Acknowledgement of Country We acknowledge the elders past present and future of the Gweagal people

who have cared for this land from time immemorial, recognising that this land on which we live, and move was and always will be, Aboriginal Land.

Call to Worship. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. The Lord be with you.

And also with you. Let us gather in the peace of God.

In the name of Christ. Amen

We Sing. https://youtu.be/0SOWN0_0lrk

We Pray.

As the people spread their coats palm branches on the ground to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, so we welcome him into our lives this morning. Lord of Glory, Lord of Peace, Servant of all, live in our hearts and lives this day and all

days, that we might praise your holy name. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

Hosanna in the highest

This morning begins the Great Week of the Christian Year. During Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of the Lord’s death and resurrection. With Christians throughout the world, we come together this week to call to mind, and to express in word and action, the centre of the Easter mystery: our Lord’s Passover from death to life. Christ entered in triumph into Jerusalem to complete his work as Messiah: to suffer, to die and to rise to new life. Today we commit ourselves to walk the way of the cross, so that, sharing his story, we may be united with him in his risen life. Prayers of Confession and Forgiveness. Gathering for worship today, we are like the crowd that lined the streets, witnessing your entry into Jerusalem. Some of us gather here, full of enthusiasm. Some of us gather wearied by what life has given us. Some of us have come because we are searching for something more in our lives. Some of us have come out of habit. Some of us gather with great expectation. Some of us with no real hope. But we gather as your people, knowing that we fail to love you, fail to love others, fail to love your creation, as we ought. It is here, O God, that you meet us and greet us and, if we will allow, it is here that you surprise us with your love and your grace. So, open our heavy eyes, and tired minds, steal into our closed hearts and surprise us today with joy. Challenge our unrealistic and childish expectations, and open us to the possibility of hope in the forgiveness you offer. Enable us to see the goodness of your purpose for us. We submit to your knowledge of us and we open ourselves to your forgiveness, a forgiveness that comes freely and abundantly. (a time of silent prayer) Knowing that God forgives when we ask, with cleansed hearts and open minds, we join in the cry Hosanna! — adapted from prayers written by Rev. E. Crumlish of Castlehill Church, Ayr. Posted on the Church of Scotland’s excellent Starters for Sunday website.

A Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures. Isaiah 50. 4-9a

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,

to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;

I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away.

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;

I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.

Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me?

Let us face each other! Who is my accuser?

Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.

Who will condemn me?

We sing Psalm 31. https://youtu.be/q5R9PmGf3aE A Reading from the Christian Scriptures. Matthew 21. 1-11, How our Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem. (Perhaps family members may like to read the parts as able.) Narrator 1. As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them; Jesus. “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Narrator 2. This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Narrator 1. The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. Narrator 2. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted; Crowd. “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Narrator 1. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” Narrator 2. The crowds answered, Crowd. “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” For the word of the Lord, Thanks be to God https://youtu.be/YApEIjvE6S4 Reflection. Well, what do we do now everything’s cancelled? No Palm Sunday parade no Easter Day service! How will we celebrate Easter this year when the earth is shaking with fear and the heavens are howling with grief? It may be hard to imagine a Palm/Passion Sunday and a Holy Week that compares to this year, but throughout human history, such dangers and more have come and been overcome. As a church, we’re learning to invent, innovate, learn, and adapt to this community called ‘church’ in a time of physical isolation. It distresses me greatly to hear Christians claiming that God caused this pandemic to teach us a lesson. That may be the way we function as humans, but it is not God’s way. But I do agree that much can be learnt from our situation.

Unlike the media would lead us to believe, we are not all panic buying and greedily hoarding. If conversations I’ve had with friends and family and some posts that are appearing online, reflect how some people are reacting to the worldwide crisis, then the situation is prompting some serious self-reflection and even positive changes in attitudes and lifestyles.

The situation is also leading us to ask some serious questions communally. How do we define community or church in a time of isolation? Does virtual “anything” count for anything? This is not the time to take sides, but a moment for acceptance, mercy and grace. We are being asked to live the risk and danger, the joy and the transforming power of Easter into very difficult circumstances…. Just like the first Easter.

The situation is also leading us to ask some serious questions nationally and globally. As dolphins return to the canals of Venice and the skies over China and India have time to heal, we are being challenged to view our wants and needs and the place of the marketplace in our lives and how much we actually value the earth which we inhabit. A crisis of this nature also shifts our perspective. It makes us see what we have overlooked, taken for granted, assumed, and done because of habit rather than necessity.

Jesus rides into Jerusalem to begin a rollercoaster ride of a week. We, the people of God, ride with him to look fear, betrayal, cruelty, greed and death in the face. This week, Jesus gathers into himself, all the hurt and fear, horror and violence that humanity is capable of……. and loves unto death. This is how our God loves. Amen

https://youtu.be/p8xHr8krAII We say together, A Creed for the Christian Church. We believe in God, the Mother-Father of all, who began and upholds a universe that makes itself through evolving processes. God is Love, granting to creation a freedom that restricts God’s power. Through God’s Son Jesus, this self-giving God rescued us from despair and showed us what Godself is like: loving in life and death; sharing our pain; suffering the consequences of our sin; offering forgiveness. Jesus died for us but was raised by God and now lives with us through his Spirit to build God’s kingdom of unselfish love and lead us, as our judge and Saviour, to eternity with him. Adapted from a creed by John Morrison. 1999. Used with permission. We Pray. Lord Jesus, you emptied yourself, trading in the form of God for the form of a servant; we pray for the Church, and all her people and ministers. Form us into a Church that does not react in fear but empties itself in compassion for others, and for you. Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer. Lord Jesus, you were born in human likeness, and you know our frailties. As we live through this time of pandemic caused isolation, grief and fear, we pray for the whole human family, for the nations of the earth, and for all who live amid this pandemic and other disasters of war, famine, or fear. We pray for our brothers and sisters in countries without well-equipped health facilities or supplies of food and clean water. Help us to be generous in their time of need. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself even to the point of death; we pray for our nation and our leaders. Bless us all with your wisdom, humility compassion and care towards those in need. We pray for refugees in detention centres and makeshift refugee camps; for the vulnerable in our own society, women and children facing the threat of violence and death through domestic violence, for Aboriginal communities, for the elderly and for people living without the necessities for a good and safe life. Help us to generously support those who work among them. We pray your strength and skill for all people on the frontline of the battle with this new virus, for the researchers, doctors and nurses and for all those who lead and support them, for the police, for teachers and all those working for the benefit of a healthy and safe world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. We pray together as Jesus taught us,

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.

Save us in the time of trial And deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

(As we share Holy Communion together, bring your bread and wine to the table within your home, your own sacred space, knowing that God is always with us.)

God is here.

God’s Spirit is with us. Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to God. Let us give thanks to the God of love. It is right to offer thanks and praise.

Holy God, we praise you: Father and Mother;

Grace and Truth; Life and Love;

Giving, forgiving, creating. Let the heavens be joyful, and the earth be glad.

We bless you for creating the whole world, for your promises to your people,

and for the life we know in Jesus Christ. Born of Mary, he shares our life.

Eating with sinners, he welcomes us. Leading his followers, he guides us. Dying on the cross, he rescues us.

Risen from the dead, he gives new life You make us your disciples

and call us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

And so we praise you with the faithful of every time and place, joining with choirs of angels and the whole creation

in the eternal song;

We share God’s Peace

Holy, holy, holy God, wisdom, strength and hope,

heaven and earth are full of your glory; Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of our God.

Hosanna in the highest.

To you be glory, almighty God, because on the night before he died, Jesus took bread, and after giving you thanks, he broke it. Giving it to those gathered with him, he said, ‘Take eat, this is my body given for you. In the same way, he took the cup and giving you thanks, he said, Drink this all of you. This is the blood of the covenant given for all for the forgiveness of sins. With thanksgiving we take this bread and this cup and proclaim his death and resurrection. Receive our sacrifice of praise. Send to us the Holy Spirit that this meal may be holy, and your people may become one with you. Unite us in faith, inspire us to love, encourage us with hope, that we may receive Christ as he comes to us in this holy banquet. We praise you, almighty God, through Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. Amen

Jesus, Lamb of God, show us compassion.

Jesus, bearer of our sins, show us compassion.

Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

The gifts of God for the people of God; broken things for broken people. Come.

(We share the bread and wine with these words.)

The body of Christ, broken for you, keep you in eternal life. Amen The cup of blessing poured out for all. Amen

https://youtu.be/bURklF4aULM

Prayer after Communion. God of mercy, may we who have shared in this feast of the new covenant know your forgiveness in our lives, bring your reconciliation to others, and be a sign of your wholeness in this broken world. Faithful God, you have claimed us for your own. Now send us, with clear vision and strong hearts, to be faithful. Blessing. God goes with us as we look towards the cross, knowing it is both the most human and most divine of all journeys So, travel the road with courage, with love, and with the uneasy peace that is the gift of faith into this holiest of weeks. Amen. https://youtu.be/w4C9zVg5X_A