April 5 online worship

Preparations for Worship:

• Do your best to eliminate distractions like the phone, TV, etc.
• Worship actively! Whether you are by yourself or with others, try reading the parts of the service aloud (responses, lessons, and prayers). Try singing along with the hymns.
• This service is for children too. Help them participate. Ask those who have that ability to read a prayer or lesson aloud. Take a moment to describe what’s happening. Ask questions. Encourage little ones to draw what they are hearing while you all listen. Unlike our more typical Sunday worship at church, you can pause at any time for questions and discussion.
• Before you begin, load the video below. (You might first have to get past a distracting ad.)
• Pause for a moment of quiet meditation. Then pray:
  “Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and speak your praise. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.”

INVOCATION

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear friends in Christ, for five weeks of Lent we have been preparing for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin the solemn celebration of Holy Week.  Christ entered in triumph into his own city to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us remember with devotion his entry that culminated at the empty tomb and follow him with a lively faith. United with him by Baptism, we share in his resurrection and new life.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

God our Father, we remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem and was welcomed as a king by those who shouted, “Hosanna” and spread their clothing and palm branches in his path.  Accept our praise, and listen to our prayers as we rejoice in our triumphant King, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Let us go forth in peace, In the name of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

We praise you, O God, for the great acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son, Jesus Christ.  As he was acclaimed by those who scattered their garments and branches of palms in his path, so may we always hail him as our king and follow him with perfect confidence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST LESSON – Zechariah 9:9-10

Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion!
    Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
    Look! Your King is coming to you.
    He is righteous and brings salvation.
    He is humble and is riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
¹⁰ I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
    and the horse from Jerusalem.
    The battle bow will be taken away,
    and he will proclaim peace to the nations.
    His kingdom will extend from sea to sea,
    from the River^[a] to the ends of the earth.

SECOND LESSON – Philippians 2:5-11

Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. ⁶ Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, ⁷ but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, ⁸ he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

DEVOTION

CONFESSION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.

I believe 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there 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.

OFFERING

Offerings may be given on-line at tithe.ly/risensavior, mailed to the church, or dropped off at the church during regular hours.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Gracious Lord, keep Your scattered Church in Your mercy, that she may endure the assaults of the evil one and remain faithful for the sake of those numbered within Your Kingdom and those who have not yet heard the Gospel and been brought to faith.

Almighty God do not allow stress or disaster to distract us from the particular vocations into which You have called us to serve in the Church, home and community. Grant to us every gift and blessing needful, that we may honor our calling and serve You to the best of our ability.

Merciful Lord, Your grace is sufficient for all our needs, and You have promised to be the strength of the weary, the hope of those who fear, the healing of the ill, the fullness of those disabled, and the peace of all who are distressed. Hear us on behalf of our nation and the world suffering pandemic and isolation.

We pray especially for all whom we name in our hearts, that they may be well supplied by Your grace in every time of trouble.

Everlasting Father, it is Your will that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of Your Son by faith. Give to Your Word success and deliver from error all those who live in darkness and fear.

Cause them to walk in the light of the Lord Jesus and have confidence for the trials of this world and hope for the world to come.

Blessed Lord, You give food to the hungry and provide for all our needs in this mortal life. Grant to us a grateful heart and knowledge to use wisely and well all that You have entrusted to our care.

Bless those who work to make, prepare, deliver or serve our daily bread, and give relief to those whose work has been halted.

Holy Lord, as once Your Son was welcomed with palms and hosannas, help us to welcome Him who comes to us this day. Guard us against false teaching and help us to discern truth from error, that none may be led astray or lost from the fellowship of Your Son. Look with kindness on all who are separated and comfort them with Your promises; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

THE 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. Amen.