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CTW: early on the first day of the week

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Call to Worship     (John 20:1 and Psalm 118:19-23)
Leader One: Early on the first day of the week…
Leader Two: Open to us your gates of righteousness,
All: That we may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
Leader One: While it was still dark…
Leader Two: This is the gate of the Lord;
All: The righteous shall enter through it.
Leader One: Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw…
Leader Two: We thank you that you have answered us;
All: We thank you that you have become our salvation.
Leader One: …that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
Leader Two: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
All: This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes!
Submitted by Rev. Martha Spong, First Congregational Church, North Yarmouth Maine.

Prayer At The Table

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God of Love, we give you thanks for your creative work visible in the world and in our lives.
For the ways in which you call us, empower us, and believe in us.
When we are forgetful, you remind us of your promise.
When we turn away, you reach out.
When we shy away, you feed us with life itself.
We offer praise, dear God, and hearts lifted high.
In the communion of your love Christ comes close to us and we come close to Christ.
Therefore with the whole realm of nature around us, with earth, sea and sky we sing to you, our Maker.
With all those we love and have loved and gone before us, still close in the mystery of faith.
With all those we know not, but who also call you lord.
With voices around the world, in times past and times yet to come we join in the endless song of hope, praise and thanksgiving.
Remembering  all things come from you and all is for you, we offer all we have in a song to your unending greatness, bounty and love…

Sanctus
holy holy holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Hear us, O Christ and breathe your Spirit upon us and this bread and wine.
May all become vibrant with your life.
As we share this meal, move among and within us, healing, renewing and making us whole.
We pray in the name of Christ, who broke bread in an upper room and who taught us to pray together, Our Father…

 

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson & Rev. John Dillon, Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake IL.

Invitation to the Table–palm sunday

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Jesus shared his meals with all kinds of people—doubters, believers, and skeptics; rich and poor; leaders and followers; scholars and fishermen and tax collectors, palm wavers and parade watchers.
He calls us all to come, taste, and see that God is good, that there is enough for everyone, that there is another way.
This is the table where all kinds of people, from all kinds of places, in all kinds of times, meet.
This table does not belong to the Presbyterian church, or to this congregation, it belongs to Christ, and he is the one who promises to meet us here.
This is the table where we can begin a journey, where we can make a turn, where we can be strengthened for the road ahead.
So come, not because you understand, but because you want to know God more.
Come, not because you love God a lot, but because you love God a little and want to love more.
Come, not because your faith is unshakeable, but because you could use some strength for the journey.
Come, not because you are already perfect and worthy, but because it is Christ himself who invites you to share in the feast.

(Let us pray…)

 

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake IL.

call 2 confession / declaration of grace: good news / bad news

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Call to Confession

We are capable of making decisions that show regard for everyone…
but we are also capable of making decisions that don’t.
So please join me in the prayer of confession, printed in the bulletin,
followed by a moment of silent reflection and personal confession.

Declaration of Grace

The bad news is…
no matter what you do or don’t do,
these lush, shiny, green palm leaves
are going to eventually wither, dry, and turn brown.

But the good news is…
no matter what you do or don’t do,
The tireless, relentless, limitless love of God
Always remains, unshakably, the same.

So let’s sing and give thanks to God!

Submitted by Scott Cervas, pastor at Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY)

illumination: hush our sure grasp of your truth

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Holy God,
in the midst of the loud “Hosannas!”,
as the waving palm leaves rustle in unison,
quiet our pre-conceived notions…
and hush our sure grasp of your truth…
so that we may, perhaps, discover something
about your vision…your hope…your purpose for our life…
that changes the way we think, act, and do.
Amen.

Submitted by Scott Cervas, pastor at Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY)