COMMUNION & PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP AT HOME, April 5, 2020, 10:45am
Calvary Baptist Church of Clifton – International
NOTE: To participate in the waving of palm branches as part of this worship, draw or find a pattern and cut them out, or be creative and improvise, or get a palm-like branch or twig. For the music, you may sing along with the suggested music posted in this liturgy in your own computers or players, or with the music being played during the live broadcast.
Spring Hyacinth at Calvary (picture taken 03/21/2020)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Open the gates! Give us courage to walk through!
Lay down the cloaks. We mark the journey to Love’s reign.
Lift up the branches! Let us boldly proclaim God’s peace! Amen.
MUSIC OF PRAISE: Draw Me Close
INVOCATION/OPENING PRAYER with THE LORD’S PRAYER
Almighty and eternal God, we commit ourselves to you,
Be the goal of our pilgrimage, and our rest by the way.
Let our soul take refuge from the state of commotion, confusion and disturbance brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic
Come, O Holy Spirit. Come as
Holy Fire and burn in us,
come as Holy Wind and cleans us within,
come as Holy Light and lead us in the darkness,
come as Holy Truth and dispel our ignorance,
come as Holy Power and enable our weakness,
come as Holy Life and dwell in us.
Convict us, convert us, consecrate us, until we are set free from the service of ourselves,
to be your servants to the world.
Lord Jesus, continue to teach us to pray, as you taught your disciples to pray, saying:
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.
OPENING HYMN: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
PRAYER
Almighty God, we come to you with humble hearts once again to give you honor, acknowledgment and praise as we worship you in spirit and in truth.
We open our hearts before you and confess our shortcomings, our mistakes, our sins.
We repent of our sins and seek your forgiveness.
Forgive us of the things we have done wrong.
Forgive us of our inaction toward things we should have taken responsibility.
Thank you for the assurance of your forgiveness through the give of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Renew our bodies, our minds, our hearts and our souls once more.
Rekindle, strengthen our faith that we could truly live joyfully and meaningfully.
Thank you for the blessings we have received these past weeks.
Thank you for the protection that you have given us: our families, our loved ones, our church members and friends in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Thank you for providing us food and shelter in the midst of this global crisis.
We lift up those who are sick and our vulnerable and elderly members and friends who have health challenges. We pray for healing and strength for Joy Negrin, sister Florence Hofmann, Natasha Johnson, Betty Van Hook, Clyde Van Hook, Arlene Nevin, Ellen (Judy Jonason's niece), Slajana Stosic, Louie Vargas (father of Sue Richards), Lucy de la Fuente…
We pray that you comfort those who are grieving for the loss of a family member or loved one: Judy Jonason and family, Yolanda Suarez and family, Urbi Medley and family, Nicole Telfort and family. We also pray for comfort for those who have lost family members and loved ones to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Today we especially remember those in the frontlines in the battle against the Corona virus. And the figures continue to rise every moment and everyday. We remember the medical doctors, the nurses and so many other medical personnel. We also remember those who still need to be working in the midst of this pandemic. Protect them Lord and give them courage and your sustaining grace.
God of compassion, in the sorrow and suffering of the people, we receive from you the comfort you alone can give. Enable us to see that you are always working for our good.
You are our dwelling place O God, And underneath us are your everlasting arms.
Assure us of your love, that we may accept what we cannot understand. Help us to be sensitive and responsive to the challenges, struggles and sufferings of other people.
Help us to be aware not only of the enormity of this pandemic and the shadows of death, but also of the continual miracles and the splendor of life eternal.
Enable us to even now face life with faith and courage; give us the grace and strength to go on, knowing that the great cloud of witnesses surrounds us and that you continue to abide in us.
Comfort, strengthen and uphold us at this time of great challenge until we overcome this tribulation and the peace that comes from you.
This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Spring Daffodil at Calvary (picture taken 03/21/2020)
THE WAVING OF PALM LEAVES: (At this time, we may wave our palm leaves and shout our loud hosannas as we imagine Jesus riding a donkey and entering the city of Jerusalem with the people shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David – Save us! Save us now! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!)
Stained glass window at Calvary
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 21:1-11 (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “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.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in
Galilee.”
HYMN: On Eagles Wings
MESSAGE: The Lord Waits for Our Obedience
Watch the Sunday Service on Facebook at link below:
HYMN OF RESPONSE: There’s A Quiet Understanding
THE COMMUNION SERVICE
As we come to the table of God’s heavenly feast, let us prepare our hearts anew to be in communion with one another and with the risen Christ. We come, ready to partake of bread and cup, ready to commune with one another and with the living God.
· The Reading of the Word: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NIV)
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
· The Bread
· The Cup
CLOSING HYMN: 393 Blest Be the Tie That Binds
CLOSING PRAYER AND BENEDICTION:
Lord, we seek your guidance and strength in this time of challenge. Abide in us, give us your blessing and protection. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace now and forevermore.
Amen and amen.