Estes Park United Methodist Church
March 28, 2021
Palm Sunday
Order of Worship
Prelude – Triumphal Entry
Greeting/Welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: We raise our voices and wave with joyful hope the palms of deliverance of God’s people.
People: Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David!
Leader: Our hearts are filled with expectation as we welcome the coming king.
People: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Leader: We receive into the crowded streets of our lives the one who is Savior, not only of us, but of all the earth.
People: Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
Opening Prayer (Unison)
Holy God, your love goes beyond all limits. In love, you have given us your beloved, Jesus, whom we claim as the Christ, to lead us ever closer to your shalom…your peace that passes understanding. As we worship you this day, give us the desire and the will to follow Jesus, that we may be led into that peace that holds in time of trouble, and into a love that persists far beyond today’s parade. In the name of Christ Jesus our Savior, Amen!
Opening Hymn – Hosanna, Loud Hosanna 278
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Knowing that we are not all we should be, but confident of God’s love and mercy, let us confess our sins before God and one another. Let us pray …
People: Merciful God, we cannot possibly grasp the meaning of the Incarnation. That you emptied yourself to become one of us, that you walked among us and experienced the full range of human emotion, that you humbled yourself and suffered in our place — it is too marvelous for us to understand. You call us to live as your children, reflecting your love and grace and glory. You call us to live in a manner worthy of the great sacrifice you made on our behalf. Despite wanting to live up to our high calling, we fail time and time again. We grasp where you let go. We are proud where you were humble. We avoid pain and disappointment and suffering where you embraced it for the sake of love. Forgive us, gracious God. Renew and restore us that we might walk the way of Jesus, the way of the cross. Amen.
Silent Prayer
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Out of the depths of God’s eternal love for us, God hears our prayers, forgives our sins and sets us free to live and work for God’s glory. We are loved. We are forgiven. We are free!
People: Thanks be to God! Amen!
Offering
Prayer of Blessing
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Lesson – Mark 11:1-11
Special Music – The Palms
Sermon – A Tale of Two Leaders
Closing Hymn - Tell me the Stories of Jesus 277
Benediction
Postlude – We Sang Our Glad Hosannas
Service Participants:
Pastor: Rev. Ann Steiner Lantz
Recorded Worship Liturgist: Cay Lacey
Zoom Worship Liturgist: Gail Burrow
Director of Music: Jim Flanigan
Pianist: Nancy Gunter
Videographer: Jim Ecklund