Sunday service for 24 March 2024, Palm Sunday

Sunday 24 March 2024, Palm/Passion Sunday, NL2-36
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse: 632143
Email: TPeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk
Email Charlene, Parish Assistant: CMitchell (at) churchofscotland.org.uk
Email Rob, student minister: RThomson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

Prelude Music (praise band)

Welcome & Announcements

*We Gather As God’s Family (As the Bible is brought in, we stand and sing)
A family gathered in love,
striving for justice and joy,
blessing the broken-hearted,
and sharing the hope of God’s kingdom.

Call to Worship
One: Humble and riding on a donkey,

All: we greet you;
One: Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children,
All: we cheer you;
One: moving from the peace of the countryside to the corridors of power,

All: We salute you: Christ our Lord.
One: You are giving the beast of burden

All: a new dignity;
One: you are giving majesty

All: a new face;
One: you are giving those who long for redemption

All: A new song to sing.
One: With them, with heart and voice, we shout:

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

Sanctuary Hymn: Hosanna (Praise is Rising) (praise band)

Prayer
Heavenly Father,

As we gather in your presence today, we come before you with hearts open and spirits humbled. We acknowledge our shortcomings and failures, knowing that we have fallen short of your will for our lives. We confess the ways in which we have turned away from your love and strayed from the path of righteousness.

Forgive us, O Lord, for the times when we have allowed fear, doubt, exhaustion and grief to overshadow our faith. Forgive us for our monements of pride and self-centeredness, for seeking our own glory and desires instead of yours. Forgive us for the times when we have failed to love our neighbours as ourselves, for turning a blind eye to the suffering and injustice in our world. Forgive us for the times we have failed to follow the example of Jesus.

Yet, as we gather to celebrate and worship you, we are reminded of your boundless mercy and grace. You are a God who forgives, who heals, and who restores. You who sent your Son, Jesus the Christ, to redeem us from our sins and to reconcile us to yourself.

We praise you, O God, for your steadfast love and faithfulness. We praise you for your unending grace, which covers us like a blanket of peace. We praise you for the gift of salvation, freely given to all who live in Christ.

As we prepare to hear your word, may our hearts be open to receive your truth. May your Holy Spirit move among us, convicting us of sin and drawing us closer to you. May this time of worship be sacred a moment where we encounter your presence and experience your transforming love.

We offer this prayer of confession and adoration in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Amen.

Online Hymn: Hosanna (Praise is Rising) (praise band)

Sanctuary Hymn 364: All Glory, Laud and Honour

Scripture Reading: Mark 11.1-11 (English Standard Version)
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

For the word of God in scripture
for the word of God among us
for the word of God within us
thanks be to God.

Reflection: The Coming Kingdom of David (Rob)
Friends!

Today, we gather in celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem—a momentous occasion!

Picture it: Jesus, mounted on a donkey, approaches the city gates amidst a tumultuous wave of jubilation. The crowd erupts in cheers, laying down their cloaks and palm branches in a spontaneous act of homage and adoration. Their cries of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” resound through the streets, echoing the fervent anticipation of liberation and redemption long foretold in the scriptures.

Amidst the exuberant praise, the people proclaim, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” This proclamation reflects a deep-seated yearning within the Jewish community for the restoration of the Davidic monarchy—a golden age of prosperity and of divine favour.

In 2nd Samuel, God’s covenant with David, delivered through the prophet Nathan, promised David an everlasting dynasty it says: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” This divine pledge engenders hope and expectation among the people, who see in Jesus the fulfilment of this ancient promise—a messianic figure destined to reign in the line of David, surely bringing about the restoration of Israel’s former glory.

Let’s pause to consider the mindset of the people who hailed Jesus as their king. They longed for a leader in the mould of David—a valiant warrior-king who would vanquish their oppressors, restore territorial sovereignty, and usher in an era of peace and prosperity. Peace and prosperity for them at least. David, revered as one of Israel’s greatest kings, indeed accomplished remarkable feats during his rule. From his legendary encounter with Goliath to his expansion of Israel’s borders and establishment of Jerusalem as the capital, David’s legacy loomed large in the collective consciousness of the Jewish people.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and what he does next, challenges these notions of kingship and salvation. He does not come as a conquering hero, but as a humble servant. He does not seek glory through military might, Jesus chooses the path of love and sacrifice. He preaches a message of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. He welcomes sinners and outcasts, shows compassion to the marginalised, and extends mercy to the downtrodden. His teachings emphasise humility, selflessness, and love—the hallmarks of true greatness in the kingdom of God.

Jesus didn’t march into Jerusalem to bring back the golden age of Israel. He didn’t come to overthrow the Roman Empire. Jesus wasn’t looking backwards but forwards. He doesn’t come to re-establish the Kingdom of David, but to establish the Kingdom of God through the line of David. He came, looked around at the temple and left. What a disappointment!

Isn’t this a familiar narrative? How often do we find ourselves yearning for a saviour, a leader, a figure who will swoop in and fix all our worldly problems? How frequently do we place our hopes and dreams in the hands of politicians, revolutionaries, or celebrities, expecting them to single-handedly transform our world for the better? How often are we willing to ignore the costs associated with reforming the world in the image we would like to see? How often do we feel palpable disappointment in how that pans out in reality?

But what Christ would accomplish, well we know that 2000 years later, was more important than anything the crowds could have wished for. Far from seeking to destroy Rome, the apostles would go on to use the Roman roads and infrastructure to spread Gods message of salvation across a large portion of the world. Through Israel God would bless the whole world, not just the region of Judea, with the gift and knowledge of salvation.

We stand in a time where we often cannot help but yearn for the golden age of our Church. A time where we had institutional power and authority, but that time is gone. As we celebrate today Christ’s triumphal entry into the city. We are duty bound to put our trust in Him, not to do what we want, in the way that we want. Not to restore us to some golden age, that was in truth, full of many of the same problems that made David’s kingdom imperfect and all too human. But we trust in Him to continue to work, in us and through us, to establish a kingdom without borders or limits. To give us undeserved honour to follow Him and change the world.

The time is now, we can’t wait for things to change, to get better, before we respond to Christ’s work for us. If the Apostles had waited for the fall of the Roman Empire, thinking conditions would be better, before they preached the Gospel message they would have waited nearly 500 years. In fact the Empire granted benefits in retrospect, safe travel, law and order, relative freedom of religion and a shared common language. The challenging conditions were the perfect ones to expand the knowledge of the kingdom of God.

So, as we celebrate today! Let us contemplate what God wants. God doesn’t need our jackets thrown on the ground, or our excitement and approval only when we get things the way we want them. God instead wants our worldly desires and passions thrown down in the mud, our self-pity, our selfishness, our comfort, and our worldly expectations. God wants us to follow His example in Christ, to expand the reach of the kingdom outside the borders of our institutions and social circles. He wants us to invite others to join in the celebration, some of whom will make us uncomfortable. Today is the day to celebrate what comes next, in the Gospel account and in the story of Gods people.

May we, like Jesus, be agents of transformation in our broken world. May we embody the values of the kingdom of God—a kingdom where the last shall be first, the meek shall inherit, and love reigns supreme.

Amen.

Sanctuary Hymn 370: Ride On, Ride On, the Time is Right (tune: Rockingham)

Online Reflection Music: O Sacred Head / Beautiful Saviour by Shawn Kirchner

Scripture Reading: Mark 14.3-9 (New Century Version)
Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, who had a skin disease. While Jesus was eating there, a woman approached him with an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.
Some who were there became upset and said to each other, “Why waste that perfume? It was worth a full year’s wages. It could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” And they got very angry with the woman.
Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She did an excellent thing for me. You will always have the poor with you, and you can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have me. This woman did the only thing she could do for me; she poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached in all the world, what this woman has done will be told, and people will remember her.”

Sanctuary Children’s Time
OR
Reflection: waste (Teri)
I invite you to, if you’re comfortable, close your eyes,
Sit comfortably,
And take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

As you breathe deeply,
imagine yourself sitting face to face with God.
Where are you? Indoors? Outdoors?
What are you sitting on — a chair? Sofa? Grass? A train or bus? Across a table? Next to each other?
Do you hear anything?
Is it warm or cold?
What colours are around you?
What smells?
Now look at God…what does God look like?
What colour eyes does God have?
How do you feel, sitting face to face with the creator of the universe, the Love that holds all things, the breath of life?
Keep breathing…the breath of life is for you.
Look into God’s eyes.

Ask God to show you the things that are most valuable in your life.
What is most important?
What is most costly?
What do you value?

What is valuable about it to you?

How does your life reflect that valuable thing?
Does it take time? Money? Energy?
What are you willing to give for the things you value?

Look into God’s eyes and take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.

Feel God’s loving gaze on you…
and know that you are one of God’s treasured possessions.
How do you feel God’s love?

God is willing to give everything to pour out love for you.

What are you willing to give, to show love for God?

Who will you give it to?

Some may call it a waste.
Some may think you’re silly or naive.

How does it feel to give your gift,
when others don’t understand, or even reject it?

Some will see your giving as wasteful…
But look into God’s eyes.
Jesus received the woman’s gift,
the most expensive, most precious thing she owned,
poured out in love,
in worship.
He said it was valuable,
and that we could give to our neighbour anytime.
Our neighbour, made in the image of God.

See how God receives your gift,
given directly to God or by way of giving to someone made in God’s image.
How precious it is,
when you give it with love.

Some will recognise the truth:
that love pours out…
and creates more love.

Take a deep breath and look into God’s eyes.
Know God’s love poured out for you…
What value does that love have in your life?
How will your life reflect the value of the love given to you?

What love will you pour out for God,
and for the world God so loves?

Love shared is never wasted.

Thanks be to God.
Amen.

Online Hymn 399: My Song is Love Unknown

Sanctuary Offering (choir)

Sanctuary Offering Response 374 v. 4
So let us learn how to serve,
and in our lives enthrone him;
each other’s needs to prefer,
for it is Christ we’re serving.
This is our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
What prayer can we offer, O God?
In troubled times,
in joyous celebration,
in quiet hopeful moments,
in unimaginable grief,
all we can really say is:
Hosanna…save us…have mercy on us.
And so we come with prayers for mercy
for those who have no words available,
no tears left to cry,
no obvious path forward.
We come with prayers for mercy
for those who have been scolded for being themselves,
for doing what they thought was right,
for generosity that others couldn’t imagine.
We come with prayers for mercy
for those who live in fear,
and those who choose violence as a way to deal with fear,
and those who use fear to control others.
We come with prayers for mercy
for those who are surrounded by enemies,
and for those whose friends don’t understand,
and for those who feel alone.
We come with prayers for mercy
for those who live in poverty, hidden in plain sight,
and for those whose poverty has been used as a prop for political points,
and for those who struggle to live up to your calling to care for the poor.
Hosanna…save us, O God.
Have mercy upon this world you so love.
On this 24th day of the month we join our hearts as your Church family to pray:
*For the nurseries and parent-toddler groups in our area — for the children, the staff, and the young families served. We ask for your blessing and guidance as children grow and learn and make friends, for your strength and protection from harm, and for your patience and grace for those who teach and nurture.

*For the leaders of St John’s congregation: for the elders, the Kirk Session, the Session Clerk, the Treasurer, the pastoral care team, the flower team, and the many other volunteers.

*For the land, people, and governments of the nations of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Aruba, and Curaçao.

We trust that in your hands,
our prayers become more than we could have meant,
our giving becomes more of a blessing than we could have imagined,
our faith becomes more fruitful than we could have created on our own.
Enter our lives this day
humbly yet powerfully,
and call forth your kingdom, even here,
even in and through this, your Body.
We ask these and all things in the name of the One who comes to save,
not by taking us back
but by pouring out extravagant love that pulls us ever onward toward your kingdom,
Jesus the Christ, who taught us to pray together:
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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Sanctuary Hymn 399: My Song is Love Unknown

Benediction
As we enter this holy week, make way for Christ and his extravagant love to be poured out in your life, and in our community.
And as you go, may the Spirit of God go above you to watch over you. May the Spirit of God go beside you to be your companion. May the Spirit of God go before you to show you the way, and behind you to push you into places you might not go alone. And may the Spirit of God go within you to remind you that you are loved more deeply than you can possibly imagine. May the fire of God’s love burn brightly in you, and through you into the world. Go in peace. Amen.

Sung Benediction Response (John L Bell, tune Gourock St John’s)
Now may the Lord of all be blessed,
Now may Christ’s gospel be confessed,
Now may the Spirit when we meet
Bless sanctuary and street.

Postlude Music

Announcements

* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am and at 5pm, and also online. If you are able, please enter by the front door in Bath street, and only those who need step-free access should use the back door. If you feel unwell, please worship online, to protect both yourself and others in our community.

* A funeral service to celebrate the life of Mr Robert Henderson will be held here in St John’s on Tuesday, 26th March, 2024, at 11.45am, followed by a committal at Greenock Crematorium at 1pm.

* Moorfoot Primary School will hold their Easter service in the church on Thursday 28 March at 9:45am.

This week is Holy Week:
Sunday 24 March, 11am: Palm Sunday family service, and 5pm evening service
Wednesday 27 March, 7pm: CONNECT Holy Week service in St Margaret’s.
Thursday 28 March, 7:30pm: Maundy Thursday communion service in St. John’s.
Friday 29 March, 10:15am: Gourock cross-walk (weather permitting), followed by 12 noon Good Friday service in St John’s.
Saturday 30 March, 7:30pm: Easter Eve service in St John’s — a service that takes us through the whole story of salvation and brings us to the new light of resurrection.
Sunday 31 March, Easter Day: 7am service on Tower Hill, followed by breakfast communion in the large hall; 11am family service in the sanctuary.

**If you’d be willing and able to help with the Easter Breakfast, please speak to Anne Love, Charlene, or Graham Bolster. Thanks!

* Starter Packs are in need of of Tea-bags, cleaning cloths, soap, soap powder & kitchen towel, and Easter Eggs.
The FoodBank are in need of Diluting juice, Long life juice, Rice pudding, Tinned Ham & Tinned Tuna. You can bring donations to the church and place them into the boxes in the vestibule. Thank you!

* Wednesday Evening Bible Study meets in the manse at 7:30pm most weeks, but not this week because we have the Connect churches join Holy Week service in St Margaret’s at 7pm..

* Did you know that the ministry we do at St John’s costs about £3000 per week? Everything we do is funded by your generous giving — all our support for young people, older people, bereavement care, community outreach, worship, study, spiritual growth, and community work is because of your offering. If you would like to set up a standing order in order to facilitate your spiritual discipline of giving, or if you would like to make an extra gift to support the ministry St. John’s does in our parish, you can give online by clicking here. If you would like to set up a standing order, please contact Teri and she can give you the treasurer’s details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received. 
It is also possible to donate to the work of the parish assistant, speak to Anne Love about how to go about directing new donations to that new item in the budget.

* Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email devotions! Midweek you can watch Wine and the Word on Youtube, pray with video devotions on Facebook, and consider a new angle on something with a devotional email. Feel free to share with your friends, too!

* Free period products are available in the church toilets for anyone who might need them, thanks to Hey Girls and Inverclyde Council.

*** Our new evening service is happening at 5pm!
Graham Gardiner is doing a placement with us this spring, focused on a project, and we hope everyone will support it!
Excited to explore faith in a new way?
Inspired by Teri’s recent sermon on New Wineskins, we’re launching a new Sunday Evening service starting March 10th at 5 pm.
What’s different?
No traditional sermon! Instead, we’ll dive deeper into the morning message through an engaging interview with the preacher.
Guitar-based music, Bible readings, and prayer will create a relaxed atmosphere for reflection and worship.
Did you miss the morning service? No worries! We’ll get you caught up before the discussion.
Imagine:
Gaining fresh insights from the morning message in a conversational format.
Discovering practical ways to apply the message to your life.
Enjoying a chilled vibe that fosters connection and reflection.
Join us for this exciting new experience!
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Graham
Ps. Spread the word and invite your friends!