Palm Sunday – Ecumenical Walk

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Jesus,
Prince of Peace,
humble and riding on a donkey.

Jesus disturber of peace,
you upset bad religion
when it gets in the way of God.

Kyrie eleison

Jesus,
upsetter of the self-righteous,
you turn questions on their head,
offering no instant answers,
but showing the way.

Jesus,
lover of the lost,
you say ‘forgive’
when we want to shout ‘condemn!’

Kyrie eleison

Jesus,
host at the table,
you share you best
even in the face of our worst.

Jesus,
saviour of the world
… yes, even the world
which wants you
until it meets you.

Kyrie eleison

Hosanna! Blessed is the one
who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hear his word of grace to us all.
Your sin is forgiven. Thanks be to God

from Wild Goose Worship Group, Stages on the Way p.83
offered for worship by Ian Ferguson, 25/3/2018, Palm Sunday

Prayers of the People

God of all Kindness, we bring to you our prayers for the world, for your church, and for all in need.

Holy Creator,

When we look towards the leaders of our time
and our faces curl into a scowl of anger
at their selfish agendas,
their adoration of money and power,
their heartless treatment of
the vulnerable people of the world,
help us to know that this is nothing new.
Fill us with the clarity of understanding
that helps us to take action, like Jesus,
like his disciples, like the people of Jerusalem

Christ, our tree of strength
We look to you in wonder,
as you knowingly walk into betrayal and death,
so calm and full of love.
When we stand deep in difficulty,
and our mouths fill with words of anger,
when we feel powerless before
the greedy leaders of today,
help us to feel your presence in our mind.
Help us to open our hearts to your lessons
of courage and humility
and to fight the fight of peace and love,
just as you did.

Everlasting and divine spirit,
there are moments when we look around,
torn about where to begin,
there is so much that needs fixing,
so much darkness hiding in corners of the world.
Holy God, remind us that love is the strongest weapon

Loving Lord,
We stand along the roadside, like the people of Jerusalem,
palm branches in our hands, their greenness symbol of growth.
Are our hearts full of excitement and curiosity, at the arrival of the Messiah?
Do we feel the bubbling of holy melodies in our hearts?
Light of the world, we ask that you help us to be the symbols of hope,
and support our leaders of peace as they walk the path of faith,
as beacons of love and strength.
Let our strength elevate their spirits as they face challenges
we are not able to face,
and let our love be palm leaves fanning the flames of justice.

We pray together in the words that Christ taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

Kylie Doust, 25/3/2018, Palm Sunday
Offered for worship by Kylie with Michaela Dedek
(Brunswick Baptist congregation)