God of all time,
as we prepare to worship you today and this week,
help us to call to mind the events in the last week of Jesus’ earthly life, that we can see their significance for our present lives and for the future you are preparing for all creation.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

           —adapted from The Worship Sourcebook

Hear God call you to worship through his word:

Blessed is the one
who comes in the name of the LORD.
Hosanna in the highest!

           (—from Psalm 118:26, NRSV)

When God appeared on earth in the person of Jesus,
most of the world did not recognize him
and therefore did not worship him.
Today we ask for faith that will open our eyes
to see Jesus for who he is,
that we might worship him in truth.
People of God, behold your God!

We open our eyes to see his glory.
We open our ears to hear his wisdom.
We open our hands to offer him gifts.
We open our mouths to sing his praise.
We open our hearts to offer him our love.
He is Lord!

           (—RW 27, p. 42)

Song 1 – All Creatures of our GOD and King

Song 2 – He Is Exalted

Song 3 – This I Believe (The Creed)

Song 4 – A Christian’s Daily Prayer

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

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Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen. 

Call to Confession:

Like the people who greeted Jesus as he entered Jerusalem and later pronounced, “Crucify him,” we are fickle people who often deny Christ in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Remembering the events of Jesus’ last week helps us see ourselves for what we are: sinners in need of a savior, a savior — who, praise God! — we have in Christ.

In honesty and hope, we confess now our sins to God by reading together the prayer of confession to our Loving God.

Prayer of Confession:

Loving God,
you rode a donkey and came in peace,
humbled yourself and gave yourself for us.
we confess that our praise of your majesty has often been faint,
our performance as citizens of your kingdom treasonous,
for we have surrendered to the enemy by our secret and our known sins. 
For our treason you died, Lord Jesus.
For our restoration, you rose again.

O King of Glory,
Draw us closer to you in this Holy Week,
that our eyes may catch the vision of your tears,
and our hearts, the wonder of your grace.
By the Holy Spirit’s continuing discipline,
let us be loyal and loving servants of the King.
Praise be to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon:

Hear and respond with the Word of the Lord from Psalm 118 – please join in reading the words in bold:

Let those who fear the Lord say,
His steadfast love endures for ever.
Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
In Christ, God answers us and sets us free!
In Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God.

          ( —from Psalm 118:4-5, 14, 17, NRSV )

Adapted from www.reformedworship.org

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“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front 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, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:1-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Expectations of the Real Jesus 

          – Matthew 21:1-11

1.  The Prophecy

2. The Donkey

3. The Whip

Song 5 – All Praise to You

Song 6 – All Glory Be to Christ Alone

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

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