*GREETING
*OPENING SENTENCES Kay Rencken, liturgist
Humble and riding on a donkey,
We greet you.
Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children,
We cheer you.
Moving from the peace of the countryside to the corridors of power,
We salute you.
You are giving the beasts of burden a new dignity;
you are giving majesty a new face;
you are giving those who long for redemption a new song to sing.
With them, with heart and voice, we shout, “Hosanna!”
Iona Community, adapted
*SCRIPTURE LESSON
Approaching Bethphage and Bethany, near what is called the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples with these instructions:
Go into the village ahead of you. Upon entering it, you’ll find a tethered colt no one has yet ridden. Untie it and lead it back. If anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Rabbi needs it.’
They departed on their errand and found things just as Jesus had said. As they untied the colt, its owners said to them,
Why are you doing that?
They explained that the Rabbi needed it. Then the disciples led the animal to Jesus and, laying their cloaks on it, helped him mount.
People spread their cloaks on the roadway as Jesus rode along. As they reached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the entire crowd of disciples joined them and began to rejoice and praise God loudly for the display of power they had seen, saying,
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of Our God!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus,
Teacher, rebuke your disciples!
Jesus replied,
I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the very stones would cry out!
* BLESSING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PALMS
* PROCESSION TO THE ALTAR
UNISON PRAYER Bruce Sanguin, b. 1955
O Holy One,
we come prepared to cheer on
our holy leader and hallowed child of Wisdom,
Jesus, the anointed one.
Our need is as great today
as it was for those ancient pilgrims
to honour and salute the presence
of truth and beauty and goodness.
For we have wandered far from Wisdom,
and we find ourselves cheering
for all the wrong things and all the wrong people.
Now we join in with this holy procession of hope,
that we might look into the heart of Christ
and see our own sacred heart reflected back,
empowering us to stay with Him,
and stay with our own deep integrity,
when the forces of chaos conspire to shake our conviction
and make peace with an unholy convention.
Amen.
*HYMN All Glory, Laud and Honor 216
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us in the reading of Holy Scripture. Our hearts and minds are open.
Philippians 2:5-11
For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for the word of God within us. Thanks be to God.
SERMON Laying Down Our Cloaks Rev. Kim P. Wells
RESPONSIVE PRAYER Gerardo Oberman, Argentina, adapted
Jesus, we greet your presence in our midst,
as on that day when you entered,
riding a borrowed donkey,
into that city in which you were acclaimed and hated,
received and rejected, praised and insulted.
We raise our hands to heaven,
as a sign of gratitude, in the same way that, on that other day,
many placed their own clothes on the road
and waved palms as you passed
to welcome you,
to express their joy,
to show their hope . . .
Each extended arm
was a symbol of freedom,
a desire for peace,
the dream of a better tomorrow,
a desire for peace.
And each shout raised up to the heavens
contained the longings of generations
of men and women
injured by injustice
and wounded by scorn.
Today we,
each from our own situations
of pain or disillusion,
or sadness or frustration,
greet you with faith,
we receive you with love,
we give to you all that we are
and promise to accompany you
on the road that you choose for us.
Welcome Lord Jesus, to your home. . .
Thank you for coming to us.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal is to:
- Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives & in our world.
- Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people.
- Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.
MORNING OFFERING
Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates on the altar. You are invited to write your prayer requests on the sheets provided in the bulletin and bring them forward and place them in the basket on the altar. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.
Offertory
*Time of Dedication Leonardo Boff, b. 1938, Brazil
All those who die like Jesus,
sacrificing their lives out of love
for the sake of a more dignified human life,
will inherit life in all its fullness.
They are like grains of wheat,
dying to produce life,
being buried in the ground
only to break through and grow.
Amen.
*PREPARATION FOR PRAYER
Lord, I Want to Be a Christian 454
MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Eternal Spirit, Earth Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that ever shall be,
Father and Mother of all people, Loving God in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by all peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth!
With the bread that we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
* BENEDICTION A New Zealand Prayer Book
Jesus, when you rode into Jerusalem
the people waved palms
with shouts of acclamation.
Grant that when the shouting dies
we may still walk beside you even to a cross. . .
*POSTLUDE
Circle of Concern: Joyce Lee, Michelle Cloutier, Christopher and Dana, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail, All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.
Annoncements
Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.
Support for Ukraine To find more ways to support Ukraine please visit our website and look at the Weekly update for 3/18/22.
Postcard from Yoko Nogami Former LUCC member Yoko Nogami is walking the Appalachian Trail fromGeorgia to Maine. There is a postcard from her on the bulletin board in thehallway.
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Lakewood will be collecting this special offering today. There are envelopes that can be used or indicate on your check or online donation OGHS. This is an important way to love our neighbors and our enemies next door and around the world.
Operation Attack OA needs donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.
Holy Week Ahead-
April 10 Palm Sunday
The service begins outside. Bring a palm branch if you can.
April 14 Maundy Thursday
The Service of Tennebrae will be held at 7:00 p.m. remembering the Last Supper.
April 15 Good Friday
The observance will begin at noon with a reading out loud of the gospel of Mark. Those present will be invited to participate in the reading. This will be followed by a time of meditation around the cross and communion.
April 17 Easter Sunday
There will be 2 services at 9 and 11 with refreshments and fellowship in between the services outside on the church lawn.
Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. All are invited to donate the following items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, bar soap, wash cloths, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, travel size creams, shampoo, body wash, individual packets of Kleenex, hand wipes, toilet tissue, and paper towels.
Sunflowers Thank you to Dyanne Edds for providing the sunflowers this morning. If you would like to bring sunflowers for the altar, please make arrangements with Kim Wells or the Church Office.
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor– Kim Wells
Music Director– Hilton Jones
Nursery Attendant– Claudia Rodriguez
Church Administrator – Gabi Paxton
MINISTERS: The Congregation
Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.com Lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
Lakewood United Church of Christ 