Order of Service–April 02, 2023
Welcome & Announcements
Greeting *please rise as you are able and comfortable and welcome one another into worship*
Invocation *please remain standing*
“Hosanna (Praise is Rising)” *Children are invited to be a part of a Palm procession*
“All Glory, Laud, and Honor” *please be seated*
Responsive Reading: Matthew 21 various verses
P: Now when (Jesus and the disciples) drew near to Jerusalem Jesus sent two disciples,
C: “Go into the village and you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring
them to me..”
P: This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
C: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a
donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”
P: And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting,
C: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in
the highest!”
P: But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying
out in the temple,
C: “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
P: they were indignant and said,
C: “Do you hear what these are saying?”
P: And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read
C: ” ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
Confession and Absolution
Pastor: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we
may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another….
Congregation: Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you
and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your
compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we
have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live
and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Pastor: God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive
together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of ? Jesus Christ, your sins are
forgiven.
Congregation: Amen
“King of My Heart” *please rise as you are comfortable and able*
Apostles Creed
Congregation: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born
of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He
descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Reading from John 18:33-40 *please be seated*
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the
Jews?” [34] Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
[35] Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me.
What have you done?” [36] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this
world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my
kingdom is not from the world.” [37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You
say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to
bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” [38] Pilate said to him, “What is
truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. [39] But
you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release
to you the King of the Jews?” [40] They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was
a robber.
Children’s Message & Offering
Message: Title: “Citizenship in two Kingdoms
Theme: Pilate’s interrogation of Jesus reveals his concern for the Roman empire. Any threat to that
Kingdom meant certain, painful, and public execution. Jesus and each of us by virtue of being in the flesh
are subject to the kingdoms of this earth. Jesus’ submission to the earthly Roman empire leads us to hold
dual citizenship. Like Jesus we benefit and suffer in the earthly kingdom and live eternally in peace, joy
and grace as citizens of the heavenly kingdom.
Installation of Call Committee
Responsive Prayer and Reflection *please rise as you are comfortable and able*
(Pastor Speaks the light print, the congregation responds with the dark print)
P: With loud hosannas we come before You, O Lord of hosts.
C: We praise You for sending us Your Son as the King who came in Your name to establish peace
between heaven and earth.
P: We are thankful that He did not consider Himself too far above us to become true man.
C: We deeply appreciate His fulfillment of the law, which we are unable to keep.
P: We cannot adequately express our thanks
C: that Christ took upon himself our earthly and eternal punishment for our sins by dying on the
cross.
P: May the assurance of that forgiveness, which we receive through Your Word and sacraments,
C: enable us to live lives of dedicated discipleship.
P: Grant us grace to live to Your honor and glory
C: so that our lives will reflect our eternal gratitude for the salvation You won for us.
P: Grant earthly peace through the governance of God fearing earthly leaders and
C: the peace that passes all understanding as members of your eternal kingdom.
P: We pray this in the name of the
C: King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen,
Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
“How Great is Our God (How Great Thou Art)”
Go in Peace + Serve the Lord!