SUNDAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER
During the Time of Coronavirus
PREPARE
Set aside 1 hour of uninterrupted time.
Choose a good location in your home, a living room or around the kitchen table.
Light a candle.
If you have very young children who will not be able to engage, consider choosing your time of worship during their nap time or after bedtime.
If you have young children who may be able to engage with part or all of the time, tell them ahead of time and think about some things they might do while you listen to the sermon and discuss it. (Craft projects like coloring a picture, writing a letter to a neighbor, building a bible scene with legos or blocks, etc.)
Resist the impulse to multi-task. When you are praying, listening, and singing - let it be the only thing you are doing.
CONCERNING PALM SUNDAY
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. The carrying and waving with palm branches, which was already observed in Jerusalem in the fourth century, calls to mind the triumphal entry of Jesus, our Lord and King, into Jerusalem as an act of worship, witness, and devotion to our Lord.
The purpose of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem was to fulfill his Father’s will. The emphasis of the liturgy turns to the days that lie ahead in Holy Week. We who hail Jesus as King one moment, may in the next deny him, even joining with the crowd in shouting, “Crucify him!”
LITURGY OF THE PALMS
[Palms or other branches to be held or carried.]
Leader:
Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
People:
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
People:
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
READ: Matthew 21:1-11 aloud
Leader:
We praise you, Almighty God, for the 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 hailed as King by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. May these branches be for us signs of his victory. Grant that we who bear them in his Name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Leader:
Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
People:
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
LISTEN:
SING: Listen and sing along.
[Singing together:]
LIFT UP THE NAME (HOSANNA)
Paul Zach, Melinda Watts, Gabriel Wanous
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Lift up the name, above every name
Lift up the name of Jesus
Lift up the name, the holy name
Lift up the name of Jesus
Higher, higher, higher
Lift the name of Jesus
He was lifted up on the cross
Up from the grave
Up into glory
We lift up his name
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
[Singing together:]
ALL GLORY, LAUD, AND HONOR
J. M. Neale, Bishop Theodulph
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,
the King and Blessed One.
The company of angels
is praising you on high;
and we with all creation
in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.
To you before your passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise.
As you received their praises,
accept the prayers we bring,
for you delight in goodness,
O good and gracious King!
CONFESSION [Silence is kept. All kneeling.]
People:
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done,
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare all those who confess their faults.
Restore all those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
Leader:
Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Singing together:]
SANCTUS
Peter Scholtes
Holy, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna
Hosanna
In the highest
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna
Hosanna
In the highest
Hosanna
Hosanna
In the highest
PRAYERS OF LAMENT & PETITION [all kneel]
For the peace of the whole world, and for the well being and unity of the people of God.
For the faithful ministry of our Parish, our Diocese, our Province, and the global Anglican Communion.
For the good and fruitful proclamation of the Gospel in our city and in the world.
For our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith.
For our city and nation, for those in authority, and for all in public service who serve the common good.
For all who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.
For all who have departed this life in the certain hope of resurrection, in thanksgiving, let us pray.
For all other needs that weigh heavy on our hearts and all blessings for which we are grateful.
Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED [all stand]
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER [all kneel]
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,
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE COLLECT
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECT FOR THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Great Physician, who healed the sick, cured the blind and deaf and raised the dead, and who throughout all history holds dominion over disease and death: Arrest, cure, and eradicate the Coronavirus COVID-19, heal those who have been afflicted, and comfort those who have suffered due to this scourge; that those who suffer may know your healing heart and hand, that those who are anxious or burdened may know your comfort and your peace that passes understanding, that the watching world may know your sovereign authority, [prevailing] power, mercy, and grace, and that all may come to know and worship you; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
When you are finished, extinguish the candle, thank each other for their prayers,
and return to your work with glad and grateful hearts.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAY WITH A MEMBER OF THE CARE TEAM
Members of the Care Team will be available to pray with you Sunday morning, April 5 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Please text Halie Comeau (804-501-6077) or Josh Betts (804-399-1227) before calling so that if they are on the phone with someone else they can call you back. Click below to call Halie or Josh.
MEET YOUR NEW VESTRY MEMBERS
Bethany Lansing and Matt Morgan were elected to the vestry last weekend. Please welcome them and thank David VanEsselstyn and Mae Carlson who are stepping down in April after finishing their terms. We're grateful for the leaders the Lord has given us!
STAFF TRANSITION FOR REDEEMER KIDS MINISTRY
Click here to read a letter from Nancy Reynolds, Redeemer Kids Ministry Director.
HOLY WEEK LITURGIES
Redeemer will be providing liturgies for you to worship from home on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Each liturgy will be posted the day before and we'll send out an email reminder.
SERVE OUR CITY
Click here to find ways to serve our city during this time. There are many needs that can be met from home and will benefit our missional partners and city in big ways! If you would like to fulfill one of these needs, please email Teryn Morgan directly for more details.
