Morning Service for Palm Sunday 2023
HYMN – All glory Lord and Honour NEH 509 – St Theodulph
1 All glory, laud and honour
To thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
2 Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest,
The King and blessèd One.
3 The company of angels
Are praising thee on high,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
4 The people of the Hebrews
With palms before thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before thee we present.
5 To thee before thy passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
6 Thou didst accept their praises,
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King..
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
God shows his love for us in this: while we were still sinners. Christ died for us. Sure of reconciliation through the death of his Son, we confess our sins to God. Romans 5.8
Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess we have failed you as did your first disciples.
We ask for your mercy and your help.
When we take our ease rather than watch with you:
Lord, forgive us. Christ have mercy.
When we bestow a kiss of peace yet nurse enmity in our hearts:
Lord, forgive us. Christ have mercy.
When we strike at those who hurt us rather than stretch out our hands to bless:
Lord, forgive us. Christ have mercy.
When we deny that we know you for fear of the world and its scorn:
Lord, forgive us. Christ have mercy.
May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by his Spirit and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen
Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy
COLLECT for Palm Sunday
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
FIRST READING
Zechariah 9.9-12
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
HYMN – Ride on, ride in majesty NEH 511 – Winchester New
1 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry,
Thy humble beast pursues his road
With palms and scattered garments strowed.
2 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die:
O Christ, thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.
3 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
The wingèd squadrons of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes
To see the approaching sacrifice.
4 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father on his sapphire throne
Awaits his own anointed Son.
5 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
Bow thy meek head to mortal pain,
Then take, O God, thy power, and reign..
GOSPEL
Matthew 21.1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead 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, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
SERMON
To write his telling of the story of Jesus Matthew drew on various sources, the most obvious of them was the Gospel of St Mark. On many occasions Matthew does nothing more than précis Mark, but often he will reword and amend to get across his themes and ideas of what Jesus was about, and why he did the things he did. His account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a clear example of his tinkering.
In Mark’s account we hear that Jesus rode into Jerusalem after giving his disciples detailed instructions on where to find a colt for him to use. This arrival into Jerusalem is to be no casual affair, Jesus has been walking to Jerusalem ever since his transfiguration on the mountain to the north of Israel. That may well have been in October at Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths, now it is early April and he is about to arrive for what he has predicted will be the last week of his life. The climax to his ministry, when all his teaching will be concentrated and his mission revealed. Clearly the arrival is an important piece of street theatre, one which will give a statement of intent to those who rule Israel as clients of the Romans – the High Priests of the Temple and members of the Sanhedrin. They have been watching Jesus ever since he began healing people in Galilee. So this entry into Jerusalem is to be significant.
At this point some background might help. In 142BC Simon Maccabeus rode into Jerusalem at the head of an army after besieging the city. The first book of Maccabees says, “with praise and palm branches… and with hymns and songs.” A ‘triumphal entry’ you might say, Simon was High Priest and was about to be given the throne, after defeating an occupying power.
Is this to be another ‘triumphal entry’, by a new Son of David, a new Messiah?
Mark tells us that Jesus was accompanied by ‘many’, the multitude, the ‘ochlos’ or country peasantry. They, we are told, followed him from Jericho where he healed blind Bartimaeus. But no army here. And no war horse either, just a donkey. Or rather, a colt, a young horse or ass or donkey. The accent here is on the ‘young’. Mark’s word ‘pollos’ can be any one of a variety of young animals, horses, donkeys, camels, elephants, even children were called ‘pollos’ from time to time. The idea is something as far from a battle horse as possible.
The people yell, ‘Hosanna!’, another puzzle for the modern mind. Hosanna is used in Psalm 118, where the cry is addressed to God, meaning ‘Save now’, but it also is used elsewhere to kings. It seems to have evolved to greet pilgrims and famous Rabbis, becoming a general acclamation rather than a cry for help. Of course, this is Passover and these are pilgrims from the country. But Jesus has been described by others as Son of David – which use of the word is intended. Mark holds the tension by having the crowd shout, ‘Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming.’ No revolution here.
After the entry Matthew has Jesus go straight to the Temple, turning over tables and the like. But significantly he has changed Mark once again, Mark merely has Jesus enter the Temple, look around and then return to Bethany. Mark sets up the tension, creates the feeling of a popular rising with a popular prophet/king, and then dispels it with an anticlimax. Now is not the moment, one piece of theatre at a time. Jesus needs this week to complete what he needs to do, to fulfil his mission, he must get to the passover.
The subtleties of the telling of this event may entrance the theologian, but what earthly use is it to us? I believe that It helps us to understand the dangerous line Jesus was treading, between a secular revolution and a religious protest movement, between a political demand for justice and a godly call for compassion. This week is, writ large, what Jesus’ life has been all about since he was baptised and the Spirit of God descended upon him – a call to acknowledge the demands of God, not in a crude transfer of power from one tyrant to another, but in recognition that to acknowledge God means to acknowledge his command for everyone to live forgiving, caring, compassionate lives – and to live that out in every situation we may face, to the best of our heart and mind and soul and strength.
In the end, Jesus conquered by his compassion and by his surrender, not by might and a will to fight. A successful coup may at best have helped for a short time the small nation of Palestine – his silent surrender changed forever the whole world.
A friend of mine invented an axiom that I hope I shall never forget, “To build bridges you have to stand close to the water.” To bridge man and God, heaven and earth, life and death, Jesus didn’t just stand close to the water – he stood in it, until it buried him.
For us to be affected, even to be transformed by Christ’s death we must engage with it, we must react to it, we must respond to it – or else it is all just ancient history or dead theology. That’s why holy week is the most important week of the year, bar none – that’s why it demands our attention.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God,
but made himself nothing. Taking the form of a slave,
he was born in human likeness. He humbled himself,
and was obedient to death even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high, and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Philippians 2.9-11
HYMN – Who is this in garments gory H&S 111 – Ebenezer
1. Who is this with garments gory,
Triumphing from Bozrah’s way;
This that weareth robes of glory,
Bright with more than victory’s ray?
Who is this unwearied comer
From his journey’s sultry length,
Traveling through Idumè’s summer
In the greatness of His strength?
2. Wherefore red in Thine apparel
Like the conquerors of the earth,
And arrayed like those who carol
O’er the reeking vineyard’s mirth?
Who art Thou, the valleys seeking
Where our peaceful harvests wave?
I, in righteous anger speaking,
I, the mighty One to save.
3. I, that of the raging heathen
Trod the winepress all alone,
Now in victor garlands wreathen
Coming to redeem Mine own:
I am He with sprinkled raiment,
Glorious for My vengeance hour,
Ransoming, with priceless payment,
And delivering with power.
4. Hail! All hail! Thou Lord of Glory!
Thee, our Father, Thee we own;
Abraham heard not of our story,
Israel ne’er our name hath known.
But, Redeemer, Thou hast sought us,
Thou hast heard Thy children’s wail,
Thou with Thy dear blood hast bought us:
Hail! Thou mighty victor, hail!
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Gill Macdonald
Lord we come before you again in faith knowing that you hear our prayers:
On this Palm Sunday we join with your worldwide church in singing Hosanna – we praise your name and love you with our whole heart. We pray for Christians everywhere, for all bishops and clergy, and all missionaries across the globe. We pray for the Diocese in Europe and especially for the chaplaincies in Ukraine and Russia who in very dangerous circumstances are offering hospitality to vast numbers of refugees crossing borders and seeking safety.
We pray for our diocese of Winchester, for this benefice and for each member of our congregations, for all visitors to the three churches who are seeking you in prayer or solitude, and of course for William and his family and the ministry that he provides for each of us.
Lord in your mercy : Hear our prayer
We pray for your world Lord, for all that is good and beautiful within it, and we lift to you those parts of your world that are suffering because of war and hatred, natural disasters or pure greed and injustice. We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East, we thank you for all those who are helping to bring aid and relief to the suffering, and those who are working to bring about reconciliation, and peaceful conclusions.
Lord in your mercy : Hear our prayer
We thank you for our own country, for our own community, for our families and friends, both near and far. Help us to value all that we have and hold dear, yet ever mindful of those who for various reasons are facing real hardships at this time. Those who are worried about livelihoods, are experiencing family tensions or have financial concerns. Keep us mindful of each other, treating everyone with respect and unconditional love, just as Jesus loves us.
Lord in your mercy : Hear our prayer
We pray for those who are sick, in body mind and spirit. For those we know who are in special need at this time, and in a moment of quiet we hold them in our hearts, especially we remember Ray Hills, Jessica Fellowes (and Daisy Warne) Give them a sense of your healing love and the knowledge of your peace.
Lord in your mercy : Hear our prayer
We remember those who have died, ……. Recently, or whose anniversaries fall at this time. We thank you for their inspiration and love and for our treasured memories ; and we thank you that they are safe now in your hands,
Lord in your mercy : Hear our prayer
So dear Lord, as we now go from the adulation of the crowds into the agony of your passion may we remain steadfast in our faith and continue to follow your way – in Jesus Name.
Merciful father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
If you have a palm cross from a previous year you may like to find it and say with us the prayer we use to bless the palms:
God our Saviour,
whose Son Jesus Christ
entered Jerusalem as Messiah to suffer and to die;
let these palms be for us signs of his victory
and grant that we who bear them in his name
may ever hail him as our King,
and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
HYMN – When I survey the wondrous cross NEH 95 – Rockingham
1 When I survey the wondrous Cross,
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3 See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4 His dying crimson like a robe,
Spreads o’er his body on the Tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.
5 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
BLESSING
Christ crucified draw you to himself,
to find in him a sure ground for faith,
a firm support for hope,
and the assurance of sins forgiven;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you, and remain with you always. Amen