Grace Lutheran Church
Proclaiming the grace of Christ in Word and Sacrament
Palm Sunday of the Passion of our Lord
✠ March 29th, 2026 ✠
3410 Community Church Road
Pfafftown, NC 27040
Palm Sunday of the Passion of our Lord
“Palm Sunday”
March 29th, 2025
The assembly gathers outside of the sanctuary’s front entrance. The service begins with the ringing of bells.
P: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
C: Hosanna to the Son of David.
P: Let us pray: Mercifully assist us, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts whereby you have given us everlasting life, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
A: Hear the great story of our Lord Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem:
“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.’”
~ John 12:12-19
* The Blessing of Palms
You are invited to raise your palms
P: The Lord be with you
C: And also with you.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
P: We praise you and thank you, O God, for the great acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was acclaimed Son of David and King of kings by those who scattered their garments and branches of palms in his path. We ask that you bless these branches and those who bear them, and grant that we may evermore hail him as our Lord and King and follow him with perfect confidence: through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
A: Let us go forth in peace.
C: In the name of the Lord.
* Entrance Hymn: “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” LBW #108
All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer king.
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the king of Israel and David’s royal Son.
Now in the Lord’s name coming, our King and Blessed One.
All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer king.
To whom the lips of children make sweet hosannas ring.
The company of angels are praising you on high;
Creation and all mortals in chorus make reply.
All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer king
To whom the lips of children make sweet hosannas ring.
The multitude of pilgrims with palms before you went
Our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present.
All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer king
To whom the lips of children make sweet hosannas.
To you, before your Passion, they sang their hymns of praise.
To you, now high exalted, our melody we raise.
All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer king
To whom the lips of children make sweet hosannas ring.
Their praises you accepted; accept the prayers we bring
Great author of all goodness, O good and gracious King.
All glory, laud, and honor to you, redeemer king
To whom the lips of children make sweet hosannas ring.
When all have reached their places:
P: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
C: Hosanna in the highest.
* Introit
P: O Lord, be not | far from me,*
O my strength, make | haste to help me.
Save me from the | lion’s mouth,*
And deliver me from the horns | of the unicorns.
My God, my God, why have you for- | saken me?*
Why are you so far from | helping me?
C: Glory to the Father, and to the + Son, and to the | Holy Spirit,*
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be fore- | ver, Amen.
P: O Lord, be not | far from me,*
O my strength, make | haste to help me.
Save me from the | lion’s mouth,*
And deliver me from the horns | of the unicorns. Psalm 22
*Kyrie (chanted)
P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy Mark 10:47
P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
* Collect of the Day
P: The Lord be with you
C: And also with you.
P: We beseech You, Almighty God, to mercifully look upon Your people, that by Your great goodness we may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
The First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. 6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 118:19-29
19 Open for me the | gates of righteousness;*
I will enter them; I will offer thanks | to the Lord.
20 “This is the gate | of the Lord;*
he who is | righteous may enter.”
21 I will give thanks to you, for you | answered me*
and have become | my salvation.
22 The same stone which the build- | ers rejected*
Has become the chief | cornerstone.
23 This is | the Lord’s doing,*
and it is marvelous | in our eyes.
24 On this day the | Lord has acted;*
we will rejoice and be | glad in it.
25 Hosannah, | Lord, hosannah!*
Lord, send us | now success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name | of the Lord;*
We bless you from the house | of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord; he has | shined upon us;*
form a procession with branches up to the horns | of the altar.
28 “You are my God, and | I will thank you;*
you are my God, and I | will exalt you.”
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for | he is good;*
his mercy en- | dures forever.
All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the | Holy Spirit,*
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be fore- | ver, Amen.
P: Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
The Epistle Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
L: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
The Lord’s Passion according to Saint Matthew
*The symbols in the following narrative represent:
N – Narrator
+ – Christ
S – Speakers (other than Christ)
P – The People
N: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew
N: When Jesus had finished saying these things, He said
+: You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.
N: Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said,
P: Not during the festival, or the people may riot
N: Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying,
P: “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
N: Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying,
N: But Jesus, aware of this, said to them,
+: Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
N: Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,
S: What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?
N: And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying,
S: Where will you have us prepare it?
+: Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.’”
N: And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the twelve disciples. And as they were eating, he said,
+: Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.
N: And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another,
P: Is it I, Lord?
N: He answered,
+: He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.
N: Judas, who would betray him, answered,
S: Is it I, Master?
N: He said to him,
+: You have said so.
N: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said,
+: Take, eat; this is my body.
N: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,
+: Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
N: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them,
+: You will all fall away because of me this night; for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.
N: Peter declared to him,
S: Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.
N: Jesus said to him,
+: Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.
N: Peter said to him,
S: Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.
N: And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples,
+: Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.
N: And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them,
+: My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.
N: And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed,
+: My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
N: And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter
+: So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
N: Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed,
+: My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.
N: And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them,
+: Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.
N: While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
S: The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him.
N: And he came up to Jesus at once and said,
S: Hail, Master!
N: And he kissed him. Jesus said to him,
+: Friend, why are you here?
N: Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him,
+: Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?
N: At that hour Jesus said to the crowds,
+: Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
N: Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said,
P: This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’
N: And the high priest stood up and said,
S: Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?
N: But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him,
S: I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.
N: Jesus said to him,
+: You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
N: Then the high priest tore his robes, and said,
S: He has uttered blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?
N: They answered,
P: He deserves death.
N: Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, saying,
P: Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?
N: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said,
S: You also were with Jesus the Galilean.
N: But he denied it before them all, saying,
S: I do not know what you mean.
N: And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders,
S: This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.
N: And again he denied it with an oath,
S: I do not know the man.
N: After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter,
P: Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.
N: Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear,
S: I do not know the man.
N: And immediately the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly. When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor. Now when Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying,
S: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.
N: But they said,
P: What is that to us? See to it yourself.
N: And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said,
P: It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.
N: So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me. Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him,
S: Are you the King of the Jews?
+: You have said so.
N: But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him,
S: Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?
N: But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them,
S: Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?
N: For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. While the governor was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him,
S: Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.
N: Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them,
S: Which of the two do you want me to release for you?
P: Release Barabbas.
N: Pilate said to them,
S: Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?
P: Let him be crucified.
S: And Pilate said,
S: Why, what evil has he done?
N: But they shouted all the more,
P: Let him be crucified!
Silence for meditation
N: So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying,
S: I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.
N: And all the people answered,
P: His blood be on us and on our children!
N: Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and twisting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying,
P: Hail, King of the Jews!
N: And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Gol′gotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, This is Jesus the King of the Jews. Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying,
P: You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
N: So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,
P: He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, I am the Son of God.
N: And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,
+: Eli, Eli, lama sabach-thani?
N: That is,
+: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
N: And some of the bystanders hearing it said,
P: This man is calling Elijah.
N: And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said,
P: Let us wait and see whether Elijah will come to save him.
N: And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said,
S: Truly this was the Son of God!
N: There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe′a, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.
N: This is the Passion of our Lord.
* Confession & Forgiveness
P: In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit
C: Amen. Matthew 28:19
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord:
C: Amen
P: Beloved in the Lord: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P: Most merciful God,
C: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.
P: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake God forgives you all your sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen John 20:22
* Hymn: “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” LBW # 115
* Prayers of the Church
A: Lord, in your mercy
C: Hear our prayer
After the Prayers:
P: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your abundant mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord, C: Amen
*The Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you. John 20:19
Members of the gathered assembly are invited to greet one another, saying: “Peace be with you.”
Offertory
After the gifts have been collected from the assembly, please stand.
Offertory
After the gifts have been collected from the assembly, please stand.
All: Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
And fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather the harvest from the seeds that were sown,
That we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and dreams of all,
Unite them with our prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
And give us a foretaste of the feast to come.
*Holy Communion Liturgy
A: Let us pray: Merciful Father…
C: We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us – ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
* The Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you
C: And also with you
P: Lift up your hearts
C: We lift them to the Lord
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise
P: It is indeed right and salutary…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Lord God of power and might:
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Isaiah 6:3
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:9
P: Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father: Endless is your mercy and eternal your reign. You have filled all creation with light and life; heaven and earth are full of your glory. Through Abraham you promised to bless all nations. You rescued Israel, your chosen people. Through the prophets you renewed your promise; and, at the end of all the ages, you sent your Son, who in words and deeds proclaimed your kingdom and was obedient to your will, even to giving his own life.
*The Words of Institution
P: In the night in which he was betrayed…For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
C: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Matthew 26:26-28
P: Therefore, gracious Father, with this bread and cup, we remember the life our Lord offered for us. And believing the witness of his resurrection, we await his coming in power to share with us the great and promised feast. Revelation 19:9
C: Amen. Come, Lord, Jesus.
P: Send now, we pray, Your Holy Spirit, the spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection, that we who receive the Lord’s body and blood may live to the praise of your glory and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light. Colossians 1:19
C: Amen. Come, Holy Spirit
P: Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place, and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all. Hebrews 4:14
* Doxology
P: Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is Yours, Almighty Father, now and forever,
C: Amen. John 14:6
* The Lord’s Prayer
C: 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, and the power
and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13
Agnus Dei
C: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
Grant us peace, grant us peace. John 1:29
All who are baptized and share in our confession that we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion are invited to the altar with us. After receiving the bread, those who wish to dip the bread into the wine may proceed to the right chalice; those who wish to drink from the common cup may proceed to the left chalice.
Anyone is welcome to come forward with their arms folded to receive a blessing from the minister.
After the celebration of Holy Communion, the minister will ask the assembly to stand
P: May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen
*Post-Communion Canticle
All: Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,
Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
Which you have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people
A light to reveal you to the nations
And the glory of your people, Israel
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, Amen.
A: Let us pray…through Jesus Christ our Lord:
C: Amen
The Benediction
P: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever,
C: Amen
*Exit Hymn: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” LBW #109
*Dismissal
A: Go in peace, serve the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
SERMON NOTES
Welcome to our Visitors!
Grace Lutheran Church welcomes you this morning! We value families with children and encourage you to worship together; if you would like assistance with a small child during the service, an usher will be happy to direct you and your child to an area outside of the sanctuary. Please fill out a Visitor Connect card, these are found either on the entrance table or in the pew rack in front of you. Completed cards should be placed in the offering plate and will be collected with the offering today.
Sunday School
All are welcome to attend Sunday School before worship beginning at 8:45; classes are available for both children and adults.
Holy Communion
Those who are baptized and believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, are welcome to the Lord’s Table. Please let the Pastor know that you wish to receive this gift of life by holding out your open hands. If you desire to drink the wine from the common cup, please proceed to the left chalice after receiving the wafer. If you prefer to dip the wafer into the wine, please proceed to the right chalice after receiving the wafer. You are encouraged to bring young children forward for a blessing. The sign for a blessing is folded hands.
Disciples in Service today, March 29th
Worship Assistant: Deacon James Clapper
Ushers: Rik Maxey, Rob Maxey
Organist: John Trotta Lay Reader: Kathy Kollmeyer Crucifer: Laura Knuppel Acolyte: Debbie Barrett
Servers: Scott Barrett, Linda Swenson
Altar Guild: Linda Nuckols
Disciples in Service next Sunday, April 5th
Worship Assistant: Deacon James Clapper
Ushers: Ashley Hurst, Richard Maxey
Pianist: John Trotta Lay Reader: Doro Clapper
Acolyte: James Clapper Crucifer: Rob Maxey
Servers: Nicole Hurst, Marsha Maxey Altar Guild: Marsha Maxey