March 28th Virtual Worship
| The Order of Worship |
|---|
| The Bells Call Us To Worship |
| Welcome |
| Call To Worship |
| Prelude: The Palms - Arr. Whitworth |
| A Word About Today's Music Selections |
| Hymn of Adoration: All Glory, Laud, and Honor |
| Scripture Reading: John 12: 12-16 |
| A Message to Children |
| Pastoral Prayer & The Lord's Prayer |
| Hymn of Reflection: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus |
| Sermon: Journeying with John; Blessed Is the One |
| Hymn of Parting: Lead On, O King Eternal |
| Benediction |
| On Eagle's Wings |
| Postlude: Fugue on "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" - Arr. Lovelace |
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty, Dwight Huntley, Matthew Leone, Rene Vazquez
Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Technology Team: Michael Kendall, Mark Raker, Jerry Weissinger
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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Journeying with John; Blessed Is the One
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.
[Reading above - John 12: 12-16]
Only John names the branches as palm branches, a central feature of the first day of Holy Week. Palms were a symbol of triumph. Some might wonder on Friday of Holy Week exactly what was so triumphant about death on a Roman cross?! A clue to this unexpected victory on Palm Sunday is the unconventional mode of transportation of our Leader.
Questions for Reflection:
This jubilant welcome into Jerusalem is fueled by the resurrection of Lazarus in the preceding chapter. Jesus enters the Holy City with high expectations. What are your expectations for Jesus?
Palm branches were the symbol of triumph of the Maccabean Revolt that liberated Israel from Greek tyranny nearly two centuries before the time of Jesus. What does the crowd’s use of palm branches suggest about their expectations of Jesus?
Hosanna is an exclamation of praise and petition that means “save us”. Suffering is a universal human experience, one that Jesus faced too. What does salvation mean in the face of suffering?
Though welcomed with high expectations, Jesus provides a clue (see Zechariah 9:9-10) that his triumph will be most unexpected. How do humble service and peace-making help interpret the cross? How do humble service and peace-making save you for a life of significance?
Both Audio as well as Video Recordings are available below.
Audio Recordings
Video Recordings (Recorded Live, Full Video at the End)
