Sunday service for 29 March 2026, Palm – Passion Sunday

Sunday 29 March 2026, Palm/Passion Sunday (cafe church)
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse phone: 632143
Email: TPeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk
Email Charlene, Parish Assistant: CMitchell (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

If the video above doesn’t play, please click here to view it on our YouTube channel.

Today’s sanctuary service is cafe-church…our online service is therefore also more informal and interactive, with no sermon.

Welcome

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: Come, gather round — the King is coming!
All: Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
One: Don’t be afraid — rejoice for the One who speaks peace is coming!
All: Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
One: Look — the One with the power of Life is coming!
All: Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Prayer
We come, O God,
for we wish to see Jesus.
Reveal yourself today
as we join the crowds
and sing the praise
and wonder how to live your way.
Show us how to love the gift of this life
while holding it lightly enough to let it go
to follow you to the cross and beyond.
You are a Life-giving God,
the one whose breath creates,
whose word brings light and life to all people.
We love to praise you, to proclaim your name and your power,
to sing and celebrate.
And yet we also confess that your power frightens us
when you refuse to use it the way we want…
and we don’t like to feel that we have lost control.
So we try to nail you down,
hold you at arms length,
demand you fit our categories and our accusations.
Forgive us, God,
when our praise so quickly turns to condemnation.
Forgive us, God,
when we choose the might of empire over the humility of the donkey.
Forgive us, God,
when we believe we have no power in the system.
Forgive us and set us free from the life we grasp so tightly
that we may step into the abundant life you have prepared for us.
We ask in the name of the One whose kingdom is unlike any other,
Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Friends, hear this good news: it is for you that Jesus faced the powers of this world. Know that you are beloved, and live now for his glory. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Hymn: Kyrie Eleison (Ghanaian)

Reading: John 12 (part 1)
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

Look at your hands (part 1)

Hymn: We Are An Offering

Reading: John 12 (part 2)
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—  the King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming,  sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

Look at your hands (part 2)

Hymn: Hosanna (Praise is Rising)

Reading: John 12 (part 3)
Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is in you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

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

Look at your hands (part 3)

Hymn 721: We Lay Our Broken World

Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
Passionate and Compassionate God,
you have gifted us this one wild and precious life
and we give you thanks and praise.
You call us into your abundant life
and we sing of your goodness and power,
for there is no one like you.
And when we try to make you fit the mould of powers we understand,
you ride into town on a donkey
and invite us to another way.
Our spirits are so often troubled, O God,
yet you call us to face this time in which you have placed us.
We pray not only for open hearts
but for willing hearts,
that we might join you in the transformation of your kingdom,
rather than using you for our own ends.
And we lift up today all
from the top of the society to the bottom,
who are caught in the trap of power,
believing there’s a way to make it work for us,
not seeing it all closing in on us until it’s too late.
May your truth come quickly, Lord,
Bringing courage to pour ourselves out for love of the world.
We lift up today those who have been unjustly punished,
and those who have been made an example of,
those used by others just to make a point.
We do not turn away from their suffering,
for we know that when one member of the body suffers,
we all suffer with it.
May your liberation come quickly, Lord,
bringing wholeness and blessing for all.
We lift up today those who long to see your life-giving power,
who wait in the valley of the shadow of death,
who wonder if there is any hope for them,
who come seeking but are not met with grace.
May your healing come quickly, Lord,
bringing light that is never overcome.

On the 29th day of the month we join our hearts as your St John’s family to pray
*For St Columba’s High School — for the young people, the teachers, the staff, and the families. Bless them with bright minds and open hearts and willing spirits, with friendship and laughter and the graciousness it takes to be in community together. May the school have the resources it needs and the families the support they need to ensure the children grow in mind, body, and spirit into the people you are calling them to be.
*For the staff of St John’s: for the minister, the organist, and the parish assistant.
*For the land, people, and governments of the nations of Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize

Though we do not understand everything now,
we trust that you will draw us to yourself
and guide us into the way of life.
So ride on, Lord Jesus,
and bring us with you.
We ask in your holy name.
Amen.

Hymn 399: My Song is Love Unknown

Sending
Go out into the world with the courage of Christ, who did not shy away from his mission. Bear the love and blessing of God’s kingdom into even the darkest places, and let the light of life shine through you. 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 if you thought you were 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.

Announcements

*We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and Sunday worship is also online.

*The first Sunday of the month at 11am is an all-age service, with different ways of encountering God’s word without a traditional sermon. All people — young and old, different personalities and learning styles, are welcome! You’ll find a more informal service with a variety of music, a Bible story, prayer, and some more interactive elements. The online service for the first Sunday will therefore also be different — there will still be a reading, prayers, and music, but usually not a sermon.
When there has been a fifth Sunday, then the following first Sunday is a cafe-church all-age service.

* Starter Packs are in need of Shaving Foam, Shampoo, Soap, Hand Wash.
 The FoodBank are short of diluting juice, cereal, noodles/microwave rice, jarred sauce, biscuits, UHT milk, and tinned meat/soups/vegetables. You can bring donations to the church and place them into the boxes in the vestibule. Thank you!

* This week is Holy Week. As we journey toward the cross and beyond to the empty tomb, there are a number of stops on the journey: 
Wednesday: Lent Reflections at 12:15 and Lent Evening at 7:30pm (7:00 for soup) 
Maundy Thursday: 7:30pm communion service in the sanctuary
 Good Friday: 10:30am Cross-Walk begins at our front door, ends with a service at the pierhead
 Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Eve service — an Easter Vigil telling the whole story of God’s gift of salvation, journeying through the ups and downs to the light of resurrection
 Easter morning: 7am Tower Hill service, followed by breakfast communion in the large hall;
and 11am family service in the sanctuary.

* Bowl & Blether is on the first Mondays of the month, with doors open from 11:30-1:30, and lunch served from noon. All are welcome for a bowl of soup, a toastie, a friendly chat in our warm hall! See you in a couple of weeks on Easter Monday, the 6th of April.

* We are having a fundraising Fashion Show with clothes from The Dressing Room (Saltcoats) TODAY from 2-4pm at the Masonic Lodge. Tickets are £5 and you can get them from Norma or Anne L. Come along for a fun and funny afternoon of fashion!

* The Contact Group is hosting a fundraising concert on Sunday 26 April at 3pm in the sanctuary with special guests the Stedfast Silver Band! All are welcome. See Fiona W or Anne A for tickets.

* Did you know that the ministry we do at St John’s costs about £3000 per week and we are currently running about £500 short? 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 item in the budget.

* Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email newsletter! Midweek you can watch Wine and the Word and Theology Thursday on Youtube, get snippets of thought or inspiration following Teri on TikTok, and of course keep up with announcements and events on Facebook and our weekly email.

Palm Sunday service 13 April 2025

Sunday 13 April 2025, Palm Sunday all age service
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

Today in the sanctuary is an all-age service …the online service is also informal with no script for the sermon. The story will be broken up through the sanctuary service as noted here, but read all in one go during the online service. Apologies for any confusion in the reading of the manuscript!

Prelude Music (praise band)

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.

Welcome

Sanctuary Call to Worship Hymn GWA114 Hosanna (Praise is Rising) (praise band)

Online Call to Worship

One: We come together here on holy ground,
All: proclaiming “blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
One: We come together as the cosmos aligns for this moment:
All: the moment the Prince of Peace comes in glory.
One: We come together remembering God’s past faithfulness and hoping for the future —
All: let those with eyes to see and ears to hear understand what God is doing now.

Online Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus —
into this unsteady world
surefooted even on an unbroken colt
wrapped in holiness yet surrounded by shouts and jeers
making too public your purpose
opposing the powers of this world
with the peace of heaven.
Come, Lord Jesus,
and make us ready to recognise this time
when God is with us.

You call us to follow you,
King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
But we confess that we are nervous, shy, afraid.
We want to keep our faith to ourselves,
personal and private, just between us.
We don’t want to look silly.
We don’t want to commit too much.
We don’t want to draw the attention of the empire.
So we pray quietly
and try not to rock the boat.
And the stones cry out,
for you have not left the world without a witness,
even when we are silent.
Forgive us, O God, for obeying the will of the empire before they even ask.
Forgive us for believing we can go along to get along.
Forgive us for thinking we can just substitute Jesus in their game without challenging the rules.
Expand our imagination to grasp the possibilities of kingdom life,
promised and embodied and sustained by your love,
yet so different than anything we’ve known.
Forgive us, and give us the courage
to lay down our cloaks
to raise our voices
to risk living your gospel of peace even here and now.
We ask in the name of the Holy One who comes to give his all, Jesus the Christ.
Amen.

God was in Christ reconciling the world — and entrusting us with this ministry. Know that you are loved, and called, and trusted to be about God’s work in this life, by the power of the Spirit. Amen.

Online Hymn: Praise is Rising (Hosanna)

Sanctuary Palm Prayer

Sanctuary Peruvian Gloria (a capella call and response)

Getting on the Road
(Luke 19.28-39)
Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “It’s Master needs it.” ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its masters asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘It’s Master needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king  who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven,  and glory in the highest heaven!’

Sanctuary: The Crowd Sings — Hymn 364: All Glory Laud and Honour vv 1, 2, 5

Rock Concert (Sanctuary Stone Painting)
(Luke 19.44)
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

Sanctuary Hymn: Give Me Oil In My Lamp (praise band)

The Things That Make For Peace
(Luke 19.41-42a)
As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace!’
(Sanctuary Palm Crosses)

Prayer including the Lord’s Prayer

The stones cry out with praise, Creator God,
witnesses to your power and your goodness,
and we join our voices with the choir of creation,
all earth and heaven declaring your purpose.
Indeed all things are yours,
coming into being through your Word
and fulfilling your vision, with nothing lost or wasted.
We give you thanks for your saving grace,
for the blessing of your presence among us,
for the peace you embody and offer.
We pray this day for your creation,
for its voice silenced by human greed,
for its groaning under our weight,
for its pain at being used and abused for our gain.
May we recognise our place in your created order,
and the beauty and value of its witness.
We pray this day for our neighbours who are also silenced,
those in the minority who know they will all pay for any one’s action,
those whose history leaves them afraid of repeating it,
those who no longer believe they will be heard.
Strengthen their heart and voice,
and give us ears to hear.
Set the world’s attention to justice,
to breaking cycles by choosing to listen with care.
We pray this day for those who buy in to the power structures,
hoping for a scrap of benefit to fall their way,
and so they participate in unjust systems
and silence even their own neighbours and friends to save their own hoped-for position.
Reveal to us all the things that make for peace,
and may your tears open our eyes to your way of truth and life.
On the 13th day of the month we join our hearts as your St John’s church family to pray
*For all who live and work along Shore Street to Eastern View.
*We pray for the staff of St John’s: for the minister, the organist, and the parish assistant.
*For the land, people, and governments of the nations of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé & Principe, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola.

You are trustworthy in the smallest detail,
now teach us to trust your transformative grace
riding into our lives in the most awkward and yet powerful way,
demanding our all.
We give you glory, O God,
praying in the name of 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 279: Make Way

Sending

Don’t leave it to the stones — go from this place to proclaim joyfully and with a loud voice the saving grace of the Lord, whose power is not what you might expect and yet changes everything. 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.

Postlude Music

Announcements

* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and Sunday worship is 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.
The Sunday evening service is on a break for Lent so that we can focus on the Monday evening book group (more info below). The Sunday evenings will re-launch after Easter.

* The first Sunday of the month at 11am(except this month, when it’s today for Palm Sunday!) is now an all-age service, with different ways of encountering God’s word without a traditional sermon. All people — young and old, different personalities and learning styles, are welcome! You’ll find a more informal service with a variety of music, a Bible story, prayer, and some more interactive elements. The online service for the first Sunday will therefore also be different — there will still be a reading, prayers, and music, but usually not a sermon.

*****Holy Week and Easter services******

* Wednesday 16 April at 7pm, we are invited to St Margaret’s for a service led by the Connect Singers, focused on the story of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany.
* Maundy Thursday, 17 April 7pm, cafe-style communion service in St John’s.
* Good Friday, 18 April cross-walk leaving from St John’s (Bath Street) at 10:30am and ending with a service at the pierhead around 11.
* Good Friday, 18 April 7pm, evening service in OGA.
* Easter sunrise service, 20 April 7am at the top of Tower Hill followed by breakfast communion in the large hall.
* Easter morning family service, 20 April at 11am in St John’s.

* Starter Packs are in need of bathroom/kitchen cleaner, handwash, shampoo, deodorant, soap, teabags, as well as Easter Eggs.
The FoodBank are in need of UHT milk, microwave rice, instant noodles, tinned tomatoes, and tinned soup.
You can bring donations to the church and place them into the boxes in the vestibule. Thank you!

* Teri is leading a Lent book group on Monday evenings in the Spinnaker at 7pm. The book is Jesus For Everyone, Not Just Christians. All are welcome — come along and have your dinner, or a drink, or just come for the discussion!

* We are having a Smarties fundraiser this season — pick up your tube of Smarties, enjoy them, then fill the tube with £1 or 20p coins, and bring it back at Easter!

* 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 item in the budget.

* Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email newsletter! 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.

* Wednesday Evening Bible Study is at 7:30pm in the Manse and we are reading Luke!

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

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..

* 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!

Sunday service for 2 April 2023: Palm Sunday

Sunday 2 April 2023, NL1-36, Palm Sunday
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse: 632143
Email: tpeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

Prelude Music (praise band)

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship
Teri: God gathers all people into this house of prayer:
1: calling in the ones who aren’t always invited,
2: making space for those pushed to the margins,
3: welcoming young and old.
Teri: Look, God is with us!
1: Hosanna! The One who saves is with us!
2: Hosanna! Blessed is the One who shakes things up!
3: Hosanna! The kingdom of heaven is come near!
Teri: In humble triumph, God comes,
All: and we come to meet God here.

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

Prayer
You entered our world and turned everything upside down,
You enter our cities and towns, our churches and homes,
putting the words we love to quote into actions we can’t ignore.
Hosanna — save us!
Save us from our desire to explain away your words and actions
so that we can maintain our own comfort.
Save us from thinking we can say a few prayers
without ever letting your Spirit transform our daily lives.
Save us from the status quo that has captured us and is so hard to escape.
Hosanna — save us!
Save us from our impulse to act as gatekeepers of your house.
Save us from thinking your word is safely confined to the book.
Save us from trying to firm up what you are shaking up.
Hosanna — save us!
We cheer in greeting and hope,
and we murmur in uncertainty too.
What does all this mean?
Today we wave our branches and shout Hosanna,
and pray you’ll show us how to join you in enacting your kingdom in days to come.

Online Hymn: Hosanna (Praise is Rising)

Children’s Time (Sanctuary only)

Reading: Matthew 21.1-17 (New Revised Standard Version)
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,  ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you,    humble, and mounted on a donkey,      and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’  The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’  When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’
Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”;    but you are making it a den of robbers.’
The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’, they became angry and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies    you have prepared praise for yourself”?’  He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

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.

Sermon: Passion Disrupts Patterns
We have arrived at the time of year when we talk about what is sometimes called Christ’s Passion. Passion is a word that comes from the Latin word meaning suffering, and the Passion refers explicitly to next weekend — from the last supper through to easter morning. But as happens so often, the English language has evolved so that we no longer use the word “passion” that way — which means we have an added layer to what we mean when we say that this coming week is about Christ’s passion. Now when we say passion we mean something we care about a lot, have deep feelings for, and are willing to put ourselves on the line for. When we are passionate about something, we pursue it with all our energy. When we are impassioned about something, we may speak strongly or be willing to stand up to situations we would in other circumstances just let slide by. When we say something like “my passion in life” we mean the thing that drives us, keeps us going, fuels our work or hobby or relationship, energises us to get up every day and move forward. And yes, sometimes it implies something we’re willing to suffer for, as we reach toward the goal.

Imagine thinking of Jesus’ passion this way — as if this coming week, in all its fullness, not only Friday but every day from today to next Sunday — the stories are all about revealing Christ’s passion. What does he do to show us what he is passionate about?

First he gets our attention, by acting out, almost like street theatre, a prophesy everyone would have known. Not in a subtle way, but in the most outrageous way, getting not just the one donkey Zechariah was talking about, but the two donkeys of poetic parallelism, so no one could possibly miss what he was saying. Not just cloaks to protect the king from getting dirty, but palm branches too, calling to mind victory parades and other festivals from throughout the jewish year. With crowds chanting and singing and praying, welcoming this band of pilgrims led by the chosen one who comes in God’s name, no one would misunderstand what Jesus was saying. It was the most attention-grabbing way to come into the city that he could think of, and he used it to his advantage as the beginning of his showcase of his passion.

Seonaid, can you tell me a story of a time when you acted on something you were passionate about, in a really public way?

Standing silently in protest at the entrance of the General Assembly…turning over the tables in the Temple to protest the idea that going to church now and then can counterbalance all the hurtful things done the rest of the week…Jesus’ protest reveals his passion, just as Seonaid’s did. And once Jesus’ protest was over, he was able to put that passion into action, by making God’s vision happen: drawing together all the people and creating a new community…he said this was meant to be a house of prayer — the rest of that quote from Jeremiah is that this is a house of prayer for all people — and then the very next people who turn up are the very people often excluded when we say “all.” The people whose bodies were different, the people who were ill or needed extra support, the children who say things that stir the pot with their un-filtered truth…they were all there in that holy place, and they could be seen and valued once Jesus disrupted the business-as-usual that may have been more about upholding the tradition than abut embodying God’s will for the world.

The thing about passion is that it is often disruptive. Maintaining the status quo also means, by default, squashing passion, because it comes with hopeful determined energy, and there’s no room for that in the status quo. We have seen it over and over again in our institutions, in the culture, in scripture — how powerful simply maintaining the way we’ve always done it can be, and how demoralising it is to push against that only to have the wind taken from our sails by the power of inertia. No wonder the people cried Hosanna — save us! Jesus’ attention grabbing parade set the stage for his protest in the Temple, which was really about revealing God’s passion for gathering all people into the house of prayer — a passion the prophets had spoken, too, and the elites then and now didn’t want to hear.

God’s passion revealed in Jesus disrupted a system that worked for the people in charge, but it wasn’t working very well for the rest, and only when some space was opened up could others join in the holy community God was calling together. I wonder, if Jesus staged a protest in the Church, what space would open up? What aspects of our life together would he say are keeping people out, even though they make us comfortable? Who would be angry, and why? How are we serving ourselves and the status quo, rather than pursuing God’s passion? And how would we feel if our traditions were disrupted and a space made for a different kind of community to form?

Sometimes it can be scary to let passion disrupt our patterns. We don’t know where it will lead, whether some might be alienated, and whether there’ll be any one who comes in to the new space that opens up. Or if the people God wants to call together might be the young people whose truth is scary to hear, and the people whose bodies or minds look or work differently, people of different ages or backgrounds who don’t know or value our traditions, people who long for spiritual community but have never been in one before…or perhaps people who’ve been in church plenty but found it wasn’t about spiritual community at all.

We cannot decide what we ought to do until we know of which story we are a part. What story are we living, what story are we telling, with our lives? And do we want to be part of a story that is mainly about the status quo, a story of holding on to what we know because it makes us comfortable… even though it means that there’s no room for new people to enter and encounter God and community for themselves…which also means an inevitable decline? Or do we want to be part of a story where God’s passion disrupts our patterns, making space for abundant life we couldn’t have imagined for ourselves? And I do mean couldn’t have imagined — do you think the people in Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, whether they were shouting Hosanna or Crucify, could imagine the following Sunday, let alone the months and years after? When Jesus disrupts our story with his story and invites us into a new life, some will be like those elites for whom the old ways worked, and they’ll want to put a stop to it all. And some will be like those who needed healing or who had never been welcomed before, and find their way into the . And all of us will find ourselves on a journey we don’t get to control but will lead us toward the kingdom of God.

As we enter Holy Week, our services each evening will look through the eyes of the disciples, inviting us to imagine ourselves as part of the story of Jesus’ passion — his passion for a new holy community, becoming the Body of Christ, reflecting God’s love for the world.

May we be passionate about Christ’s passion, even when it disrupts our patterns. Amen.

Online Hymn 536: May the Mind of Christ My Saviour
Sanctuary Hymn: Hosanna / The Church of Christ (tune: Ellacombe)
(Hymn 367 v. 1 & 3, with 2 inserted verses from The Church of Christ Cannot Be Sold by David Bjorlin)

Offering (Sanctuary only)
We believe that God is calling us to be a blessing to our community — the whole community, not only those who fit in, or can afford it, or already know what we do. One way Jesus disrupts our patterns is by challenging how we use our resources: are they only for our comfort, or also for making space to serve and love our neighbour? As we have heard his call today, and as we have experienced his love and his vision, we are also invited to join in his passion, giving of ourselves so that others might experience the same love and welcome we have known. All the ministry we do here is because of your generosity, which is a reflection of God’s generosity to you and to us together. Your morning offering will now be received.

Sanctuary Offering Response 680 v. 4 (tune: Picardy)
May the One whose love is broader
than the measure of all space
give us words to sing the story,
move among us in this place.
Christ be known in all our living,
filling all with gifts of love.

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe,
for you bring the Word to life, in the flesh.
You call our attention to things we had hidden away,
and invite us to see with fresh eyes.
You disrupt our patterns
and in the space we were afraid to open, you create anew.
In gratitude and praise we lift our voices and hearts,
in wonder and faith we join your story,
lived in real time, by real people, in the real world.
We bring with us today our hopes and prayers for this world —
for those who live under oppression and war,
and those who work for peace;
for those who stand up to injustice with creative courage,
and those who give what they have to serve.
May all your people live in peace.
We bring with us today our hopes and prayers for your Church —
for those who have gotten caught in the trap of respectability and efficiency,
and those who have been marginalised or left out;
for those who long to hear your voice for themselves
and those who help us to see your word in action.
May your Church reflect your kingdom on earth.
We bring with us today our hopes and prayers for ourselves and our neighbours —
for those who hunger and thirst,
and those whose bodies no longer respond the way they once did;
for those who live with illness or treatment,
and those who care for others with compassion.
May your healing grace surround them with comfort and love.
Through Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
we offer these and all our prayers,
joining our voices with your family as you 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 370: Ride On, Ride On, the Time Is Right (tune: Rockingham)

Benediction
May the disruptive grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the re-creating love of God, and the community-building fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you as you go from this place to embody the kingdom of heaven on earth.

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.

Sanctuary Postlude Music

Announcements

* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and all Sunday worship is also online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print). 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.

* Holy Week and Easter services:
Monday 3 April, 7:30pm: St John’s
Tuesday 4 April, 7pm: Old Gourock & Ashton
Wednesday 5 April, 7pm: CONNECT Taize service in Westburn
Thursday 6 April, 7:30pm: St John’s, with communion
Friday 7 April, 10:30am: Good Friday cross-walk, leaving from St. Bart’s
Friday 7 April, 7pm: Old Gourock & Ashton
Saturday 8 April, 8:30pm: Easter Eve at St John’s
Sunday 9 April, 7am: Tower Hill, followed by breakfast communion at St John’s
Sunday 9 April, 11am: St John’s

* The choir rehearses in the sanctuary immediately after the service, and finishes before 1pm. All who enjoy singing are welcome!

* We are looking for a new Property Convenor — the role mainly involves keeping track of contracts (ie utilities/works) and contacting and following up with contractors to get works done in accordance with the Kirk Session’s instructions, plans, and budget. The administrative/reporting duties have thus far been done entirely using Microsoft Word, so no particular technological skills required. If you might be interested in volunteering for this role, please speak to Cameron, Donald (the current convenor), or Teri to learn more.

* Did you know that the ministry we do at St John’s costs about £2700 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 Peter Bennett, our treasurer, or Teri and she can give you his details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received.

* Wednesday Evening Bible Study normally meets in the manse at 7:30pm. All are welcome as we continue reading through the Bible in about a year and a half! We are now reading John’s gospel. No Bible Study this week, as we’ll be at the CONNECT Taize service at Westburn.

* Young Adult Bible Study meets in the manse on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 7pm for a meal and discussion of the gospel according to John. Everyone in their 20s is welcome! Due to Easter falling on the 2nd Sunday, our next gathering will be Sunday 23 April.

* 2023 marks the 125th anniversary of the 2nd Gourock Boys’ Brigade. Our anniversary Grand Charity Ball will be Saturday 9th September 6.00 for 6.30pm in Greenock Town Hall. Tickets priced £50 or £500 for a table of 10 will be available soon. The benefitting Charities have been selected and will be announced shortly. We are delighted to announce that every penny raised from ticket sales and our charity auction on the evening will go directly to our chosen charities. This event is open to all so please spread the word, book your table, put the date in your diary and look forward to what we are sure will be a Second To None evening of enjoyment and celebration.
Free period products are available in the church toilets for anyone who might need them, thanks to Hey Girls and Inverclyde Council.

* The next Bowl & Blether in St John’s is also a coffee morning for the Ardgowan Hospice! Join us on tomorrow, Monday 3 April: doors will open at 1030am for coffee and cake, and soup will be served from noon onwards as usual. All are welcome — invite a friend or neighbour!
The next Bowl & Blether in St Margaret’s will be on Saturday 8 April from 11:30 – 1:30.

Sunday Service for 10 April 2022, Passion Sunday

10 April 2022, sixth Sunday in Lent / Passion Sunday
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by the Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse phone: 632143
Email: tpeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

Prelude Music

Welcome

Call to Worship

All: We come out to meet him —
1: The one we have high hopes for!
2: The one we are a little bit afraid of…
3: The one we have been praying will come?
All: Hosanna! Save us!

Teri: Outside, loud demands and chaos.
Inside, questions and confusion,
fear and cruel instinct,
desire for calm, imposed through power.
Outside, accusations and increasing tension,
desire for security, imposed through power.
Around us and within us,
the swirling forces of this world
compete with the power of Truth and Life,
to which we cling.

All: Save us and set us free —
1: free from our oppressors,
2: free from our too-narrow expectations,
3: free from the status quo.
All: Hosanna! Save us!

Prayer with Hymn 776: Ukrainian Kyrie:
Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison

You have the situation in hand, Lord Jesus,
walking into the city, and out of it again, on your terms.
With every step, you show us the truth of your Way.
This isn’t power the way we think of it, O God.
We want your power to be big and flashy and forceful,
and instead you offer us love that carries its own cross.
We confess that our vision of power is coercive,
and yours is self-giving,
and we are not sure how to manage that chasm between your way and ours.

Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison

Forgive us when we seek positions of advantage
and manipulate our way to a better deal,
while you speak unpopular truth with great love.
Forgive us when we feel hopeless and helpless,
watching you shoulder the weight of the world in search of reconciliation.
Forgive us when we see only failure
while you are on the way to unrecognisable glory.

Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison

You are indeed the King who saves us,
and we come asking for mercy,
that we may be made ready to walk your way of Life.
While we do not understand, and it all feels so messy,
we pray to recognise the story you are writing,
that we too may take up our part.
Give us the courage — today, even right now —
to follow your way of self-giving love,
even though we know how the empires of this world respond.
Give us the hope — today, even right now —
to withstand this pain and to keep watch for signs of new life.
Give us the faith — today, even right now —
to trust the truth and to live it.
We ask in your holy, loving name. Amen.

Music
Online: What Wondrous Love Is This (piano meditation by Shawn Kirchner)
In person: Andante by J. Fiocco

Children’s Time: Palm Sunday
(Listen to the word that God has spoken) — round

Reading: John 19.1-22 (NRSV)
Last week we left off in the middle of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, with the religious leaders asking for the release of Barabbas, an insurrectionist, as their Passover favour. We pick up today in the next verse, in the gospel according to John, chapter 19, beginning at verse 1. I am reading from the New Revised Standard Version.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.’ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’ When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.’ The chief priests and the police answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.’

Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, ‘Where are you from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, ‘Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’ From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the religious leaders cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.’

When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Judean leaders, ‘Here is your King!’ They cried out, ‘Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but the emperor.’ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews”, but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” ’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’

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.

Sermon: The Voice of Power
Years ago there was a television show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer — it was about a young woman who was supernaturally chosen to fight evil in the world, in the form of vampires and demons. She had superhuman strength and recovery powers, and she was constantly in training. The catch is that there’s only one Slayer alive in the world at any given time, but of course the evils of the world seem to multiply faster all the time. Near the end of the series, Buffy decided to train other girls and young women to help to the best of their ability, and she started with her own younger sister. One night they went out and waited for a vampire to rise from a grave, and when he did, Buffy said to her sister Dawn: it’s not about right and wrong, it’s about power, who has it and who wants it. Then she looked at Dawn, who was looking at the vampire, and asked, “who has the power?” And Dawn said, “well, I have the stake.” — because of course the way one kills a vampire is with a wooden stake through the heart!

Buffy’s response was: “the stake is not the power.”

Someone should have told Pilate that, too. He believed himself to have all the power — he said to Jesus, do you not know that I have power to release you and power to crucify you? In Pilate’s mind, the ability to put someone to death was the same thing as having ultimate power. That is, after all, the empire’s only real weapon — and they use it to frighten people into submission.

But the stake is not the power. The ability to nail someone onto a cross is not the same thing as having power. Striking fear into people is not power.

Pilate thought he was the one with the power in this situation. And he used his power over the religious leaders, for sure. They also thought they had some measure of power, perhaps even believed they were forcing Pilate to do their dirty work for them. But in the end, Pilate manipulated them just as he does everyone else, until they, the religious leaders of an occupied people, whose faith is built on there being only One God who is ruler of heaven and earth, ended up having to affirm an idolatry, that they have no king but the emperor who was also considered a god. In getting what they wanted when it came to Jesus, they had to lay aside some of their deepest held beliefs and give up their own autonomy.

Because the kind of power they thought they wanted is a lie. And power built on lies requires us to buy in to the lie in order to project an image we want other people to believe.

But that’s not real power. On the contrary, that’s weakness. We may think all the weapons and all the money and all the status symbols and all the ability to coerce other people into doing our will is power, but it’s actually a mask, something to hide behind, so no one will see just how shallow that all is, so no one will see the lie at the heart of it all.

Meanwhile, Jesus is the truth, the bringer of life. And not just life, but life abundant. While Pilate proclaimed his ability to kill, Jesus demonstrated his ability to overcome death, thus revealing just how weak both the religious and political leaders were. Pilate may hold the stake, ready to drive it into the heart of love and truth embodied in human form…but Jesus is the one who carries his own cross, in control of the situation, giving himself away for the sake of those who cannot fathom that self-giving could be greater than their power of forceful taking.

In his self-giving, Jesus reveals just how weak and broken our power structures are, just how shaky the false foundation is, and how we cling to them despite all that. He holds up a mirror to the systems of this world, to us and our complicity in them — for they are not as different now as we would like to think.

We see how an innocent man can be condemned by the insistence of a few.
We see how inevitably the wheels of the justice system can turn toward a particular outcome, regardless of whether the person caught up in it is guilty or not.
We see how easily we are manipulated by those in positions of power in government or media, to think what they tell us to think even when it isn’t what we actually believe.

We see how quickly things change from seemingly harmless name-calling to dehumanising and brutalising another human being, believing them to be beneath us and deserving of abuse.
We see how easily abuse comes to our lips and then to our hands.
We see the lengths to which we will go to maintain the status quo.

It is not comfortable to look in that mirror, but it’s the one Jesus holds up to the world, to see that though we may feel powerful in the moment we do those things, in the moment we call someone a derogatory name or the moment we force someone else to do something or the moment we decide to abandon our principles for a quick win…that feeling of power is fleeting. And then too often we end up seduced by that tiny taste of power, and we do it again and again, like a drug we can’t let go of. But the truth is that these all-too-common behaviours are rooted in weakness and fear and lies, not in the source of light and life and truth.

And we all do it. There’s no point pretending we don’t. All of us have chosen, at one time or another, to try to tear down someone else and get that feeling of power over them. We’ve looked at people in positions of authority, people we don’t even know, and called them names to our friends. We’ve sat behind our screens and said things we’d never dare to say to someone’s face. We’ve laid aside our faith or our values to get something we wanted for less, pretending we don’t know the effect it has on others. We have all been seduced by the lies of power in one way or another.

The only way to change that is to be honest about it, to tell the truth, to look into that mirror Jesus holds up and admit our complicity in these systems of domination and abuse and exploitation and dehumanisation, to admit we have believed the stake is the power. And to then look to Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, who is love in the flesh, carrying the cross by himself.

On his own shoulders, he bears the weight of all those destructive ways of humankind. The means of his own torture and death are his burden, and he takes it up without a moment’s hesitation — in John’s gospel there’s no pleading in Gethsemane, no sense of struggle, this is his to do, because God so loved the world.

In this is love — not that we loved God, but that while we were yet sinners, unable to recognise the truth, unwilling to look in the mirror and acknowledge reality, God loved us. While we were listening to all those other voices that call — voices of grief, self-sufficiency, fear, competing expectations, and power, and so many others — the voice of truth and love has always been calling us out of those destructive ways and into abundant life. While we were clinging desperately to any shred of control we could find, betraying love to save our own skin, the good shepherd was laying down his life for the sheep.

And that kind of love is true power.

May it be so. Amen.

Online hymn 385: Here Hangs a Man Discarded (tune: Passion Chorale)
(in person Hymn 391: This is Your Coronation, tune passion chorale)

Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
We give you thanks, O God, for you so love the world —
your love created and is still creating,
your love saved and is still bringing wholeness,
your love sustains us all our days.
We praise you for your goodness
and we ask that we might reflect your image more clearly
into the world where you have placed us to live as your people.

You speak truth to power, Lord Jesus,
and we pray today for the grace to do the same.
As you stood firm,
revealing what is right even to those who could not choose the right,
we pray you would give us the courage to trust your word
and follow your way.
Give us eyes to see the truth,
and to change our ways to walk more closely with you.
And for those in positions of earthly authority, we pray the same:
eyes to see truth, and the will and courage
to align with your kingdom instead of their own power.
May all of us together be makers of peace and justice,
following the voice of the good shepherd who leads us into life.

You, Lord Jesus, are clear who you are, sure of your place in the story,
and we pray today for the grace to be the same.
As you stayed true to your purpose,
even in the midst of so many competing voices,
we pray you would clarify our self-understanding,
that we might recognise your call to be transformed,
and so to transform the ways of this world.
When we are tempted to give in to the voice of false power just this once,
speak your loving truth ever more clearly,
that we may echo your voice and find ourselves in abundant life instead.

We hear your call to reflect on our part in the brokenness
that sees some people as disposable or less than human.
You expose the workings we would rather ignore,
so we don’t have to know the truth of how people are treated in our name.
We pray this day for those who have been caught up in a justice system
that does not recognise their humanity,
and for those who simply write off others as irredeemable.
We pray this day for those whose work requires them to see others as less-than,
and for the harm that does to their own souls.
We pray this day for those who have been victims and still find retribution brings no justice.
May all people know the truth of their belovedness,
and may we all act from love, with love, for love.
Give us the imagination to see another way,
valuing all people and restoring one another to wholeness.

Loving God, this world feels so caught up in the power of death,
the shadow is long and we aren’t sure how to escape it.
We ask your companionship as we walk this valley,
and especially for those who suffer at the hands of another.
For people living in the midst of war or occupation,
for those fleeing for their lives,
for those seeking a future of hope,
for those whose homes are places of violence instead of refuge,
for those who have been taught that love hurts,
for those who have lost sight of possibility and see only despair,
we offer our prayers and our hearts…
and we hear you asking us to be an answer to prayer, too,
with hands and homes and resources open.
May your spirit of healing flow over your world, Lord.

Show us the truth this day,
and give us the steadfast courage to do what is right,
even if the cost is great.
We pray in the name of the Lamb of God
who protects us from the power of death and saves us all for abundant life,
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.

(In person Hymn 385: Here hangs a man discarded (tune: Salley Gardens))

Benediction
Friends go forth under the power and protection of the Lamb of God, to lay aside the lies of power and choose instead the love that is the way of truth and life. 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.

Postlude Music

Announcements

* Today is the last Sunday in the season of Lent, a season of preparing for Easter. During Lent we are invited to be particularly attentive to our spiritual practices, to remove things from our lives that are hindering our relationship with God, and to be diligent in pursuing faithful ways. This season is meant to get us ready to meet the risen Christ on the other side of the tomb, and to follow him wherever he will lead. The theme for worship during this Lenten season will be “Who’s Calling?” — thinking about how we incline our ear to the voice of Jesus through the cacophony of the world around us.

We are now entering Holy Week:
10 April:
11am, Passion Sunday service in St. John’s
4pm, CONNECT Palm Sunday event at OGA, with a light dinner served

11 – 15 April: self-guided prayer stations available in the St John’s sanctuary, to experience the Holy Week story in different ways. The Stations will be open on:
Monday, 10:30am – noon
Tuesday, 5-6:30pm
Wednesday, 10am – noon and 6-7:15pm
Thursday, 5-6:30pm,
Friday, 11:30am – 1pm
Saturday, 2-4pm

11-15 April:
7pm, Holy Week Services: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at OGA; Tuesday and Thursday at St. John’s (Thursday includes Communion)

16 April:
2-3pm, Easter Trail on Tower Hill
8:30pm, Easter Eve service in St. John’s

17 April:
7am, Easter service on Tower Hill
8am, Easter breakfast with communion in St. John’s large hall
11am, Easter service in St John’s sanctuary

*You are invited to join in reading the Bible in a year for 2022 — immersing ourselves in God’s word throughout the year. Click here to find a reading plan that’s five days a week (leaving a couple of days for catch up each week!). Watch this space for information about a Bible study as we go through the scriptures together!

* All worship is online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print) and we also meet in person, subject to the usual protocols for distancing, hand hygiene, mask wearing. We can now welcome up to 85-100 people for worship with one-chair-between-households distancing. No booking is required. Masks are required at all times inside the building, including while singing. 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.

* Tonight we will gather for evening prayer on the Connect Facebook Page, led tonight by Karen. Log on at 6:58pm to join in.

* The Kirk now has online giving! If you have not already 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 Peter Bennett, our treasurer, or Teri and she can give you his details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received. Remember: no one is coming to your door to collect your envelopes, so please stay safe!

* The Spring Church Notes are now available! You can read them by clicking here.

* The Lower Clyde Mission Group (of which St. John’s is a part) is hosting an Easter Trail on Saturday 16 April, on Tower Hill, from 2-3pm. All are welcome!

*Young Adults Bible Study is on Zoom most Sunday afternoons. Contact Teri for the link to join and for a copy of the book they are using.

Sunday Service for 28 March 2021, Palm Sunday

Sunday Service for 28 March 2021, Palm Sunday
Prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson, Gourock St. John’s
Manse phone: 632143, Email: tpeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

To hear an audio recording of this service, including music, call 01475 270037. Minutes should be included in your phone plan for landline numbers.

Young adult bible study is on Zoom at 1. If you or someone you know would like login details, please contact Teri.

The last session of our Lent Study will be online this Wednesday. Each day throughout the week we are learning about various people of faith through the ages on Lent Madness, and then on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 we will gather on Zoom to go more in depth about them and what we can learn from their faithfulness to help us on our own journeys with Christ. If you know someone who needs the details to join by audio only (by phone) please contact Teri for the details.

~~~

Call to Worship and Recognition
All creation reverberates with the Truth —
the very stones would shout!
Not just for one nation, but for every nation,
God’s promise comes to fruition,
even now.
Come, tune your life to the praise
of mountain and colt and stone,
preparing for the One who changes everything:
The King is coming!

Will we recognise him?

Recognise —

To see or understand something we have known before
A place we have been
A person we have met
A word we have heard

Sometimes we forget, sometimes we’ve been away for a while,
sometimes it was crowded out, sometimes we didn’t want to recall
but when the moment of recognition comes, it is just that:
Re – cognition. Knowing again.

In the beginning, God made humankind in God’s image.
In the beginning, God breathed into dust and ashes, and we came to life.
Along the way, God spoke, filling our ears with promise.
Along the way, God wrote the word on our hearts.

Yet we have forgotten, we’ve turned away for a while, we got busy, we didn’t want to recall.
We went our own way —
the way of the to-do list that can’t be set aside
the way of easy judgmental answers that put some out while we’re in
the way of accepting that wholeness, shalom, is an impossible, naive dream
the way of overlooking things that make us uncomfortable
the way of silencing those who do not fit our ideal
the way of self-sufficiency and self-preservation

The whole time, You have been here.
The whole time, You have been speaking, calling to us.
In the word, in the flesh, in our neighbour, in the stranger, in our hearts, in our communities,
you have been here all along,
and we have not recognised you.

Show us your way again, Lord.
Remind us of what we have forgotten, turned away from, crowded out, ignored.
Give us hearts and minds to recognise you,
wherever you reveal yourself today

We ask in the name of 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.

Hymn: Hosanna (Praise is Rising) by Paul Baloche

Luke 19:29-48, NRSV
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.”’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognise the time of your visitation from God.’
Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written,
“My house shall be a house of prayer”;
but you have made it a den of robbers.’
Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

Let us pray.
The crowds shout with joy,
and we are caught up in the moment,
singing and praising,
for we have indeed seen wondrous powerful things.
We bless you, O God,
for coming among us and drawing us to yourself.
We bless you for the truth of your story —
as you promised, so it has been and will be.
We bless you for the closeness of our connection with you,
and we pray for that same care and love within your Body,
as we learn again how to live in your different kind of kingdom.
Amen.

Sermon: Disruption
Today is Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, the week that leads up to Good Friday and then on to Easter. This is the week when the conflict comes to a head between who Jesus is, what he does, what he represents — the kingdom of God come near, in the flesh — and the powers of the world who want to maintain the status quo, to do everything according to their version of normal.

Luke’s version of Palm Sunday is a bit different than the other gospels — first of all, there are no palms! And second, no one shouts “Hosanna”!

Instead Luke tells us about people laying their cloaks down to line the road, and the crowd shouting “peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”

Does that sound familiar?

Remember way back, in the fields on Christmas night, the message the angels gave to the shepherds? Glory and peace. Peace to those who were frightened by the reality of God in their midst — there in the occupied territory, among the poor, in the midst of an oppressive regime. Glory to God, and peace.

That night the angels sang their song to terrified shepherds, who then ran into town to see if it was true, to see if there really was a baby wrapped in old clothes lying in a manger, who would change the world.

Today, some of the Pharisees tried to stop the joyful noise of the disciples who echoed the angels, proclaiming God’s glory and peace to a people living under occupation, longing for a different way yet unable to see how it could be.

And then Jesus looked at the city, at the Temple, at the centre of his people’s world, and wept, for they did not recognise the things that make for peace.

They did not recognise the things that make for peace.

They did not recognise the presence of God in their midst.

They did not recognise that the way they’d always done things was obscuring God’s new call.

They did not recognise the kingdom of God was at hand, and it was different. It wasn’t a nationalistic military power with waving palms and titles and flags and a bigger arsenal. It wasn’t business as usual where those who participated in injustice the rest of the week could simply pretend the hour they spent in the Temple made it alright, as if it was the robbers’ safe haven. It wasn’t going to be possible to live in God’s new kingdom with only the old ways of seeing, and being, and doing that the leaders used to uphold their position in the institution.

At Christmas we proclaimed that God was with us, the prince of peace. Throughout Jesus’ ministry we have seen him show us what it means that the kingdom of God is here, now, being fulfilled in him: the blind see, the sick are healed, the poor get good news, the hungry are fed, and jubilee makes justice possible. When he entered the Temple he removed those who made a place of prayer into a marketplace. Yet when the angels song echoed through the voices of the disciples, all the leaders could hear was disruption. Disruption of their good life, their ease and normality, their comfort and position. And they tried to silence it, because they would rather live with the evil they know and that benefits them, than to step into the unknown even if it is toward the kingdom of God.

That’s the challenge, isn’t it? That so often we are constrained by the ways we’ve been taught, the way things have always been. We want “normal” so badly that we forget that it doesn’t actually work — it doesn’t work for the environment, it doesn’t work for those who are kept poor, it doesn’t work for those who are excluded, it doesn’t work for those who happen to be born in different coloured skin or differently abled bodies or in other parts of the world from here. We have tried to address some of that injustice but the reality is that we are caught in the trap of thinking we can change things with the same methods that got us where we are. The system is designed for the results it is getting…and the only way change happens is to disrupt the way things are.

If only we recognised the things that make for peace. And when we won’t learn the ways of peace, Jesus tells us that war and suffering and destruction is the inevitable result.

What if disruption is the thing that makes for peace? Not just any disruption, but the disruption of Jesus. He stepped into this world and insisted that power could look different, that justice was possible, that feeding each other and touching the outcast and creating a community from all sorts of people from all walks of life was what God’s kingdom would look like. He stretched out his arms and gave his life because God is love, and he invited us to abide in love and so to abide in God. His way is a different economic set-up, his life is a deeper relationship with God and each other, his truth that God is with us will set us free.

If only we recognised that God is in our midst. If only we saw the image of God. If only we cared enough about it to serve rather than be served.

It’s no wonder the people were spellbound by his teaching, and no wonder his disciples shouted with joy when he came into the city, proclaiming all the incredible things they had seen. Jesus painted a compelling picture of what abundant life in God’s kingdom is like — and he didn’t just talk about it, he embodied it, the Word made flesh. He offered a truth our hearts recognise even if our minds refuse.

So it’s no wonder the leaders wanted to silence them.

But God’s good news cannot be silenced. The voice that said “let there be light” is the voice that said “love your neighbour” is the voice that said “I will write my word on their hearts” is the voice that said “this is my Son, the beloved” is the voice that said “today the scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” is the voice that said “you give them something to eat” is the voice that said “the first shall be last and the last shall be first” is the voice that calmed the sea saying “peace, be still” is the voice that said “this person is a child of Abraham” is the voice that said “the greatest among you must be your servant” is the voice that said “the stones would shout.”

This is the voice that will say “this is my body, given for you.” And the one that will say “into your hands I commend my spirit.” And the one that will meet us on the road to tell us stories we thought we knew.

Even the stones underfoot, the stones of the city walls, the stone in front of the tomb, proclaim the unfathomable grace of God.

Surely even hearts of stone can recognise this voice, can recognise the things that make for peace, can recognise God in our midst…and allow his disruption to change us, and so to change the world.

May it be so. Amen.

Musical Reflection: What Wondrous Love Is This

The Stones Shout Out
Take your stone in your hand. Look at it, turn it over, feel its contours, its weight, its shape.

If these stones could speak…
Would they tell us tales of being washed by the waves,
of being skipped over the surface of the water by children,
of being sniffed by dogs and serving as a perch for seagulls?
Would they tell us tales of being tumbled in the sea,
or of being pressed and pressed some more in the depths of the earth,
hot and cold,
bearing more than we can imagine?
Would they tell us tales of their past as sand or lime or lava?
Would they reveal the words God spoke in the beginning,
to bring them forth from the depths and fashion them into these colours and shapes?
Would we hear about the boulders they once were part of,
moving through the mountains and valleys to where we find them today?
If these stones could speak…
we might hear of times long past
we might hear of places far and near
we might get a different perspective…
Stones have been building blocks for buildings,
housing the joys and sorrows of everyday life,
the complexities of governing,
the mysteries of faith,
soaking up words and sounds and smells,
being carved by artists and visitors and children.
Stones have been the building blocks for roads,
carrying people here and there —
merchants and kings and fishermen and teachers,
women and men and children and animals and carts and cars.
Stones have been the building blocks of both war and peace,
thrown in anger,
stacked into walls,
built into sanctuaries for human and animal alike,
painted to share joy.
What stories these stones could tell!
Listen.
Hold your stone and listen —
Jesus says that when our voices are silent, the stones will shout.
The whole of creation reverberates with his good news:
The kingdom of God is among you!
The stones have seen kingdoms come and go,
yet still they hold the truth of the very beginning:
God’s word that created all things still runs through the heart of creation.
Listen to the stories the stone will tell,
the gospel it holds:
Jesus the Christ brings God’s kingdom here.
Let us join in welcoming him.

During this week, decorate your stone with an Easter message — perhaps a picture of an empty tomb, or an empty cross, or perhaps simply “christ is risen” or “alleluia”, or whatever message you think the stone wants to shout out today! When your stone is ready, take it on a walk and put it somewhere for someone else to find for Easter — the stones shout out the good news even when we can’t sing aloud!
You can use a Sharpie marker to decorate your stone, or paint. If you would like to use paint pens (very easy to use!), there are paint pens behind the door of the manse. Feel free to borrow a couple and then return them to the “used” cup, and I will disinfect them to be used by others.

Hymn 370: Ride On by John L Bell & Graham Maule

Benediction
Friends, listen for the good news of this Holy Week — that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, and Jesus not only shows us the way but is the way. As you proclaim that good news with your decorated stone and with your life, 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.

Announcements

* All worship is online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print) and we have also begun to meet in person, subject to the usual protocols for distancing, hand hygiene, mask wearing, and no singing yet. We can welcome 33 people for worship, so if you would like to come in person, please phone Cameron (630879) on a Friday morning between 10-12, or Anne Love (07904 617283) on a Saturday morning between 10-12 to book a place.

***Easter weekend will have two services: An Easter Vigil on Saturday evening at 8:30pm, and Easter Sunday morning at 11am. The same booking procedure applies to both services. An Easter service will also be available on our recording ministry by phoning 01475 270037 anytime after 11am on Easter morning.

* The theme for worship during the season of Lent is “Recognition” — a word which means “understanding something we previously knew/have seen before.” God has written the covenant in our hearts, and we have heard Jesus’ teaching before…where do we recognise him in our daily lives, what lessons is he reminding us about when he tells his parables, and how do we return our way to the way he has faithfully laid out for us, time and again?

* Each day of Lent — 40 days not including Sundays — I will be posting a video on our Facebook page about “Faith in 40 Objects” — household things that can inform our faith journey, depending on how we look at them!

* Evening Prayer with Connect will be led by David this evening. Join us on the Connect Facebook Page at 6:58pm.

***The coffee money that we normally send on to the school in Venda has been exhausted. If you would like to contribute to keep our donations to the school going, please contact Rab & Eileen for bank details for donations, phone 634159.

Sunday service for 5 April 2020 — Palm Sunday

5 April 2020: Palm Sunday
Service prepared by the Rev. Teri C Peterson,
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Contact: tpeterson@churchofscotland.org.uk,

Welcome and Announcements
Though we cannot be together in person, we can be together in spirit! Please note the following announcements:

1. Today is Palm Sunday! If you would like to join our palm parade, you can download and print your very own palm branch by clicking here. Colour it in and hang it in your window, so we can all join in welcoming Jesus together!

2. Churches across Scotland are calling people to join together in prayer on Sunday evenings at 7pm, placing a lit candle in the window and spending time in prayer for others. We will have a prayer service Live on our Facebook page at 7pm. In addition, the moderator of our Presbytery has asked us to pause each day at 11am to pray for healing, health care workers, and our community.

3. During Holy Week, there will be a Facebook Live devotion each day at some point during the day (some will be morning, afternoon, evening…). In addition, Holy Week At Home activities have been sent to families with young children — if you would like an emailed activity pack for P1 and younger, please email Teri and she’ll send it to you!

4. Feel free to share this with others, with the attribution information at the top. If you know someone who does not have access to the internet and who also does not receive the tape ministry, you can either print this service out and share it with them, or let Teri know via email or phone call and we will be sure they receive a printed copy.

5. Mid-week there is a devotional email that goes out, it will be printed and included with the following Sunday’s sermon distribution. You can subscribe to the email here.

6. Also mid-week there is a facebook live video devotional on the St. John’s Gourock Facebook page.

7. If you or a church member you know is in need of friendly phone calls or help with anything while they self-isolate, please contact Teri. Elders are already in contact with people in their districts as well, and you can pass information to them! We are hoping to continue and even deepen our connections to one another, building up the Body of Christ even when we can’t be in the building.

Call to Worship: Psalm 118.19-29 (NRSV)
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
   that I may enter through them
   and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
   the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
   and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
   it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
   O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
   We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God,
   and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
   up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
   you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Song: Hosanna / Praise is Rising

Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
Holy God, we come with hosannas and palms,
seeking your passion.
We seek to know your heart,
and to follow your way.
And yet we enter this week with trembling,
for we know it holds things we would rather avoid.
But you have promised never to leave us nor forsake us—
so walk this journey with us, Lord.
Or rather, guide us to walk with you.
For we confess that often we would prefer you to walk our way,
not the other way round.
We confess that we find it difficult to understand your intentions,
and sometimes your symbols are lost on us.
And we admit that we use our opinions as if they are your facts,
to keep others out and to silence other voices.
We come with hosannas and palms,
seeking your passion…
forgive us when we seek our own passion rather than yours,
when we turn our eyes from the cross
and, through our silence,
give power back to the violent status quo.
May your forgiveness take root in us,
that we may turn and re-turn
until we are transformed into your people of love.
Open our lips, O God, that we may declare your praise.
We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, Love Incarnate, 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.

Sung prayer 382, verses 2-3
(tune: Passion Chorale, O Sacred Head Now Wounded)

O Lord of life and glory,
what bliss till now was thine!
I read the wondrous story;
I joy to call thee mine.
Thy grief and bitter Passion
were all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.

What language shall I borrow
to praise thee, heavenly Friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine for ever,
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never,
never outlive my love to thee.

Scripture Reading: Mark chapter 11, verses 1-11 (NIV)

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.”’
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?’ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
‘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 heaven!’
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since 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.

Sermon: The story is in the details

I have some friends who have said that in these days of “distancing” and “lockdown” and “isolation”, they notice more than ever when there are crowds of people in, for instance, television shows. It has already been so drilled into us to stay two metres apart, even after just a few weeks, that it’s startling to see crowds jostling each other on screen. It feels almost like a different world.

This story of Jesus entering Jerusalem feels a bit like that, as it’s full of things we can’t do right now….there are people moving about, going from town to town, and then lining the streets like a crowd at a parade, shaking out clothes and laying them down, handing out branches, shouting near each other without face masks….it’s startling how quickly something like this starts to feel unusual.

Of course, that day was unusual. Not because of the parade aspect — that may actually have been the most normal part of the day. At Passover there would be throngs of people coming to Jerusalem, making their pilgrimage to the holy city for the holy festival. And often those already in the city, whether residents or pilgrims who arrived earlier, would line the streets and welcome them. Normally they would do so by singing psalms, and the pilgrims would respond…and there are several psalms set aside for just this purpose, for going up to Jerusalem and for welcoming others in. Notice in our opening psalm today, Psalm 118, there is a line for those who are in the city already: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.” And there is a response from those who are entering: “The Lord is God, and he has given us light.” The psalm even mentions the branches!

But the details of the day…they were unusual. Mark’s gospel is renowned for its details, things that you wouldn’t expect to hear, as when he notes that during the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus had people sit down on the green grass, or when Jesus was asleep on the boat during a storm, he had a pillow. So I want to just explore a few of the little details Mark gives us in this story, details that we might usually gloss over. Why do these little details matter? Mark is a good storyteller, and he is the most concise of the gospel writers. He never wastes a word in conveying the point he wants to get across, so he would not have included them if he didn’t think they were important for some reason. Each of these seemingly insignificant details must tell us something about Jesus, and about the drama that is unfolding in Jerusalem.

Bethany was about 2 miles from Jerusalem. There Jesus sent his disciples to look for a donkey — which would have been the normal mode of transport, of course, aside from walking. But this wasn’t just any donkey, it was a young, unbroken, never-been-ridden-before donkey. Why does it matter that the donkey is, shall we say, new?

In the prophets of the Old Testament we read that God’s anointed one will come, not on a warhorse, but on a donkey, a humble everyday pack animal. In contrast to the Roman emperor and his officials, Jesus enters God’s city in God’s way, and anyone who knew of his teaching and healing and then saw this entry would understand the reference. But why a young donkey that had never been ridden? Even the most humble person shouldn’t need to subject themselves to an unbroken colt. Then again, in the prophets we hear God saying “behold, I am doing a new thing…”. Could there be some symbolism here, of a new thing entering the holy city? Completely new, and maybe a little awkward to watch….. Not just a new king, but a completely new way of living, of understanding the world, of knowing God.

Most homes at the time had a space at the front of the ground floor for animals to live. But this donkey was tied up in the doorway….not inside the house, not somewhere separate outside either. It was in in-between space, public and private at the same time. Why does it matter that the donkey was tied up in a doorway?

This week, Jesus is in and out of Jerusalem every day. The whole week feels a bit like the city and the disciples and even Jesus holding their breath. We are at the threshold of something big, but it isn’t all the way out in the open just yet. Each moment of the week takes us in and out…big public moments in the Temple, private moments in back rooms, and in-between in dining rooms with friends. There’s a lot of coming and going, as if we need reminding that Jesus and the ways he is changing the world affect every arena, not just public life, not just private life, but all of life.

When the disciples untied the donkey from its doorway parking space, people questioned them, and the next unusual detail emerges: they said the teacher needed it, and would bring it back shortly. When exactly was Jesus planning to return the donkey?

I confess that there is a part of me that wonders if that detail is actually answered in the next bit:

Jesus entered the city, and went up to the outer court of the Temple, and looked around…. “but since it was already late” he turned right around and went back to Bethany for the night. Why was it late? Did they get a late start? Did the unbroken donkey colt take longer to ride than he anticipated? Was there a big crowd and they couldn’t move fast enough? And why simply look and then turn around and go two miles back up the Mount of Olives to the very place they’d just left?

…was he late returning the donkey?
It does seem as if Mark is trying to tell us that the procession into the city took a very long time, not just the 45 minutes or so you would expect if you were making the journey in normal circumstances. Sadly, I think this might be one detail whose background we will never know for certain, but it is interesting to think about why it might have taken such a long time to go two miles! Perhaps it’s a reminder that we cannot control God’s timing.

And one last detail, which all the gospel writers give us, and which is even in the Psalm if we know what to look for, but which often escapes us as modern readers in English translation. The crowd was shouting Hosanna — which we sometimes use as if it’s interchangeable with Hallelujah, but it isn’t really. Hosanna means “save us” — did you see it in the psalm? “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord” the psalmist wrote. Though, interestingly, in the responsive use of the psalm, those are the words said by the people approaching Jerusalem, and in the gospel story of Palm Sunday they are the words said by the crowd welcoming him into Jerusalem. And, of course, the name Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) has the same root as Hosanna….Jesus means “God saves”. So there is no one better for them to shout “Hosanna — save us!” to than the one whose very name is salvation.

It’s probably obvious why the order of the psalm response would be reversed. Of course it is the crowd that needs saving, and Jesus that can deliver. There would be no need for Jesus to be the pilgrim chanting those words, of course, when he embodies God’s salvation in himself.

I wonder, if we were to join the crowd, welcoming Jesus into the city, what would we be asking of him? When we call out “save us, we beseech you!” what are we asking for? Right now, of course many of us would ask for saving from pandemic viruses. But when we take all these details into account — the threshold at which we stand, the new thing that Jesus is doing, which is all-encompassing of every aspect of our private and public lives, the fact that God’s time is not always aligned with ours — what are we asking when we pray for The One Who Saves to rescue us?

The crowds that day were likely asking God “save us from Rome!”

Perhaps some of us today are praying “save us from ourselves!” as we become uncomfortably aware of things within us that are normally masked by our activities and relationships and busyness.
Or maybe “save us from each other!” if being cooped up together is starting to get to us!
Save us from illness…..save us from death…..save us from grief….save us from despair….
Some might be praying to save our economy, save our NHS, save our planet…

Whatever you are praying for today, know this: Jesus is salvation. Not just his name, but his life, his presence, his Way, his Truth. And he turns everything around, from the order of the psalm response, to the order of the world. He is doing a new thing that no one else can accomplish, and it will involve all of us—heart, soul, mind, and strength—in his love.

May it be so. Amen.

Offering Prayer
Lord, you call us to match our giving to our gratitude.
It feels impossible, for all we have is a gift from you,
and we cannot hope to fully express our thanks.
But with you, all things are possible.
Teach us again that in giving, we are able to receive,
and in practicing generosity, we become more like you.
Bless these gifts, the fruits of our labour,
that they may in turn bless others, bringing glory to you
and a glimpse of your kingdom on earth.
We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

You are invited to place your offering envelope in a safe place until we can meet again. Or, if you haven’t already, to consider setting up a standing order so that your spiritual practice of giving can continue. Please remember: no one will come to your door to collect your offering while the church building is closed! Stay safe.

Offering Response Hymn 392, verse 4
(tune: Rockingham, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross)

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
We call out, O God…
We call out in praise and gratitude, for all your gifts to us.
For your love and mercy,
for the gift of your Son living among us,
for the gift of your Spirit living within us,
for the gift of your creation sustaining our life,
for the gift of minds and hearts that seek to serve.
We call out to you, offering our thanks
for those who are
tirelessly researching;
processing tests and scans;
working behind the scenes;
keeping shelves stocked and rooms clean;
tending the sick and dying;
assisting neighbours;
phoning friends.
May they know that they are your hands and feet,
and may they sense your presence with them,
and working through them.
…
We call out to you, O God, for you are the one who saves us.
We call out in fear, in anxiety, in grief…
We call out in hope, in trust, in love…
For those who are
ill, at home or in hospital or in care;
bereaved, and unable to grieve with friends;
anxious or depressed, and missing their coping strategies;
lonely, and feeling forgotten;
living amidst violence, and wondering how to find safety.
Send your healing, comforting Spirit to fill them,
and bring peace and hope like a light in the shadows.
…
We call out to you, O God, for you are the one who saves us.
We call out, because injustice depends on our silence.
We call out on behalf of those whose voices have been muted.
For those places and peoples in the midst of war, famine, violence, and unrest:
May your peace transform all things, in homes and streets and halls of power.
For those who are counting on our attention being diverted:
May your goodness be stronger than evil.
For those who have lost jobs, or homes, or independence, or hope:
May your kindness be evident in the hands of friend and stranger.
For all of us, in the midst of this upheaval:
May we remember that you turned things upside down,
and may your courage sustain us as we seek to do your will even now.
…
We call out to you, O God: Hosanna, Jesus.
Amen.

Song: Hosanna to the King

Benediction
Whatever is on your heart when you cry out “Hosanna, save us”, know that the Spirit of God goes above you to watch over you; the Spirit of God goes beside you to be your companion; the Spirit of God goes before you to show you the way, and behind you — to push you into places you might not go alone; and the Spirit of God goes 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 Response (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.

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Palm Sunday service 13 April 2025

Sunday service for 24 March 2024, Palm Sunday

Sunday service for 2 April 2023: Palm Sunday

Sunday Service for 10 April 2022, Passion Sunday

Sunday Service for 28 March 2021, Palm Sunday

Sunday service for 5 April 2020 — Palm Sunday

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