April 14, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
Today we celebrate Jesus’ pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Pilgrimages have changed over the millennia
Transport has changed over the centuries
Warrior kings used horses, but Jesus used a donkey
Privileged people use cars and buses and trains
Would Jesus arrive on a scooter if he were a pilgrim today?
PROCESSIONAL HYMN CH 4 370 ‘Ride on ride on, the time is right’
Words: John L Bell (b. 1949) & Graham Maule (b. 1958)
Words © 1988 WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 3DH
(Admin. by Willow Publishing Pty. Ltd.)
Tune: Gonfalon Royal WOV 318
Ride on, ride on, the time is right:
The roadside crowds scream with delight;
Palm branches mark the pilgrim way
Where beggars squat and children play.
Ride on, ride on, your critics wait,
Intrigue and rumour circulate;
New lies abound in word and jest,
And truth becomes a suspect guest.
Ride on, ride on, while well aware,
That those who shout and wave and stare
Are mortals whom with common breath,
Can crave for life and lust for death
Ride on, ride on, God’s love demands;
Justice and peace lie in your hands
Evil and angel voices rhyme
This is the man and this the time
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
RESPONSIVE PSALM from Psalm 118:19-29
Silence
Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks.
this is the holy gate through which the righteous may enter.
I will give thanks, for I was answered; and have found salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
God has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
It has been done this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God.
From the house of God we bless you.
The light has been made to shine on us.
With boughs in hand, we join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
I will praise; I will exult.
Give thanks to God, who is good;
whose love endures forever.
THE JESUS PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room programme to hear stories, ask questions
and have fun together. We bless you. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE
Feel free to pass the peace with those nearby or move to greet others further away. Passing the peace consists of shaking hands and saying “Peace be with you.” The response is “Peace be with you” or just “And with you.” Or, simply saying “Hello” is a good idea. Also feel free to simply observe if you wish!
THE WORD IN TEXTS Gillian Feist
Hebrew Bible Isaiah 50:7-9
Gospel Luke 19:28-40
Contemporary reading “Blessed is the One”
From Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons
by Jan Richardson www.paintedprayerbook.com
Blessed Is the One
For Palm Sunday
Blessed is the One
who comes to us
by the way of love
poured out with abandon.
Blessed is the One
who walks toward us
by the way of grace
that holds us fast.
Blessed is the One
who calls us to follow
in the way of blessing,
in the path of joy.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
REFLECTION ‘Scootering into Jerusalem’ Susan Jones
HYMN CH4 366 ‘Come into the streets with me!’
Words © 1992 by Hope Publishing Company Shirley Erena Murray
Music: English folk melody AA 22arr. CE Strange © 1983 Mrs MW Strange
Come into the streets with me!
Come to where the crowds will be,
see a strange and gentle king
on a donkey travelling.
REFRAIN: Come and follow my leader,
come and follow my leader,
Jesus Christ is riding by,
come and follow my leader!
All the people shout his name,
waving branches, sing his fame,
throw their coats upon his road,
glad to praise the Son of God. REFRAIN
If the soldiers draw their swords,
will we dare to sing these words,
be his friends for just a day,
cheer him on, then run away? REFRAIN
Jesus goes where things are rough,
Jesus knows when life is tough,
always comes to us, his friends,
so his story never ends. REFRAIN
Please remain standing for the affirmation
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (you are invited to join in with as much of this as you honestly can)
With stark symbolism we celebrate this journey:
Waving palms suggest popularity and endorsement
but for Jesus these will fade as the week draws on.
He walks on however, does not cut and run.
Without such stark symbolism
We face our many journeys within life.
We may seek popularity and endorsement
they do not always come
or they fade as for Jesus that eventful week.
In this moment of truth,
we affirm our intention to always journey on
as far as we are humanly able.
In this moment of truth,
we affirm our intention not to cut and run
as far as we are humanly able
In this moment of truth we face our own fallibility
and express our desire
for the Spirit’s strength, support and courage
to bolster our human spirit
so we can stay the distance.
OFFERING PRAYER
Amen
We recognise and bless the gifts brought to the table, and those which wing
their way electronically from our banks to the church’s account.
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY OF ST ANDREW’S
People share notices and visitors are welcomed. If you have a notice not already in the order of service, please move to the front row, ready to speak briefly from the lectern.
For the benefit of newcomers, please introduce yourself before you begin.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Catriona Cairns
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Nepal and the Hindu people in Nepal and throughout the world. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Todd Muller, (Bay of Plenty electorate) and Stuart Nash (Napier electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of - Knox Fitzroy Presbyterian Church and St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, New Plymouth.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN ‘Through the crowds’
Words: © Palm Sunday 2018 Susan Jones
Tune: Blaenwern WOV 165(ii)
Through the crowds a donkey passes
Grey and humble, young and small
Makes its way among the masses
Carrying Jesus through it all;
Quietly, gently, rides the stranger
Loud and boisterous is the crowd
Calm and centred, into danger,
Sure his pathway to his shroud.
Symbols stand at every corner
Coats and donkeys, stones and palms
Raucous joy, no sadness or mourners
Spirits high, with ringing psalms;
Simple triumph is all their agenda
Welcoming a King above kings
Not a thought of evil offender
Streets with glad hosannas ring
In our lives we face such choices
Which the leader we will choose?
Here one whom the crowd rejoices
Over there, one bound to lose;
One has riches and prestige and power
One has only love to expend;
Every day and even each hour
We decide which we’ll befriend.
May we find the courage to ponder
Not the easy, but the best;
In our hearts make room for wonder
Find, through myst’ry, the truest quest
Which demands the fullest commitment
Life and love, possessions too
Heart and mind both fully recruited
All now making a journey true.
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU Bruce Corkill
Our musician today
Unless otherwise specified all our music is used by permission CCLI Licence 341550
Words/music to new hymns and gathering statement, prayers and affirmation are original unless acknowledged. If Susan Jones is the worship leader any liturgy will have been written by her. These words can be used in other worship and small group situations without seeking permission. Please acknowledge the source.