St Swithun’s Church Family

Palm Sunday

Sunday 5th April 2020

Sharing together in spirit

Faith, hope and love

Please use this booklet to worship with us – ideally at 10am on Sunday so that we know we are joining our prayers together but any time is good. Use a candle and a cross if you can find them to give your worship a focus. This week some of you will have a palm cross – others of you will be creative. The children might like to use the Sunday school resources provided by Izzy. This is a Service of The Word – The Eucharist will be celebrated at the vicarage on Sunday and we will do this on behalf of everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are one person or a family together – use the booklet and go through the words – stop and reflect as you need to. We are going to record this service again and add it to the website www.saintswithuns.org.uk There are various prayer resources and other things to look at on the website – if you have any feedback or anything to share please let me know. Giving - if you usually give your collection on a Sunday morning in cash please consider putting this aside each week to bring to church when you are next able to. Even better would be to set up your giving online (‘Saint Swithun’s PCC’ ; 60-05-11 ; 16126718 ; NatWest Bank) if you haven’t already done this. You might like to enhance your worship by singing or listening to a hymn or a song at various points – I have a few suggestions below – you tube is a great resource…

Ride on, ride on in majesty https://youtu.be/g-qDQSjnzH8

All Glory Laud and honour https://youtu.be/_plc0cpQA2k

When I survey the wondrous cross

https://youtu.be/mDkuxEIcpdI

If you need some light hearted processional music…

Matt Lucas – thank you baked potato

https://twitter.com/RealMattLucas/status/1242543250533203968

Rainbow theme tune https://youtu.be/aemoQm4Gxus

Introduction

Today is Palm Sunday. This is the day we remember Jesus

riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as the crowds waved palm

branches and shouted Hosanna. These crowds greeted Jesus

as a celebrity before all too soon condemning him to die. The

crowds one moment say Hosanna and the next ‘Crucify him!’.

Traditionally on Palm Sunday we bless Palm crosses, hear the

Palm Gospel and process outside as a witness to the local

community that we follow Jesus. In our worship today we will

focus on joining the crowds with our palm crosses and following

Jesus as we begin our journey to the cross.

Traditionally on Palm Sunday we also hear the Passion Gospel -

this year it is Matthew 26:14-end of 27 if you would like to look

this up and read it in your worship time.

So let us now begin our worship – and as we ready ourselves –

try to imagine what it would have been like to join the crowds to

welcome Jesus on that first Palm Sunday…

The Gathering

The Greeting In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you

Prayers of preparation

Today on Palm Sunday We recognise that we are in God’s presence

Today on Palm Sunday as we gather together with the crowds who greeted Jesus May we be faithful to Jesus as we journey to the cross.

Today on Palm Sunday in these extreme days of physical isolation and fear we remember that we gather together to worship as a church family May we remember that we do not walk alone We walk together.

Saying sorry - prayers of penitence Let us say sorry to God

Talk to God about the things you are sorry about so that you can restore your relationship with God, with others and yourself… Do you need to take action?

Going to Jerusalem cost Jesus his life We are sorry for the shallowness of our faith Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy

Jesus journeyed to the cross with courage and faithfulness We are sorry for going our own way and claiming it as yours Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Jesus was greeted by crowds who later demanded his death We are sorry for following the crowd instead of righteousness Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

We are forgiven God forgives me/you. Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Be at peace. Amen.

The Collect Let us pray for a closer union with Christ in his suffering and in his glory. Silence is kept.

True and humble king, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Bible Reading Genesis 9:12-16

A reading from the book of Genesis

God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between

me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all

future generations: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it

shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When

I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow is seen in the

clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you

and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never

again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the rainbow is in

the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant

between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the

earth.”

For the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

The Palm Gospel Reading Matthew 21:1-11

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Glory to you, O Lord. When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

How does it feel to be socially distant? I expect many of you

have found being stuck inside the house on your own to be

frustrating, or maybe waiting behind yellow lines in shops has felt

very odd. Like me I am sure you have missed lots of fun parties,

gatherings, trips out and events – not to mention church and

family meet ups and just simply normal life.

In contrast Palm Sunday is about being part of a crowd: as we

remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey we become

part of a crowd clamouring to see him.

Jesus’ entry into the city begins on a huge wave of optimism, joy

and hope. The people line the streets; they wave palms, they put

their cloaks and garments on the ground and they shout out his

name. This was an ancient Roman tradition used to welcome

soldiers and armies home after their success in battle. They are

welcoming Jesus as someone to lead and save them. We know

that the crowd who welcomed Jesus later turned against him as

we continue through Holy Week but for now they are cheering.

If you could have power to govern the world – what rules would

you want to put in place? What would you try to do? How would

you exercise your power?

What kind of leader did the crowd want Jesus to be? What kind of

leader is Jesus?

There are different kinds of leaders – those who claim power and

privilege for themselves and those who use power on behalf of

others. On Palm Sunday we remember that our leader is Jesus,

our saviour and servant, who leads us to the cross.

Traditionally in our Palm Sunday services we become part of the

crowd as we hold and bless and process palm crosses.

It is very odd for us today on Palm Sunday worshipping from our

homes in isolation and distance as it will be hard for us to feel

part of the crowd.

We may be physically separated at the moment but there have

been a few ways we have been socially connected - we have

been clapping together for the NHS gathering as a socially distant

but united crowd to let those in our society who are working so

hard to save and care for us know our appreciation for them. If

you have taken part what was it like? Another symbol of

togetherness has been putting up rainbows in windows to spread

joy in this time of isolation – mostly children but many adults have

joined in. Because Alex has made so many beautiful rainbows

he has kindly shared some of his creations with some of you.

Many others have shared your rainbows – thank you Claire,

Dorothy, Alex, Karen and Lucia, Zara and Nicole and family.

Rainbows are important symbols

in our faith – in our first reading

we see that God sets a rainbow in

the sky as a sign of the covenant

between God and the earth. A

covenant is a promise from God.

The rainbow is the symbol that no

adversity we face is meant to

annihilate and destroy us and that

God will never seek this. The

rainbow is a reminder of God’s

justice and also God’s mercy.

The rainbow is a symbol of hope.

The rainbow is a spectrum of

beautiful colours and is used by

many to celebrate diversity – it

symbolises love and acceptance

especially for those who are

LGBT+.

The rainbow can only become a rainbow if there is rain and

sunshine. Without the lockdown and isolation we wouldn’t need

to find ways to unite ourselves through symbols. Without the

crucifixion we wouldn’t have new life at Easter. Without death

there is no life. Rainbows contain something difficult as well as

something lovely and beautiful and hopeful.

This is Palm Sunday – we have a beautiful celebration and a

procession to remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem

knowing that there is rain behind the clouds as well as sunshine

ahead. On Palm Sunday we begin our journey with Jesus to the

cross and remember the Passion story again. We do this

knowing that the sunshine might be behind the cloud – but we

know that it is there – Easter resurrection is dawning.

Today in our home worship instead of

processing around the streets and the

church with palm branches we will be inviting

you to make a rainbow cross to carry out to

the community. You could use a rainbow

and add a cross with it or colour a rainbow

onto your palm cross or a cross shape – be

as creative as you like.

Carry your crosses, your

rainbows and your rainbow crosses with you

around your house, process with them as you

would like – if you want to sing in your home

procession you can be traditional and sing

something like ‘All glory laud and honour’. You

might prefer to process with them to music that

fits our time for example you could join in with Matt Lucas’ thank

you baked potato song knowing that God is with us even in these

strange times. When you are ready place your rainbow crosses

in a window and place them so that everyone can see them.

The important thing is to remember that you are showing the

community that you stand with them – a crowd united in bringing

hope and joy. You are also showing the community that you are

walking with Jesus in these isolating and troubled times.

As we begin Holy Week may we remember that we walk with

Jesus, and Jesus walks with us, in whatever suffering we face.

Amen

The Procession Let us go forth, praising Jesus our Messiah. Process as feels right for you and place your rainbow / cross in a window.

Profession of Faith We remember that we are joined together as a family however

physically distant we have to be at the moment… We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God;

Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers Let us Pray… For the church, for all those worshipping on Palm Sunday in exile from their worshipping communities – especially for our St Swithun’s Family. May we carry the love of God into our homes, our communities and our world to bring light in the darkness. let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For our world, all those who are battling coronavirus, especially those who are experiencing major loss of life and those who are struggling without adequate food, shelter and sanitation. bring relief and hope. let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the NHS and all who are working to save lives and care for others at this time – especially those in our neighbourhood who need our care and support – may we show appreciation and kindness to encourage and help them in this challenging time. let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For those who are struggling to breathe, for those who are ill and scared, for those who are fighting for their lives. For those in the darkness and agony of isolation, that they may find healing and wholeness we remember especially Sydney, Edith, Vanda, Lorna, Sean, Ena, Stephen, Evelyn, Diane and Karen, Maureen, Paulette, Adrian, Lemar and families. 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, We especially remember Blanche, Avril and Daisy Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord And let light perpetual shine upon them Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

The Prayer Jesus taught us As our Saviour taught us, so we pray 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.

The Peace God is love and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

Spend some time wishing peace to our family our neighbours and

our church family – is there someone who you could make

contact with to share God’s peace?

Dismissal and Blessing

The Blessing

May Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him; and may the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us wherever we are and remain with us always. Amen.

The Dismissal We tell your story We follow in your footsteps Lead us into Holy Week

We walk towards the city We wait in the garden Lead us onto Holy ground

We journey towards death We hope for resurrection Lead us into Holy joy

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Notices:

• Holy Week worship is in the accompanying booklet –

please join us as we journey to the cross this week.

• If you know of anyone in any need – please let Mother

Juliet know as we are working with others who can help.

• Stay safe – and keep others safe.

Birthdays:

• Alfrina (3rd)

• Christine (4th)

• And all others we didn’t know about

Contacts: Priest in Charge: Rev Juliet Evans 191 Hither Green Lane, Hither Green, London SE13 6QE julietaevans@icloud.com; 07955229351

Churchwarden: Diane Keen saintswithunschurch@gmail.com ; 07805619142

Safeguarding Officers: Olivia Daley 07956618629 Patricia Francis 020 8690 6026

Hall bookings: Sean Hopkins saintswithunshall@gmail.com ; 07895637471

www.saintswithuns.org.uk

Booklet produced by St Swithun’s Church, Hither Green Some material included in this

service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000 Hymns reproduced under Christian Copyright Licensing International CCL Licence Number 175020