Order of Service – Sunday 13 April 2025 – PALM SUNDAY
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Rejoice, rejoice, you children of Zion! Shout for joy, you children of Israel! Look and see, your King is coming to you.
He comes triumphant and victorious, yet humble and riding on a donkey.
The Lord will now save God’s people as a shepherd saves His flock from danger.
Like precious jewels in a crown, we will sparkle and shine in God’s own land.
Not like a King, but humble, on a donkey,
We welcome You!
Hailed by crowds and the singing of children,
We shout and cheer You!
From the country’s open spaces, villages and towns to the centre of power and intrigue,
We acknowledge You, Christ our Lord.
You challenge the order of things, dignifying the lowly donkey, transforming majesty and authority; bring hope and new song to those longing for a new time, a new way.
With them we sing and shout with all our might: Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
HYMN: 724 “Hosanna! Hosanna!”
A PRAYER OF ADORATION
O God, our true life, to know You is life, to serve You is freedom, to enjoy You is kingdom, to praise You is the joy and happiness of the soul. I praise and bless and adore You, I worship You, I glorify You. I give thanks to You for Your great glory. I humbly beg You to live with me, to reign in me, to make this heart of mine a holy temple, a fit habitation for Your divine majesty. (Augustine of Hippo 354-430)
SONG: “Majesty”
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Great God, Your gifts to humanity are difference of colour, language, and culture. Immerse us in wisdom so that Your image might be rightly painted in the stories and insights we share. May we properly recognise You in each other and be thankful for Your gifts. Amen!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, doubt can be so troubling to us. Forgive us when we have failed to understand another’s doubt and given them a safe place to share it. Forgive us when we have failed to allow another person to work through their doubt and grow stronger.
Forgive us, God, when we have made doubt a destination and have become complacent in seeking Your presence, Your will, and Your way for our lives. Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. In the name of Jesus, we ask this. Amen!
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Hear the good news: Our gracious God forgives all your iniquity and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; God does not deal with us according to our sins or repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is the steadfast love of God; as far as the east is from the west, so far God removes our transgressions from us. Thanks be to God. Amen!
HYMN: 353 “The Glory of Our King was Seen”
LENTEN PRAYER
God, we know that we often see Your people in other lands and situations as in need of what we have to offer: development, social services, even Christianity and faith. Yet we are sharing stories of partners, not inferiors, people of strong and vibrant faith with dynamic worship and hearts filled with praise and commitment, often in unimaginable circumstance.
May the Christ Light remind us how much we too have to receive, to learn, and to celebrate from our sisters and brothers in every land and every language. Guide us by the Light! Guide us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
HYMN: 271 “The Advent of Our God”
BIBLE READINGS – Brian Cartwright
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (Pages 606-607) Luke 19:28-44 (Page 1040)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
SERMON: “The Crowd that Followed Him into the City” Rev. Keith Garner
HYMN: 348 “Ride on, Ride on in Majesty”
NOTICES –
- Prayer Vigil Service – Commemorating Armenian Genocide today at 3:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Uniting Church, Sydney.
- Elders’/Council Meeting – Wed 16 April at 10:00 am.
- Good Friday Service – Friday 18 April at 9:30 am.
- Easter Service – Sunday 20 April at 9:30 am.
OFFERING – God gave His best. What about us? What will we give?
HYMN: 12 “Ye Gates, Lift Up Your Heads on High”
WORD OF MISSION – TO JOURNEY THE CROSS WAY
Guided by the Light, Guided by the Spirit:
Where Christ journeys,
we will journey!
Where Christ stumbles,
we will wait!
Where Christ cries out,
we will pay attention!
Where Christ suffers in others,
we will face our suffering!
When Christ dies,
we will grieve and wait!
When Christ is raised in glory,
with the great crowd of witnesses from ages, we will enter new life for all!
There is no other journey but this,
Guided by the Light, Guided by the Spirit we will journey on this way!
COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION
Go in peace knowing that He is with us every day. All we need to do is to follow Him. Christ our Lord and Saviour. The King of kings. Amen!
To contact Krikor call 0418 417 411
Church Website: http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au
Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740