Palm processional choruses:
(Palm Sunday procession in Bafut, Northwest Province, Cameroon)
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Chorus text:
With palms in their hand they …
Hosanna, praise to the King coming for us,
in the name of the Lord; in the name of the Lord.
(If anyone knows or can understand the rest of the lyrics, please share them!)
(A second chorus begins about 4:54; anyone who knows this please share too.)

Confession / Meditation for Holy Week:
Philippians 2:5-11 (Good News Translation)

The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
⁶ He always had the nature of God,
but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God.
⁷ Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,
and took the nature of a servant.
He became like a human being
and appeared in human likeness.
⁸ He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—
his death on the cross.
⁹ For this reason God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.
¹⁰ And so, in honour of the name of Jesus
all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below
will fall on their knees,
¹¹ and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Bible reading:
Matthew 21:1-11 (The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A1-11&version=GNT
The Bible Gateway website includes further translations in English and many other languages.

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Hymn:
All glory, laud, and honour (Church Hymnary, No. 364)
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Sing-along version: 

Reflection:

 (Ensor: Christ’s Entry into Brussels 1889)

 

Prayer for the World:

 

Lord Jesus Christ,
when asked how we should pray, you answered,
‘Don’t use many words, like the hypocrites do;
for your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.
Instead, this is how you should pray.’

Come to us, Lord Jesus,
be with us as we obey your prayer commandment
and say together the words that you 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.

Sung response: (Church Hymnary, No. 773)
Original Shona: Jesu, tawa pano; Jesu, tawa pano; Jesu, tawa pano; tawa pano, mu zita renyu.
English: Jesus, we are here; Jesus, we are here; Jesus, we are here; we are here for you.

Offering:
Our weekly offerings during worship are our congregation’s main source of income. The corona crisis has put a stop to this, so please consider making any donations by bank transfer in order that the ECC may continue to cover ongoing costs. Bank account details are shown below. Thank you.

Hymn:
Ride on, ride on in Majesty! (Church Hymnary, No. 365)
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Sing-along version

Blessing:

As you entered into Jerusalem to cries of Hosanna, Lord Jesus,
no-one could tell what even the few days ahead might hold in store for you.
As we prepare to enter into a new week – into Holy Week,
we too are uncertain of what these next days might hold in store for us.
Journey with us into our unknown future, Lord Jesus;
travel with us through our mixed anxieties and upheavals, fears and joys.
And may we always travel with you, confident in the bright light
of life fulfilled and life renewed that you hold in store for us.
To you be glory, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Notices:

Holy Week Worship Toolkits will be posted on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

The Good Friday digital service has been prepared by Revd Irene Bom of Rotterdam. In preparation, you are invited to put together a Good Friday Worship Kit consisting of:
 a shallow dish with some olive oil
 3 or more tealights and matches/lighter
 a basin of water, soap and a towel
 a cardboard placard with the word “Hosanna!” on one side, and a marker pen
 a hammer
 a piece of cloth to tear, with a small cut in it to help with the tearing

In preparation for Easter Sunday, please use your smartphone or some other device to record a 3-second video of yourself saying “Peace be with you!” Send the video clip to me at j.brown56(at)gmx.de, and we hope to put all incoming clips together to compile a longer video as a virtual sharing of the peace that will then go online for our Easter Sunday worship.

Revd Irene Bom hosts a website called Prayer Matters, where she regularly posts thematic prayers, photos, reflections, songs and meditations: https://www.irenebom.com/prayer_matters/