Prelude
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
The Gospel of the Palms: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry
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.
All: Amen
Hymn: #181 All Glory, Laud and Honour
Leader: Almighty God, whose Son was crucified yet entered into glory, may we, walking in the way of the cross, find it is for us the way of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Collect of the Day
Leader: 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.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
The Gospel of the Passion: Dramatic Reading of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Hymn: Sing My Tongue The Glorious Battle (Violin)
Sermon
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
Let us bring to the Father our prayers of intercession through Christ who gave himself for the life of the world.
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, for every country in which there is strife, and especially for Myanmar, 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.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone, and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us commend the world and all its families, for whom Christ came, to whom Christ showed the way, to the mercy and protection of God. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
Hymn: Blue #187 As Royal Banners Are Unfurled
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst…54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. (John 6)
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.
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
Leader: 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.
Hymn: Blue #182 Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
Leader: Go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
We pray for: Lilla Wright, Leah and Alison; Linda Yake; Dianne Young
Announcements
Zoom Coffee Hour
Today at noon. Check the parish email for the link and password.
Holy Week Services
Maundy Thursday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Sign up here
Good Friday, April 2, 10:30 a.m. Sign up here
Easter Vigil, April 3, 9:00 p.m. Lighting of the New Fire and Candlelight Vigil. Sign up here
Easter Sunday, April 4, 10:30 a.m. Sign up here
Easter Lilies
St. Matthew’s has a Lily and Charity Fund and each Easter, the church is decorated with Easter Lilies given in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving. We would like to donate some of the funds to Mustard Seed and Sanctuary to help people in need. If you would like to contribute to the Lily and Charity Fund, please e-transfer your donation to stmatthewsang@outlook.com or place your donation in the envelope enclosed in your bulletin. The envelope can be left in the collection plate at the front of the church. Today is the final day to make a donation.
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
The Rev Dr Ephraim Radner – Honorary Assistant
Please direct all enquiries to Peter Oakes, Peoples’ Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
