Sunday March 29, 2026 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.          

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Hornpipe from Suite 1 No. 11 — Georg Friedrich Handel
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation   
On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection.  Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, a time in the church year when we remember how Christ gave his life in love for the world. As this service opens, the crowd waves palm branches, wanting to crown Jesus as king. But as the story of the passion unfolds this week, their shouts of praise turn to demands for his crucifixion; he receives a crown of thorns as he is handed over to be mocked and killed.

Choral Call to Worship — Hosanna to the Son of David — Orlando Gibbons

Praise and Adoration

*Opening Hymn #197 — Hosanna, Loud Hosanna — ELLACOMBE
(*Please stand, if you are able.) — Palm Processional with children

1.Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple the joyful anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast,
The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

2.From Olivet they followed ‘mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waiving, and chanting clear and loud;
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.

3.“Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer; the Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
And in his blissful presence eternally rejoice.

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Holy Christ, we confess that amidst all the Palm Sunday crowds, we find ourselves in more turmoil than triumph. Our faith is unsteady. Our wisdom is eroding. Our resolve is shaken. Our mercy is hardening. Our hope is weakening. Come again and save us from these sins. Give us strength to follow you, our humble Savior, our all in all.  Amen.

Silent Prayers of Confession

Kyrie Eleison #575 — Lord, Have Mercy upon Us — KYRIE ELEISON (Pardini)

Assurance of Pardon

*Welcome — During the welcome, children are invited to come forward for a time with Dr. Zieman.

Time For Young Disciples

 Announcements

Fellowship of Prayer

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.                            

The Old Testament Reading — Zechariah 9: 9-10 — page 773 of the pew Bible

Anthem — The Ground — Ola Gjeilo
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Lord, grant us peace.

Proclamation of God’s Word

The Gospel Reading — Matthew 21: 1-11 — page 802 of the pew Bible  

Sermon — “Make It a Holy Week” — Dr. Zieman

*Affirmation of Faith — Philippians 2: 5-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

*Sanctus (#569) — Holy, Holy, Holy — SANCTUS (Oliver)

Reception of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — Andante from Trumpet Concerto — Joseph Haydn                                          

*Doxology (#608) — Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — PRAISE GOD (Hopson)

*Prayer of Dedication
Holy one, we cannot offer you great treasures as the world measures them.  Here is only what we have at hand: cloaks and palm fronds to line your path, and all our ordinary sacrifices.  Accept these gifts, and transform them, that we may share in your great work of love.  Amen.

*Hymn of Dedication — Ride On! Ride On in Majesty! — WAREHAM; arr. Howard Helvey

All — Ride on! ride on in Majesty! Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry; thy humble beast pursues its road with palms and scattered garments strowed.

Men — 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.

Women — Ride on! ride on in Majesty! The hosts of angels in the sky look down with sad and wondering eyes to see the approaching sacrifice.

All — 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.

*Charge and Benediction

*Choral Response — Stay with Us — Egil Hovland

Postlude — Sanctus — Craig Phillips