The Liturgy of the Palms
Leader: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
All: Hosanna in the highest.
Leader: Dear friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery. On this day our Lord Jesus Christ entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph. The people welcomed him with palms and shouts of praise, but the path before him led to self-giving, suffering, and death. Today we greet him as our King, although we know his crown is thorns and his throne a cross. We follow him this week from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection by way of the dark road of suffering and death. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life.
Let us pray. Assist us mercifully with your help, Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy into the celebration of those mighty acts whereby you give us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gospel
Leader: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise
Leader: It is right to praise you, almighty God, for the acts of love by which you redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Hebrews acclaimed Jesus as Messiah and King, with palm branches in their hands, crying, Hosanna in the highest. May we also, carrying these emblems, go forth to meet Christ and to follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Leader: Let us go forth in peace
All: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Processional Hymn: Blue #181 All Glory, Laud and Honour
Collect of the Day
Almighty and everliving God, in tender love for all our human race you sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take our flesh and suffer death upon a cruel cross. May we follow the example of his great humility, and share in the glory of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Hymn: Blue #185 Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle
The Liturgy of the Passion
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16 Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; * my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbours, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; * when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; * they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. * I have said, “You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, * and in your loving-kindness save me.”
Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Gradual Hymn: Blue #177 A Spendthrift Lover is the Lord
Sermon
The Prayers of the People
For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For grace to seek out those habits of sin which mean spiritual death, and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For Christian people, that through the suffering of disunity there may grow a rich union in Christ, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them, that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly for justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those in the darkness and agony of isolation, that they may find support and encouragement, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure, or sorrow, feel that God is far from them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That we, with those who have died in faith, may find mercy in the day of Christ, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood, for he is our peace (Eph. 2:13, 14).
The peace of the Lord be always with you
All: And also with you.
Offertory Hymn: Blue #187 As Royal Banners Are Unfurled
The Holy Eucharist
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:54-58)
All: 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.
Silence
All: Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
God our help and strength,
you have satisfied our hunger with this eucharistic food.
Strengthen our faith,
that through the death and resurrection of your Son,
we may be led to salvation,
for he is Lord now and for ever
Recessional Hymn: Blue #182 Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We pray for: Wilma Pidhayny and Irma Pidhayny
Announcements
Easter Lilies
This is the last Sunday to help decorate our church with Easter lilies in memory of a loved one.or in thanksgiving. Please put your donation in the envelope inserted in your bulletin or donate through e-transfer. Print your name and remembrances clearly on the envelope and leave it in the offering plate at the front of the church. All donations are gratefully received.
Sunday April 7 Farewell Luncheon
Join us to bid ‘Godspeed’ to Mark and Virginia, and to celebrate all that they and their family have given to St Matthew’s over the years, from wise and moving preaching to the neighborhood Knit Night. Sunday April 7, 12:00 noon.
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
Maundy Thursday: 6 p.m. Potluck Supper followed by Holy Eucharist with Foot-washing at 7:30.
Good Friday: 10:30 a.m. Liturgy of the Passion with Veneration of the Cross
Holy Saturday: 9:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter: Lighting of the New Fire; Candlelight Vigil; First Eucharist of Easter…and Resurrection Party!
Easter Sunday: 10:30 a.m. Eucharist of the Resurrection with Procession…and Easter Egg Hunt!
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale,
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Catherine Sider-Hamilton – Priest-in-charge: 416-463-9720
Please direct all enquiries to William Middleton, People’s Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
