MORRIS-ROSENFELD ECUMENICAL SHARED MINISTRY
ORDER OF SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2024
PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
Due to copyright limitations, we are unable to print the words to many of the songs. However, our musicians have chosen music to fit the scriptures. We invite you to look up the words in your worship book and ponder them. If you do not have a worship book, ponder the words of one of your favourite hymns and listen for God’s voice. Those who have the internet may find the songs on YouTube.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as “those evil people” or “those poor people who need our help.” Nor must we search for signs of “loveworthiness.” Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.”
-Philip Yancey
BEFORE WE WORSHIP, WE REFLECT…
While it’s tempting to focus only on the palms as a connection with creation this week, consider the vast number of natural elements at play. The oil of anointing and the gypsum that created the alabaster jar that holds it are both fruits of the earth. The last supper gathers a meal of wine and bread, common evidence of blessing for travelers and signs of divine providence. The wood of the cross and the thorny crown, along with the vinegar on Jesus’ lips, are the last earthly elements to touch the Savior’s skin prior to death. Linen from flax and a tomb of stone wrapped around the crucified Christ. These and more reveal the environmental context of Holy Week, from Palm to Passion.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge we gather and worship on Treaty 1 Territory, the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
God of Love, you are the Creator of this land and of all good things. Give us the courage to accept the realities of our history so that we may build a better future for our nation. Teach us to respect all cultures. Teach us to care for our land and waters. Help us to share justly the resources of this land. Help us to bring about spiritual and social change to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities, especially the disadvantaged. Help young people to find true dignity and self esteem by your Spirit. May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families, our communities and our nation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL: Mark 11:1-11
Jesus enters Jerusalem
1When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of olives, sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
GATHERING SONG: VU 123 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
CENTERING PRAYER
Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
CANADIAN LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF: South Sudan | From farming to fishing
Devastating floods in South Sudan’s Jonglei State uprooted the lives of over 400,000 people, forcing them to flee to higher ground. The floodwaters transformed farmlands, leaving families with no choice but to fish on land they once harvested.
Crop farming and livestock were the main income sources for Riak Garang Horok, a single mother of three children living in Maar, Jonglei State. But flooding swept away her crops and killed her livestock, leaving the family without a home or livelihood.
Thanks to your support, our partners were able to deliver food assistance to vulnerable families like Riak’s who were affected by the flooding. Our partners also provided cash assistance and fishing kits to those whose land was flooded in order to help them adapt to the drastically altered landscape.
Riak said, “I received cash assistance for 5 months and a fishing kit. This helped me and my family…I was able to meet basic needs and learn new skills in fishing and fish preservation, which is a new livelihood option for me. I catch fish for consumption and keep some of the surplus to sell to meet other basic needs, including buying more nets for more catch. This is how we have been surviving the situation.”
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Living God, help us so to hear your holy Word that we may truly understand; that, understanding, we may believe, and, believing, we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience, seeking your honor and glory in all that we do; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
READINGS AND PSALM
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
The image of the servant of God is one of the notable motifs in the book of Isaiah. Today’s reading describes the mission of the servant, whom early Christians associated with Jesus. Like Jesus, the servant does not strike back at his detractors but trusts in God’s steadfast love.
4The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.
6I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
7The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
9aIt is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
Psalm 31:9-16
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. (Ps. 31:5)
9Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;
my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing;
my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11I am the scorn of all my enemies, a disgrace to my neighbors, a dismay to my acquaintances;
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12Like the dead I am forgotten, out of mind; I am as useless as a broken pot. R
13For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around;
they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
14But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. I have said, “You are my God.”
15My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.” R
Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Christ did not act to attain status and glory but was obedient to God even to the point of death. Following Christ’s example, we do not seek personal status or glory but care for others as God cared for us in Christ’s death.
5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel: Mark 15:1-47
The passion story in Mark’s gospel presents Jesus as one who dies abandoned by all. He shows himself to be the true Son of God by giving his life for those who have forsaken him.
1As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” 3Then the chief priests accused him of many things. 4Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
6Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. 7Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. 9Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. 12Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” 15So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
16Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. 17And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. 20After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
21They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
25It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. 29Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
33When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 36And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
40There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
42When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. 45When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.
HYMN: MV 94 Love Knocks And Waits
SERMON
Fool: …thou hadst been set i th’ stocks for that question, thou’dst well deserved it.
Kent: Why, Fool?
Fool: We’ll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there’s no laboring i th’ winter.
All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there’s not a nose among twenty but can smell him that’s stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following. But the great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again. I would have none but knaves follow it since a fool gives it.
That sir, which serves and seeks for gain,
And follows but for form,
Will pack, when it begins to rain,
And leave thee in the storm.
But I will tarry; the Fool will stay,
And let the wise man fly.
The knave turns Fool that runs away,
The Fool no knave, perdy.
Kent: Where learned you this, Fool?
Fool: Not i th’ stocks, fool.[1]
When I began to ponder what words from God I would say, this quotation from Shakespeare’s King Lear popped into my mind. And once it popped in there, it refused to leave. So I was left to ask myself, how is this quotation connected to Passion Sunday?
True, the quotation refers to the decay of King Lear’s army, wealth, and mental health due to his lack of preparation and trust in the wrong people, yet the more I reflected on these words, the more the ministry of Jesus focused itself in my mind.
For me, the ministry of Jesus is paramount, and that is the model to whom I look when I am asking for answers to tough questions or guidance in tough situations. I began to think about how I prepare a sermon, and that, in turn, connected me with the words of Shakespeare and the ministry of Jesus.
Jesus was a person who took risks, who did not give credence to what the religious authorities or those in power thought of him. He was on this earth to do the work of God, and he did it. He boldly loved those whom the world rejected. He ate with outcasts, touched the ritually unclean, even to the point of spitting on a blind man’s eyes. He filled people with hope and love, and empowered them to follow God and serve each other. He had harsh words for those who needed them, and a gentle touch for those who needed compassion, healing and blessing. Jesus walked with the commoners, ate lunch with prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors, and other outcasts. Specifically, Jesus CHOSE to be with these people. He walked among the poor, the oppressed, the diseased, by choice. He picked disciples who were not academics, rather, they were strong in their passion for God. This Jesus has been my role model as far back as my earliest memory upon hearing the Good News.
When preparing a sermon I ask myself, “To whom am I proclaiming this message?” I would like to believe that more than just those in the pew will benefit from what God wants me to say. I would like to believe that I am an effective mouthpiece for Christ, as it were, and that you are inspired by what you hear; that your hearts are stirred to live your faith on a daily basis. I trust God to give me the message that I am to speak on God’s behalf, and I trust that the Holy Spirit will guide you to others who need to hear the Good News.
Jesus lived his life as a human expression of the love of God. He knew that not everyone would “get it”. He knew that there would be those who would reject what he had to say. He knew that there would be those whose lives would be transformed merely by touching his clothes. He knew it all and took the risks so that the people of God would know, personally, that God loved them and was serious about being with them.
I would like to believe that the words that are spoken by me and all other clergy are not turned off after the worship service is over, but rather that the words of inclusive love, repentance, forgiveness, hope and eternal life are heard with the heart and passed on. That those, who like the Fool in King Lear, who have learned wisdom from the street and the school of hard knocks will share their wisdom, as well as their faith, with others. I would like to believe that there are those individuals who have been inspired by the Good News proclaimed in worship to be little Christ’s in the world; that they walk the path of Jesus in loving and breaking bread with the outcasts of society, giving blessing and healing with hands that are not afraid to touch the grime of life, that they will be great in their faith and draw others up in their strength for God. That they will not desert God’s people when the crunch comes, but like fools for Christ stand in solidarity with the marginalized.
When people are accepted just as they are; when people are loved without condition; when one chooses to sit with the outcasts and break bread; when one embraces those whom others shun, those people’s lives can, and often do, change for the better. For in the one who is willing to live the ministry of Christ, not just with words but with action, people see Christ. Not only that, they learn to extend that same grace to others. And believe it or not, sometimes the sharing of that grace is worth dying for.
Where learned I this? Not in the stocks. Amen.
HYMN OF THE MONTH: With One Voice 658 The Word Of God Is Source And Seed
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Trusting in God’s promise to reconcile all things, let us pray for the church, the well-being of creation, and a world in need.
Blessed One, today the church sings glad hosannas as we enter Holy Week. Prepare us to bear witness to Christ’s suffering and death endured for our sake. Gather your people around the cross and comfort us with resurrection hope. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Renew your good creation and protect the balance of life on earth. Encourage the work of foresters, scientists, arborists, gardeners, and river keepers. We pray for the health of pollinating insects, songbirds, and native plants. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Establish peace and justice among the nations (regions in conflict may be named). Hold to account any with authority to judge others. Grant that courts, legislatures, and local governments will serve with integrity and compassion. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Bring hope to any who feel forsaken or forgotten. Make a way for refugees and asylum seekers. Reunite families enduring separation. We pray for any who are incarcerated, institutionalized, or in foster care, that they may know your love. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Give energy and joy to our pastor, deacons, worship leaders, and musicians. Bless baptismal candidates, their sponsors, confirmands and teachers. Watch over those who travel. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Blessed One, our times are in your hand. Sustain us in discipleship throughout our lives and receive us into everlasting life. We give thanks for the courage of Oscar Arnulfo Romero, bishop and martyr, whom we commemorate today. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Accompany us on our journey, God of grace, and receive the prayers of our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SENDING SONG: VU 124 Ride On, Ride On In Majesty
BENEDICTION
The peace of God be in your heart
The grace of God be in your words
The love of God be in your hands
The joy of God be in your soul and in the song that your life sings.
Amen.
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[1] William Shakespear, King Lear, Act II, Scene 4