You are welcome to join our in-person services each week, but here are some resources for those who would rather stay at home for now. This week they are prepared by John Chapman who will be leading our services in church.
You can download a Children’s Sunday Sheet to accompany this service here.
Hymn
Confession
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: the first commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
We have not loved you with our whole heart. Lord, have mercy.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. Christ, have mercy.
We have not kept your good and righteous commands to us. Lord, have mercy.
"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1–2)
Word of God
Please read 2 Samuel 7:5-16 and John 12:12–16
Creed
We believe in Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. (from Philippians 2:6-11 NIV)
Palm Sunday Reflection, by John Chapman:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9
Jesus, the legitimate king of Israel promised by Old Testament prophets, enters Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of his enthusiastic followers. Within a few days the cry changes to ‘Crucify him!’ and he is executed as a common criminal. The wonder is that through his brutal rejection by his own people, his kingdom is extended to the whole world. There are some important lessons we can learn from this passage.
In the ancient Middle East leaders rode to battle on horses, but on donkeys when they came in peace. Zechariah’s prophecy makes it clear that God would send a king whose mission was to bring peace (‘Zech 9: 10 - I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle-bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.’) That peace would come about not through conflict, nor through the power of personality, but through a shameful death upon a cross.Waving palm branches signified a welcome to a conquering hero; the crowd had heard about Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life and probably saw Jesus as a powerful liberator rather than a lowly and suffering servant. John tells us (verse 16) that even the disciples did not understand the meaning of the event at that point. It’s good to know that misunderstanding and even rejection are no obstacle to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ reign is unstoppable, because the Father has promised him a kingdom. (read Psalm 2)
Jesus earns his kingdom through lowly service, suffering and death for sinners like us. The Father rewards his obedience – and we, despite our weak faith and slowness to understand, are the beneficiaries. We can enter the kingdom of God only because ‘The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.’ (John 3:35)
The way to honour Jesus is not just to hail him as a hero but to trust him as Saviour and submit to him as Lord. The beauty and perfection of his person are enough to melt even the hardest heart.
Prayers
Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
You may like to continue with your own prayers and the Lord’s Prayer. You may wish to pray for one or two from our church family by name, and for mercy for our world facing Covid-19.
Conclusion
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen. (based on 2 Corinthians 13:14)