Cross Walk starting at Union Congregational followed by pizza
back at the manse.
March 29, 7pm, Good Friday/Tenebrae Worship Service
March 31, 6:30 am, Easter Sunday Sunrise with Union Congregational at Eagle Rock Reservation
March 31, 10 am, Easter Sunday Worship Service in the Chapel at Union Congregational
March 31, Easter Egg Hunt after worship service
Mark your calendars:
Wednesday, March 27, 10:00 am, Norma’s Bible Study at Union Cong Learning Center
Thursday, March 27, 10:00 am Church Rebuild online
Choir Rehearsal at Union Cong Chapel following Maundy Thursday Worship
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Food for the Little Pantry is always wanted. Non-perishables only please. Food may be dropped off at the Manse or placed in the basket as you enter or leave the chapel on Sunday.
The next Community Meal will be at 5pm, on April 14, at St John’s Episcopal, 55 Montclair Avenue. A generous donor is covering the meal so no contributions are needed.