Lent is coming to an end, and Holy Week and Easter are approaching. It will feel strange not to be able to gather in St Mary’s to journey together through Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, but we are together in Christ even when we cannot physically worship in the same place.
With that in mind, our clergy have been working hard behind-the-scenes to create some resources to help you pray through Holy Week and Easter at home. If you are on the parish electoral roll, you will receive printed copies through the post. Otherwise, we will be uploading resources to this website for you to follow online or download and print out at home.
We pray it is a blessing and a comfort to know that fellow Christians all across the Parish of Prescot will be joining you in the same act of worship this Sunday.
Palm Sunday Worship at Home
- Follow the form of prayer below, or click here to download (PDF) the Prayer Booklet for Palm Sunday (5 April 2020).
Prayer of Preparation
God of all time,
as we prepare to worship you today and this week,
help us to call to mind these events in Jesus’ life
so that we can see their significance for our present lives
and for the future you are preparing for all creation.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus is coming
Shout Hosanna!
He’s riding on a donkey
Shout Hosanna!
Open the gates
Shout Hosanna!
Open the ancient doors
Shout Hosanna!
Don’t be afraid
Shout Hosanna!
Wave the branches
Shout Hosanna!
Spread out your coats
Shout Hosanna!
Peace in heaven
Shout Hosanna!
Glory in highest heaven
Shout Hosanna!
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards the human race
sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem: Luke 19:28-40
28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Palm Sunday in Jerusalem
The shouting gets louder,
the noise swells to a roar.
‘Hosanna!’ is the cry of the crowd.
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’
You are there that day;
one of that great throng of people
tightly packed together in the streets,
waiting for Jesus to come.
Can you hear their cheering?
Look at all the colour.
Inside you feel excited and expectant
just like the rest of them.
O my God! Here he comes now:
Jesus the Messiah;
Jesus, his people’s Redeemer;
Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
You join in the cheering as well.
Caught up in the excitement of the moment,
you also shout ‘Hosanna!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’
As Jesus passes,
riding on the back of a donkey,
he is smiling.
For one brief moment,
among all the people in that crowd,
he catches your eye.
No words are exchanged,
but his look says everything
because, clearly,
he understands how you feel.
And under your breath
there are a few words you keep on repeating.
Over and over again,
you whisper them silently.
Over and over again,
some words that you want him to know.
Say them to him now,
as your eyes meet his.
Say them to him now,
as his eyes meet yours.
Time of quiet
Jesus has not heard your words.
How could he?
The noise is too great;
the people are too many;
the moment of meeting too short.
But he has understood you all right,
for the smile on his face breaks even wider
and the depth of his love for you
shines from his eyes.
And then he looks away.
The donkey carries him on.
Others like you will shout their praises.
‘Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
A Palm Sunday Litany
We are one with Christ in his suffering.
For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For grace to seek out those habits of sin which mean
Spiritual death and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For Christian people, that through the suffering of disunity
there may grow a rich union in Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them,
that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who still make Jerusalem a battle ground,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly for justice and peace,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those in the darkness and agony of isolation, that they may find support and encouragement,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure or sorrow,
feel that God is far from them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
That we, with those who have died in faith, may find mercy in the day of Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Holy God,
Holy and strong,
Holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
Reflection
Luke 19:35-36
Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.
- What do you wish to lay before Jesus at this time?
- What are the ‘cloaks’ that we can offer to Jesus today?
- How might we have felt had we been part of the crowd welcoming Jesus?
Time of Prayer
You may wish to write on this cloak the names of those who you wish to bring before Jesus at this time. If you have access to music, enter into a time of reflective prayer and play the hymn ‘Ride On, Ride On in Majesty’. If you are on Facebook, this is also available on the YouTube playlist for Holy Week.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Blessing
Christ crucified draw us to himself,
to find in him a sure ground for faith,
a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven;
and the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
