{"id":1556,"date":"2021-03-27T22:24:51","date_gmt":"2021-03-27T22:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=1556"},"modified":"2021-03-27T22:24:51","modified_gmt":"2021-03-27T22:24:51","slug":"palm-sunday-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/27\/palm-sunday-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Palm Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/84\/248577269_43322038dc_b.jpg\" alt=\"Palm leaves\"\/><figcaption>&#8220;Palm leaves&#8221; by decafinata is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Shauna, Beth, Amanda, Cor, and Heather!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: \u201cFar Away Friend\u201d (Springer)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Prelude-Far-Away-Friend-_-Mike-Springer.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We join with the crowd<br \/> that eagerly awaited the coming of Jesus.<br \/> Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!<br \/>     <strong>Hosanna in the highest!<\/strong><br \/> Fulfilling prophecy, Jesus entered the city<br \/> riding humbly on a donkey.<br \/> Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!<br \/>     <strong>Hosanna in the highest!<\/strong><br \/> Jesus\u2019 followers were excited, filled with anticipation.<br \/> Yet, within a few short days,<br \/> they were scattered, disillusioned, and frightened,<br \/> unwilling to follow as far as Christ would have them go.<br \/> Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!<br \/>     <strong>Hosanna in the highest!<\/strong><br \/> We, too, long to join the triumphal procession,<br \/> only to find ourselves burdened by the past, fearful of the future,<br \/> reluctant to accept the way of the cross.<br \/> Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!<br \/>     <strong>Hosanna in the highest!<\/strong><br \/> Yet this Palm Sunday, we receive palm branches,<br \/> a reminder of the welcome offered to Jesus<br \/> as he travelled toward the cross.<br \/> Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!<br \/>     <strong>Hosanna in the highest!<\/strong><br \/> Like the crowd in Jerusalem 2000 years ago,<br \/> we take our palm branches and greet Jesus, shouting:<br \/> Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!<br \/>     <strong>Hosanna in the highest!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cHosanna, loud hosanna\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/VU-123-Hosanna-Loud-Hosanna.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Hosanna, loud hosanna<br \/>     the happy children sang;<br \/> through pillared court and temple <br \/>     the joyful anthem rang;<br \/> to Jesus, who had blessed them<br \/>     close folded to his breast,<br \/> the children sang their praises,<br \/>     the simplest and the best.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>From Olivet they followed<br \/>     &#8216;mid an exultant crowd,<br \/> the victory palm branch waving,<br \/>     and singing clear and loud;<br \/> the Lord of earth and heaven<br \/>     rode on in lowly state,<br \/> content that little children<br \/>     should on his bidding wait.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>&#8216;Hosanna in the highest!&#8217;<br \/>     That ancient song we sing,<br \/> for Christ is our Redeemer;<br \/>     earth, let your anthems ring.<br \/> O may we ever praise him<br \/>     with heart and life and voice,<br \/> and in his humble presence <br \/>     eternally rejoice!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We love a parade!<br \/>We love to get what we want.<br \/>We love for things to unfold<br \/>according to our plan<br \/>and not the divine plan\u2014<br \/>a plan that remains a mystery to our eyes.<br \/>Help us to trust in you, O God,<br \/>and help us to set aside our desire for your desire,<br \/>and our will for your will, now and always. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God will give us what we need:<br \/> strength for today,<br \/> hope for tomorrow,<br \/> and forgiveness<br \/> for all that is past.<br \/> Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/image-8.png\" alt=\"This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-8.png\"\/><figcaption>&#8220;palm trees in the rain through the skylight&#8221; by Robert Couse-Baker is licensed under CC BY 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC: \u201cBeneath the Cross of Jesus\u201d (Maker)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/3-Beneath-the-Cross-of-Jesus.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 118<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/psalm118.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Open to me the gates of the temple,<br \/> that I may enter and give thanks to God.<br \/>     <strong>This is the gate of God;<br \/>     through it the righteous shall enter.<\/strong><br \/> I thank you for you have answered me;<br \/> you have become my salvation.<br \/>     <strong>The stone which the builders rejected <br \/>     has become the chief cornerstone.<\/strong><br \/> This is God&#8217;s doing, marvellous in our eyes.<br \/>     <strong>This is the day that God has made,<br \/>     let us rejoice and be glad in it!  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Save us, O God, we pray;<br \/>     <strong>God, we pray, give us success.<\/strong><br \/> Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.<br \/>     <strong>We bless you from the house of God.<\/strong><br \/> God, our God, has given us light;<br \/>     <strong>with palm branches in hand let us march to the altar.<\/strong><br \/> You are my God, and I will thank you;<br \/>     <strong>you are my God, and I will extol you.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: Mark 11.1-11<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/mark11.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, \u201cGo to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, \u2018Why are you doing this?\u2019 say, \u2018The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, \u201cWhat are you doing, untying that colt?\u201d 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cHosanna!\u201d<br \/> \u201cBlessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!\u201d<br \/> 10 \u201cBlessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!\u201d<br \/> \u201cHosanna in the highest heaven!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cThe glory of our King was seen\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/VU-162-The-a-Glory-of-our-King.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>The glory of our King was seen<br \/> when he came riding by,<br \/> and all the children waved and sang,<br \/> &#8216;Hosanna, King most high!&#8217;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The glory of our King was seen<br \/> when, with his arms stretched wide<br \/> to show his love to everyone,<br \/> Jesus was crucified.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The glory of our King was seen<br \/> on the first Easter day,<br \/> when Christ rose up, set free from death,<br \/> to love, to guide, to stay.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/image-7.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1561\"\/><figcaption>&#8220;Palm Star&#8221; by mripp is licensed under CC BY 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/march28sermon.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Jesse Owens had one.  Ben Hogan had one.  Amelia Earhart had two, and should have had more.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I hope I have you stumped.  Theodore Roosevelt had one, as did Queen Elizabeth and the future Queen Beatrix.  John Glenn had two, and the New York Yankees had too many to count.  Finally, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins had one\u2014Michael Collins the astronaut, not the Irish revolutionary.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>If you guessed ticker tape parade, you would be correct.  Funny thing, the ticker tape parade.  Shower tons of ticker tape upon adoring crowds (and the source of their admiration), then let someone else sweep up the mess.  The good news (for them) is that the work is getting scarce.  In the 1950\u2019s there were over 60 ticker tape parades in New York, but in the last decade there were only three.  Maybe there is less to celebrate.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>And since someone reading or listening today has no idea what ticker tape is, I suppose I should explain.  Ticker tape is a continuous printout of stock prices, named (of course) for the tick-tick-tick sound of the machine that produced the tape.  All over the city, businesses had these remote read-outs of the stock market in great quantity, and they in turn became a very handy way to celebrate.  Think of it as long confetti.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I share this because the ticker tape parade may be one of the best modern examples of what happened that day in Jerusalem.  It certainly wasn\u2019t a parade in any sense that we might know.  It wasn\u2019t a military parade\u2014think Red Square or Bastille Day\u2014since those are really a show of force.  It wasn\u2019t an event parade like St. Patrick\u2019s Day, though you could argue it became one.  And it wasn\u2019t a victory parade, since the outcome of the next few days was yet to be revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The reason the ticker tape parade is a good parallel begins with design.  A ticker tape parade, like our palm parade, is a planned event, carefully choreographed for maximum effect.  This is not to suggest it is disingenuous somehow\u2014it simply acknowledges that these are not spontaneous events.  Jesus gives his disciples specific instructions on where to go, what to get, and what to say if anyone has questions.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Further, the ticker tape parade, like our palm parade, was held to send a message.  City officials would select the people to be honoured (which by definition means others were not selected) as a way to align themselves with some triumph or celebrity.  Likewise, Jesus enters on a humble beast, not some grand mount, sending the message that he would be a different kind of king, not the one they were anticipating.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Finally, the ticker tape parade, like the palm parade, belongs to the crowd as much as the planners or the people being honoured.  Just as ticker tape parades would be meaningless without the celebrating crowd, the palm parade would be just an awkward entry without the palm-waving, the scattered cloaks, and the passionate shouting.  \u201cHosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>So the palm parade was carefully choreographed, message-laden, and dedicated to the people who stood by that day.  It was a turning point, or maybe a point-of-no-return, when Jesus truly \u201cset his face to Jerusalem.\u201d  And it was also a declaration, a declaration that Jesus\u2019 kingship would be unique, unlike any other.  So what would it be like? <\/p>\n\n\n<p>It might be helpful to think about kingship before Jesus\u2019 reinterpretation of kingship, and the momentous change God was planning that day in Jerusalem.  In the distant past, it appeared that God blessed those in power.  They ruled at God\u2019s pleasure, and then they fell when the reverse was true.  And then the first big change, through Moses.  Remember that God, through Moses, defeated a king and freed the people.  But the king (Pharaoh) remained.  He did not fall, although certainly his economy was ruined.  God only acted to free his people, to end their suffering, and bring them home.  Moses mounted his own parade of sorts, through the Red Sea and on into the wilderness.  It wasn\u2019t a coup or a revolution, more of a parade in the form of a successful rescue mission.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Back to Jerusalem.  Jesus confronted royal power that day not with a show of force or a victory parade, but rather with symbols: kingship that should humbly serve the people, kingship that was based on biblical models of faithfulness and not the sword, kingship that was located in heaven rather than on earth.  It was a carefully choreographed, message-laden, and dedicated to the people who would then witness even more symbolic action: tables turned in the temple, a clarifying conversation with the high priest about kingship, and his journey to the cross.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>So let me end with that clarifying conversation, the real conclusion to the palm parade, when Jesus is asked, \u201care you the anointed one, the Son of the Blessed One?\u201d (14.62)  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cI am,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.\u201d  This was never insurrection, rather the last stage of incarnation.  Jesus entered Jerusalem to promptly leave Jerusalem, changing the nature of kingship forever.  Earthly kings cannot save you, and they cannot even save themselves.  Rather, we wait for the Son of the Most High to save us, now and in the days to come. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3882\/15163117059_57d656e7f2_b.jpg\" alt=\"Palm leaves\"\/><figcaption>&#8220;Palm leaves&#8221; by macieklew is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We praise you, O God,<br \/>\nfor your redemption of the world through Jesus Christ.<br \/>\nToday he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph<br \/>\nand was proclaimed Messiah and king by those <br \/>\nwho spread garments and branches along his way.<br \/>\nLet these branches be signs of his victory,<br \/>\nand grant that we who carry them<br \/>\nmay follow him in the way of the cross,<br \/>\nthat, dying and rising with him,<br \/>\nwe may enter into your kingdom;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>As we ponder Jesus&#8217; willingness to carry <br \/>\nthe suffering of the world,<br \/>\nwe pray in the knowledge that there is more to share.<br \/>\nListen, Lord, as we remember your children in need:<br \/>\nFor the sick, bring healing,<br \/>\nor a sense that healing will come\u2026<br \/>\nFor the mournful, bring comfort,<br \/>\nor the comforting knowledge that we care\u2026<br \/>\nFor the lost, bring direction,<br \/>\nor a guide or two to help them find their way\u2026<br \/>\nFor the lonely, bring a sense of your presence,<br \/>\nor a gentle nudge to have us reach out\u2026<br \/>\nFor the hurting, bring hope,<br \/>\nor the hope that hope may come\u2026<br \/>\nFor the angry, bring calm, <br \/>\nor a sense that you hear their anger\u2026.<br \/>\nFor the oppressed, bring justice,<br \/>\nor companions to share their struggle\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We pray all this, trusting in your goodness,<br \/>\nand the new hope that the coming day will bring.<br \/>\nWe pray through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns<br \/>\nwith you and the Holy Spirit,<br \/>\nnow and forever. <br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD\u2019S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nhallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come,<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread;<br \/>\nand forgive us our trespasses<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us;<br \/>\nand lead us not into temptation<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil.<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom,<br \/>\nand the power, and the glory,<br \/>\nfor ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cTell me the stories of Jesus\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/stories.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,<br \/> things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:<br \/> scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,<br \/> stories of Jesus, tell them to me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,<br \/> and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;<br \/> words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,<br \/> all in the lovelight of Jesus&#8217; face.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea<br \/> tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee!<br \/> And how the Master, ready and kind,<br \/> chided the billows and hushed the wind.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Into the city I&#8217;d follow the children&#8217;s band,<br \/> waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;<br \/> one of his heralds, yes, I would sing<br \/> loudest hosannas! Jesus is king!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Show me that scene in the garden of bitter pain;<br \/> and of the cross where my Saviour for me was slain.<br \/> Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be<br \/> stories of Jesus, tell them to me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,<br \/>\nand may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless<br \/>\nuntil our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.<br \/>\n\u20141 Thessalonians 5:23<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/VU-128-Sanna.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna,<br \/>     Sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna,<br \/>     Sanna, sanna, sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna,<br \/>     Sanna, sanna, sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">*means &#8220;Hosanna&#8221; in Swahili<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Shauna, Beth, Amanda, Cor, and Heather! PRELUDE: \u201cFar Away Friend\u201d &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/27\/palm-sunday-2\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Palm Sunday<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}