Opening Hymn/Song
The Gathering
Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
and also with you.
We Say the Unity Prayer together where-ever we might be worshiping today.
Introduction
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the Church throughout the world. Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith and love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his risen life.
Please hold up your 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.
Amen.
The Procession
Let us go forth, praising Jesus our Messiah.
During the procession, the people hold palms, branches or musical instruments, as a hymn is sung.
Song
The Collect
Let us pray for a closer union with Christ in his suffering and in his glory.
Silence is kept.
True and humble king,
hailed by the crowd as Messiah:
grant us the faith to know you and love you,
that we may be found beside you
on the way of the cross,
which is the path of glory.
Amen.
This week’s first reading can be found here.
At the end the reader says:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Reading can be found here.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and given him the name that is above every name.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
At the end
This is the Passion of the Lord.
Sermon
Prayers will include responses as led, and are on-line here
The following response may be used:
Let us pray to the Lord
Lord, have mercy.
And at the end:
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
The Peace
Once we were far off,
but now in union with Christ Jesus
we have been brought near
through the shedding of Christ’s blood,
for he is our peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you
Offertory Song
Preparation of the Table
The altar is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For as the time of his passion and resurrection draws near
the whole world is called to acknowledge his hidden majesty.
The power of the life-giving cross
reveals the judgement that has come upon the world
and the triumph of Christ crucified.
He is the victim who dies no more,
the Lamb once slain, who lives for ever,
our advocate in heaven to plead our cause,
exalting us there to join with angels and archangels,
for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and God of might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Accept our praises, heavenly Father,
through your Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
and, as we follow his example and obey his command,
grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us his body and his blood:
Who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper
He took the cup and gave you thanks;
He gave it to them saying:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
Therefore, heavenly Father,
we remember his offering of himself
made once for all upon the cross;
we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
we look for the coming of your kingdom,
and with this bread and this cup,
we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.
Christ is the bread of life:
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.
Accept through him, our great high priest,
this our sacrifice of thanks and praise,
and as we eat and drink these holy gifts
in the presence of your divine majesty,
renew us by your Spirit,
inspire us with your love
and unite us in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,
we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Breaking of the Bread
Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,
We proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Giving of Communion
Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
Lord I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Please feel free to join in the music during communion.
Prayer after Communion
Faithful God,
may we who share this banquet
glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
our salvation, life and hope,
who reigns as Lord now and for ever.
Amen.
Closing Hymn
The Blessing and Dismissal
May the Father,
who so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
bring you by faith to his eternal life.
Amen.
May Christ,
who accepted the cup of sacrifice
in obedience to the Father’s will,
keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his cross.
Amen.
May the Spirit, who strengthens us to suffer with Christ
that we may share his glory,
set your minds on life and peace.
Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000