SUNDAY SERVICE
April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday
Welcome & Holy Week Invitation
Opening Scripture Reading
Psalm 118:1-2
1 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
Opening Call & Response Prayer
Holy and gracious God,
Today, we step into your story, joining the crowd that welcomes You with joy.
We lift our voices in praise, shouting “Hosanna!” alongside the outcast and the forgotten, the broken and the hopeful.
We gather around Jesus, the humble King who rides on a donkey.
Lead us in his way of peace,
That we may stand with the weary, walk with the oppressed,
And welcome all who long for your healing love.
Draw near to us, O God,
As we follow Christ on this journey on this Holy Week.
A journey of triumph and betrayal, a journey to the cross,
A journey toward the fullness of your redeeming grace.
Amen.
Scripture Reading
Luke 19:28-40, CEB
28 After Jesus said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Procession into Jerusalem
29 As Jesus came to Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he gave two disciples a task. 30 He said, “Go into the village over there. When you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘Its master needs it.’” 32 Those who had been sent found it exactly as he had said.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “Its master needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their clothes on the colt, and lifted Jesus onto it. 36 As Jesus rode along, they spread their clothes on the road.
37 As Jesus approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of his disciples began rejoicing. They praised God with a loud voice because of all the mighty things they had seen. 38 They said,
“Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.”
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, scold your disciples! Tell them to stop!”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout.”
Blessing of Palms
Bless these palms, God of Celebration.
May they remind us of the simple joys of living.
May we remember the excitement that comes with following Christ.
Bless these protest palms, God of Justice.
May they remind us that Empire is not a thing of the past.
May they make us bold and brave to stand up against injustice.
We give you thanks for the protest, the processional.
Guide our steps through this holiest of weeks
as we cry out together "Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna!"
Amen.
Worship #1
Prayer of Confession & Reading
Jesus, we praise you with heart and life and voice, not only with outward signs such as palm branches or the occasional "Hosanna," but with lives truly turned towards you. It seems such a distance from this Palm Sunday in Wellington Heights to that day when you entered Jerusalem with the shouts of the crowd ringing in your ears. Welcomed as a king, yet riding on a lowly donkey. Greeted with cheers and acclamations which were so soon to turn to abandonment and condemnation. From this side of the resurrection, we confidently believe that we could never have been part of the jeering crowd—but would we, if we had been there?
(silent reflection)
Confession
When we join the crowd and abandon
you and your ways
For the more comfortable path
Forgive us.
When we fear that humbling ourselves
would be seen by others as weakness,
Forgive us.
When we have betrayed your love for us through our lack of love
for you, for others, and for ourselves
Forgive us.
When we turn inward in self-focus and self-absorption
neglecting those around us
Forgive us.
When we find ourselves glossing over the events of your passion and death
because we look forward to the joyful message of Easter.
Forgive us.
May we hold fast to God’s vision of goodness—
Peace from the practice of justice,
Equity and mutuality from the practice of respect.
As this week unfolds,
We will let ourselves be overtaken in awe of God’s love
Together, we commit to abundantly pour out this love back out into the world.
Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Hear the good news: "Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave...and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6, 7a, 8b)
Communion Reflection
Invitation for Connection
As we have been welcomed by Christ at this table, let us now turn to welcome one another by sharing the peace we have received by saying, “God’s Peace be with you.”
(pause for a moment for peace to be offered)
After sharing a message of peace, Children are invited to go upstairs for the Children's Ministry.
5-minute Connection
Announcements
Celebrate the vibrant reality of the resurrection alongside Wellington Heights Community Church on April 20th at 10 AM. Nursery and Children’s Ministry will be available during the service.
Annual Neighborhood Cleanup Day: Sunday, April 27th @ 10:00 am
Johnson STEAM Academy, McKinley STEAM Academy, Wellington Heights Community Church & Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association are partnering for a Neighborhood Clean-Up day on Sunday, April 27th from 10-11 AM. Trash bags and gloves will be provided! Let's come together to care for our neighborhood and the environment!
You’re invited to participate in a meaningful discussion on Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe, a powerful book that explores the deep wounds of racial trauma and the path toward healing through faith, resilience, and justice.
Baptism is a practice of recognizing and responding to God’s abundant love and grace. Regardless of tradition of immersion, sprinkling or pouring of the water, Baptism is a gift of living water and welcome!
Interested in receiving the gift of Baptism on June 1st, email stephanie@wellingtonheightscommunitychurch.org
Loads of Love Open House at the Peace House immediately following service today. Stop by to tour the space and learn more about Loads of Love.
During this timeframe you will also have an opportunity to show gratitude to Lewis as he prepares to transition to graduate school out of state.
Gratitude for Lewis Kleman
Sermon
Pastor Stephanie
Let’s pray together:
This is a vision of the way it can be, the way it should be—
Shouts of welcome, a joyful procession,
a community celebrating liberation together.
The same vision is offered to us today:
We can welcome Christ into our lives;
We can commit our lives to the way of Jesus.
How swiftly things changed back then,
How swiftly we, too, can be distracted.
May we hold fast to God’s vision of shalom—
Peace from the practice of justice,
Belonging from the practice of mutual respect.
As this week unfolds,
We will let ourselves be overtaken by God’s love
We will pour it back out into the world. Amen.
Worship #2
Closing Call & Response Prayer
Our Lord is on a journey,
and the way leads through opposition and misunderstanding.
Jesus invites us to follow him.
This journey leads through the shadows of betrayal,
the night of Gethsemane,
the afternoon darkness of Golgotha.
“Then Jesus told his disciples,
‘If any want to become my followers,
let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For those who want to save their life will lose it,
and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.'" (Matt. 16:24-25)
Our Lord is on a journey.
May we have the grace to follow this Christ,
and to give to him our very lives.
For in giving away our lives, we find them,
and in dying we live.
Closing
Stop by the Peace House for a tour of Loads of Love and to say gratitude to Lewis.
