GATHERING LITURGY
Preparation
Churches around the world celebrate today as Palm Sunday. Read through the account of Christ’s Triumphal entry in Matthew 21 and listen to The Belonging Co’s Hosanna.
Spotify playlist for singing along
Gather
Welcome
Candle
Trygve: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Welcome to the Gathering Hope College!
And this is why we gather… we believe that Christ is the light of the world and in him there is no darkness at all… the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it at all!
Let us worship the God who comes to us as Light from true light!
Song
“Desert Song”
Verse 1
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
Verse 2
This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
Chorus
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
Verse 3
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand
Bridge
All of my life in ev’ry season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Verse 4
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow
CCLI Song # 5060793
Song
“Be Thou My Vision”
Verse 1
Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart
Nought be all else to me, save Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Verse 2
Be Thou my wisdom, Thou my true word
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Verse 3
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and Thou only, but first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
Chorus
O God be my everything, be my delight
Be Jesus my glory, my soul satisfied (2x)
Verse 4
High King of heaven, my vict’ry won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Confession:
Lord Jesus, You came to us as the herald of the Kingdom of God. We confess that we have not been faithful citizens of Your Kingdom.
(silent confession)
Lord Jesus, You rode a donkey and came bringing peace; You humbled Yourself and gave Yourself for us. We confess that our hearts are not humble in Your presence.
(silent confession)
Lord Jesus, as You entered Jerusalem, the crowds cried, “Hosanna: Save us now!” Days later, they cried, “Crucify!” We confess that our faith is not steady in the face of trials.
(silent confession)
Lord Jesus, You chose the path of suffering and death, despite the fact that You could have chosen the way of glory as the crowds greeted You with palms. We confess that our wills have not been quick to suffer for others in our lives. Hear us now as we silently confess the ways that we have not been obedient to You, our King.
(silent confession)
SONG: Kyrie 2007
Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy on us
Kyrie Eleison
Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy on us
Assurance
Psalm 103:8-11
(say it out loud!)
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
Song
“Brokenness Aside”
Verse 1
Will Your grace run out if I let You down
‘Cause all I know is how to run
Chorus
(‘Cause) I am a sinner
If it’s not one thing it’s another
Caught up in words tangled in lies
But You are a Savior
And You take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful beautiful (oh yeah)
Verse 2
Will You call me child when I tell You lies
‘Cause all I know is how to cry
Bridge
You make it beautiful You make it beautiful
You make it beautiful You make it beautiful
CCLI Song # 5881109
Word
John 1:1-16 The Prologue of John
Table
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest . . .I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Mt. 11:28 and Jn. 6:35)
During this season we will grieve not sharing the Lord’s Supper with our hope community. Coming to the table together in Dimnent is a moment of shared glory with our beautiful Hope community. Here is a link to the liturgy that we often say together if you’ve been curious and want to spend some more time with it. As you share a meal in your space this Sunday evening pray that your community would be filled with Christ even in this fasting season of separation.
Link to Great Prayer
Prayers of the People:
This day we celebrate the ‘triumphal entry’ of Jesus into Jerusalem. The crowds lined the streets, and to fulfill the promise of the prophet of old, Jesus came, riding a donkey. (see Zechariah 9:9)
Those who saw him shouted HOSANNA. It was an exclamation of praise, but it was also a cry for help. Hosanna literally means ‘save us’ (Ps. 118:25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord).
On this last Sunday of Lent, if your heart is like mine, today your prayers, your hosanna, are both praise and plea . . .
Let us pray:
O Jesus, who wept over the death of Lazarus, be with all who grieve.
O Jesus, who wept over the state of Jerusalem, be with our cities, our towns, our places of worship.
O Jesus, who wept alone in Gethsemane, be with all who feel alone, who face uncertainty, who face difficult decisions.
O Jesus, who cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” be with all who feel forsakened this day.
O Jesus, who offered up prayers with loud cries and tears, hear our prayers . . .
O Jesus, who wept in sympathy and frustration, O living God, who knows all our pain and joy, all our praise and pleas, bless us and keep us now and forevermore. Amen.
Song
“King of Kings”
Verse 1
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfil the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt
Chorus
Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of Glory Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings
Verse 2
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died
Verse 3
And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come
To the Father are restored
Verse 4
And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this Gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint
By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me
CCLI Song # 7127647
Sending
Song
“Praise the Lord Ye Heavens”
Verse 1
Praise the Lord Ye heavens adore Him
Praise Him angels in the height
Sun and moon rejoice before Him
Praise Him all ye stars of light
Verse 2
Praise the Lord for He hath spoken
Worlds His mighty voice obeyed
Laws which never shall be broken
For their guidance He hath made
Chorus
All creation join the song of praise
Let every tongue declare His mighty ways
And we will sing of Your goodness and mercy
All of our days
Verse 3
Praise the Lord for He is glorious
Never shall His promise fail
God hath made His saints victorious
Sin and death shall not prevail
Bridge
Glory, Glory, All glory to You Lord
Verse 4
Praise the God of our salvation
Hosts on high His power proclaim
Heaven and earth and all creation
Laud and magnify His Name
CCLI Song # 2728313
Candle
Trygve: Hope College, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel basket? That would be like failing to stay home in this quarantine…that would be dumb!
Trygve: You don’t put it under a bushel basket, you put it on a…
Hope: Lampstand!
Trygve: And it gives light to the entire…
Hope: Hoooouuuuussssssse.
Trygve: Conversation, bedroom study session, Zoom class, Google Hangout, Facebook Live event….Wherever you are at, whatever you do, and whoever you are with – may God’s light and love shine through you, so that each person you encounter might experience in some measure the love and light of God. Stand where you are and hold your hands out….(The Holy Spirit will cover the distance!).
And as we step into this week together let us sing the song that anchors our hope in God…
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
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