March 24 Service
Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio
Rick Birk, Pastor
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER: Amazing God, We pray that through the Holy Spirit Your preferred future for Groveport United Methodist Church will be made clear to us. Give us the courage we need to follow You wherever You may take us. We ask that You bind us together in love so that we can bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to our friends, families, and community. Open our eyes so that we may see the amazing things You are already doing among us. AMEN.
PRELUDE “My Savior’s Love”
LIGHTING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES
*OPENING HYMN “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” #278
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Give thanks to the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
For God is good. Hosanna in the highest!
Christ’s steadfast love remains forever. Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 11:1-11
HYMN “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” #277
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
We love parades! We love the excitement, the colors, the noise! Today we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. His followers have stripped branches from the trees and wave them in the air. They have thrown their cloaks in the path of the donkey that his steps might be cushioned.
And the scene is wonderful! But there is a reality here. The reality is that although we wave our branches and shout "Hosanna!", we have not always behaved as disciples. Too often we have wandered from the path of Christ and stumbled along on our own, believing our way to be superior. We have
turned from those who have needed help, because it wasn’t convenient for us to be of help of service. We have done and said things that are not worthy of disciples. Yet, here we stand, in the parade route, waving our branches.
Forgive us, Lord. Help us to turn our lives around and truly serve you. Help us to really mean "Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord!" And as we are led to the table of forgiveness and to the cross, help us to realize the power of your love through the gift of Jesus Christ.
Make that love a transforming agent in our lives so that, finally, our celebration may truly reflect our faith and joy in Jesus Christ. AMEN.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 53:4-8
OUR TIME OF PRAYER (During our time of prayer, the altar rail is open for all who wish to come forward.)
HYMN “Sanctuary”
THE LORD’S PRAYER
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS Chancel Choir – “Once Upon A Tree”
*DOXOLOGY
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 15:24-39
SERMON “Surely This Man Was the Son of God!”
*CLOSING HYMN “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” #280
*BENEDICTION
*SENDING FORTH “Go Now in Peace”
POSTLUDE “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
