Livestream is available at Westminster Presbyterian Church – Sunday Worship, March 24, 2024 (vidflex.tv)
PRELUDE
“Grand Choeur Dialogue” Eugene Gigout
(Welcome to worship today. Bold responses are spoken by the congregation. Note that an * indicates when all are invited to rise in body or in spirit.)
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Beth Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
(When the announcements have finished, those who would like to be a part of the procession of the palms may gather in the narthex at the back of the church. The pastors will lead the procession as the hymn begins, and you may return to your pew after processing down the center aisle. All are invited to be a part of the parade.)
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT
“The King’s Welcome” Alfred Whitehead
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Gregg Neel
We come to prepare for the holiest of weeks.
We will journey through praise, with joy on our lips;
we will travel through betrayal and death, cradling hope deep in our hearts.
Jesus leads us through this week, and we will follow, for he is the life we long for, he is
the Word who sustains us.
We wave palm branches in anticipation; we lay our love before him, to cushion his walk.
Setting aside all power, glory, and might, he comes, modeling humility and obedience
for all of us.
Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the One who brings us the kingdom of God.
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN #88
“All Glory, Laud, and Honor” VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION The Rev. Gregg Neel
It is in our confession where we realize our desire for God and our hope for God’s mercy. It is in admitting the truth of our lives that we take the first step toward wholeness and healing. So let us make our confession, first in silent prayer.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Jesus, we rejoice in your entry into the world and into our lives! But even so, our hearts are far from true worship, and our minds are distant from true understanding.
We are disappointed with your humility, and uninspired by your selflessness.
Our sin leads us to give you death even though you give us life.
Our treachery guides us to war even though you call us to peace.
Help us to reflect in our lives the love of God and to live faithfully here and now.
Have mercy on us, Savior of all, and find us in all the forsaken places.
Forgive what we have done and who we have been.
Bring us home again and impart within us a new song of joy and celebration. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, in God’s understanding of things, sin never gets the last word. We are not judged by our worst day. We are not irredeemable. In God’s understanding of things, love wins, forgiveness reigns, and reconciliation is real. So let us proclaim the Good News:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION
THE SCRIPTURE READING The Rev. Beth Neel
Mark 11:1-11 (p. 47)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN The Rev. Gregg Neel
ANTHEM
“Hosanna in the Highest” Joseph Barnby and Allen Robert Petker
Hosanna; Hosanna in the highest! Sing praises to the blessed Son of David!
Sing wonderful, marvelous, glorious praise to Jesus Christ the King,
Give glory and honor and majesty to the Lord for whom we sing.
Hosanna; Hosanna to the King of Kings!
The children sang His name; their King they did proclaim, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Hosannas filled the air, with praises and with prayers. May Jesus Christ be praised!
Palm branches arched the sky as King and colt passed by; May Jesus Christ be praised!
He is the King of Kings; to Him our praises sing, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing glory in the highest to God for He has blessed us, may Jesus Christ be praised!
With heart and life and voice eternally rejoice. May Jesus Christ be praised.
SERMON The Rev. Beth Neel
“Light and Dark”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
*HYMN #76
“My Song Is Love Unknown” LOVE UNKNOWN
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.” For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
PASTORAL PRAYER AND 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.
MINUTE FOR MISSION David Groff
One Great Hour of Sharing
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
(Text 73256 the word WESTPRESPDX to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
If you’re new to Westminster, please let us know by filling out a pink visitor card and dropping it in the offering plate. Thank you.)
OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“O Nata Lux” Morten Lauridsen
from Lux Aeterna
O born light of light, Jesus, redeemer of the world,
Mercifully deem worthy and accept the praises and prayers of your supplicants.
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost ones,
Grant us to be made members of your holy body.
*DOXOLOGY – Hymn #592
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*HYMN #83
“O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High” DEO GRACIAS
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Beth Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Carillon de Longpont” Louis Vierne
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)