Sunday, March 24, 2024 Palm/ Passion Sunday

 This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, leading us through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, to Easter Sunday. This week we celebrate both the highs and lows of our faith. There will be a special blog for Good Friday as well as one for Easter Sunday. 

Did you know that in Australia Palm Sunday is a day to pray and to March for peace? Let us all pray for peace this Sunday and throughout Holy Week. 

Hymn      All Glory, Laud and Honour #122VU

Scripture Lessons:      Philippians 2:5-11

                                    Psalm 118:19-29 p.837VU pts 2 & 3

                                    Mark 11:1-11

Hymn       Hosanna, Loud Hosanna #123VU

Message

Prayer:  Loving God, on this Sunday of Palms and of Passion when you invite your church more deeply to follow you, hear us as we pray. 

      Remembering the crowds who followed Jesus, we pray for all who are lost in this world, who cannot find their way, whether they are trapped in poverty, or lack of education and opportunity, whether they are depressed or lonely, whether they know you or not. Hear us as we pray. 

      Remembering the disciples who walked with Jesus, we pray for all who are seeking to walk in his way, all those who serve others either in their profession or as volunteers or in the home. Hear us as we pray.

      Remembering the religious leaders who feared Jesus, we pray for all in leadership over others, that they might know true humility, that they might turn to you for guidance, that they might consider their highest legacy to be not personal gain, but social advancement so that all might live better lives. Hear us as we pray. 

       Remembering Jesus, who faced adoration and then abandonment, we pray for ourselves, that we might be strong in our faith, joyous in serving the Good, and resolute in opposing evil. Hear us as we pray. 

       Remembering all who have been called Christian through generations upon generations, we join our voices to the great communion of saints as we pray the words that Jesus gave so each one of us to treasure …. Amen. (a prayer written by Kate Crawford and shared and printed in Gathering LEP2012)

Hymn        Ride On, Ride On in Majesty #127VU

This week there is a change to our worship schedule. This Sunday (March 24th) There will be Palm Sunday services with Communion in Franklin (9:30) and in Ormstown (11:00). There will be no service in Howick this week. Instead, there will be an Easter Sunday service with Communion in Howick, offered as a combined service for our three congregations. We will begin gathering at 10:30 with coffee and goodies. We are also planning on offering some activities for children. 

We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Ken Brooks, who died in the past week. 

Please note that the Pancake Lunch that had been suggested by the Howick Session for April 7th will have to be postponed, due to the work that is being planned for the church basement. We hope to be able to do it later in the spring. 

St Paul’s Stewards have moved their monthly meeting ahead to Wednesday, April 3rd at 7:30 in the hall. This is to finalize recommendations for the Faithful Footprints project. 

St Paul’s Session will meet Wednesday, April 10th at 1:00 in the hall. 

St Paul’s United Church will hold a congregational meeting to finalize plans for the Faithful Footprints project following the Sunday service at 11:00 on Sunday, April 14th. 

Did you see the Promise Tree we have been decorating in Lent? Here is Howick’s:

And here is St Paul’s: