Palm Sunday, Apr. 13 at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday of the Passion - Palm Sunday
9:30 Service
Welcome to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, a welcoming and
diverse community seeking to walk in the Way of Jesus and to reveal Christ’s
reconciling love in our city, nation, and world.
Get Involved: If you fill out a “Let’s Get Connected Card” found in your pew, or at the Welcome Table by the door where you came into the church, we’d be glad to keep you up to date with all that’s happening at Holy Communion. Or, simply scan the QR code below to visit holycommunion.net where you can share your contact information, find a worship bulletin, read the latest news, and more.
Communion: “These are the gifts of God for the people of God.” At Church of the Holy Communion, we believe that it is Christ himself who invites us to meet him in the bread and the cup. Though it is known by many names - Communion, Mass, Holy Eucharist, The Lord’s Supper, the Sacrament of the Altar - it is the means by which Christ’s real presence abides with us by faith. Therefore, all are welcome to receive. When it comes time for Communion, please follow the directions of the Greeters. The bread is offered to all, with gluten free wafers available, upon request, from the minister. If you would like to receive the wine, you may either drink from the cup, or intinct (dip) the wafer in the wine. Likewise, it is acceptable to receive only the bread, if for personal or health reasons you prefer to not consume wine. Those not receiving Communion, may also come forward. Indicate to the minister that you do not wish to receive Communion by simply crossing your arms across your chest, and the minister will offer a prayer for God’s blessing in your life.
Kids are expected! Kids are expected to act their age and encouraged to fully participate in worship as themselves. The Pray Ground (the carpeted area in the front, near the chapel) is open and Worship Wonder Bags for The Way of Love are encouraged to be used for engaging in the worship. Kids are also welcome to help the greeters with the offering plates.
Accessibility: “Priority Seating” is provided for caretakers of those with mobility needs. Our entrances have auto-open buttons, and our elevator is ADA compliant. Both the downstairs restrooms and one of the upstairs restrooms are accessible.
Hearing Assistance: Hearing assistance devices are available from the welcome table. If you have any questions, just ask a Greeter.
Donations: We welcome donations to support the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. Monetary donations can be placed in the offering plate that will be passed during the service, put in the wooden offering box found at the Welcome Table, by scanning the QR code below, or by electronic donations set up through your bank or on the church website, holycommunion.net
Thank you!
The Liturgy of the Palms
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in Heaven and Glory in the highest!
Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.
The Blessing of the Palms
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palms along the way.
(Please raise palms for blessing.)
Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Entrance Hymn All Glory Laud and Honor
The congregation processes into the Church and sings.
Collect of the Day
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of our God.
Hosanna in the highest!
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Silence is kept for a time.
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lessons
First Lesson Please be seated. Zephaniah 3:12-20
For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord—
the remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
and no one shall make them afraid.
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgements against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 118:19-29
Give thanks to God who is good;*
God's mercy endures for ever.
Let Israel now proclaim*
"God's mercy endures for ever." REFRAIN
Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to God.
"This is the gate of the Holy One; *
those who are righteous may enter." REFRAIN
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is God's doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
On this day the Holy One has acted;*
we will rejoice and be glad in it. REFRAIN
Hosanna, O God, hosanna! *
O Holy One, send us now success.
Blest is the one who comes in the name of God; *
we bless you from the house of God. REFRAIN
God is the Holy One who has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
"You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you."
Give thanks to God who is good;*
God's mercy endures for ever. REFRAIN
Sequence Hymn Lay Me Low
Please rise, in body or in spirit.
The Holy Gospel
Please rise in body or spirit. Luke 19: 28-40
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After he had said this, he 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: “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.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Children’s Message
Sermon The Rev. Julie Graham
A brief moment of silence is observed.
Prayers of the People
Deacon Creator God, by the mercies of your son, our Lord, Jesus, compel us to TURN our hearts to his Way of Love. That we might follow Jesus together as your faithful people, we pause, listen, and respond in prayer, saying: Jesus, guide us in your way.
Leader Son of God, you responded to your Father in PRAYER and pleaded that we might all be one. Guide the leaders and faithful citizens of this nation to respond to God and to one another in compassion — in thought and deed, with or without words — that the people might live in unity and peace. We pray together,
People Jesus, guide us in your way.
Leader Jesus, your life, death, resurrection, and ascension inspire the church to continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship. Guide your people to LEARN your Word, that we might see God’s story unfolding in our midst. We pray together,
People Jesus, guide us in your way.
Leader Lord, you came not to be served but to serve. Empower us to BLESS one another and our neighbors this city, that your spirit of generosity, compassion, and selfless action transform us and the people in our midst. We pray together,
People Jesus, guide us in your way.
Leader Lamb of God, in your death you destroyed death and taught us the way to eternal life. Compel us to daily die to self and REST in your grace. May all who have died, [especially N., N.], rest in peace and rise in glory. We pray together,
People Jesus, guide us in your way.
Leader Light of the World, you taught us to WORSHIP in spirit and in truth. Lead us to join with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, that the whole world might be united in the truth of your love. We pray together,
People Jesus, guide us in your way.
Leader Savior, you came into our midst that we might know life. Embolden us to GO among those who are weary, burdened, sick, or imprisoned, especially those we now name silently or aloud, that we might live like you, crossing the boundaries that divide rich from poor, sick from well, and sinner from saint. We pray together,
People Jesus, guide us in your way.
The Celebrant offers this concluding collect:
Lord Jesus Christ, who gave your life for the life of all, we commit our lives to
following you. Continually guide us in your way and draw us in, that we might live
as your Beloved Community in this age and in age to come;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
All Amen.
Peace Please rise in body or in spirit.
The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
You are invited to greet those around you by saying “Peace be with you” or simply “Peace.”
Welcome and Announcements
Please be seated for a few brief announcements.
Offertory Anthem
Lift Up Your Heads from Messiah by G.F. Handel, arr. Hal H. Hopson
Offertory Hymn
Please rise in body or in spirit and sing as the plates are brought forward.
The Holy Communion
Celebrant God be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. For our sins he was lifted high upon the cross, that he might draw the whole world to himself; and, by his suffering and death, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who put their trust in him.
Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy and gracious God: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and maker and of all.
Jesus stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Savior Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper Jesus took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, Almighty God, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in Christ. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Savior. By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and for ever. AMEN.
Lord’s Prayer Pray in the language of your heart.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu Nombre, venga tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal. Porque tuyo es el reino, tuyo es el poder, y tuya es la gloria, ahora y por siempre. Amén
Breaking of the Bread
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore, let us keep the feast.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Music During Communion
The congregation is invited to join in the singing of communion hymns.
My Faith Looks up to Thee LEVAS #88
I am the Bread of Life Hymnal 1982 #335
Post Communion Prayer All are invited to rise or to kneel in body or in spirit.
God of abundance, you have fed us
with the bread of life and cup of salvation;
you have united us with Christ and one another;
and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth.
Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim
your redeeming love to the world and continue forever
in the risen life of Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Concluding Hymn Were You There? LEVAS #37
Join us in Mitchell Hall for the FINAL Way of Love in Lent session!
WORSHIP: The Gathering of God’s People (Zephaniah 3:12-20). This session includes a clear call to worship God and give thanks for all God’s blessings. Participants try out practices designed to help them see the glory of God in all things, turning life itself into an act of worship.
GO: The Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1-12). On Easter morning, we go from the tomb into the world, ready to take up Jesus' life and mission, and to share resurrection hope in our words and actions.
Service Leaders
Preacher: The Rev. Julie Graham
Celebrant: The Rev. Earl Mahan
Deacon: The Rev. Chester Hines
Music Director: Mary Chapman
Organist: Earl Naylor
Reader: Bradley Currey
Intercessor: Alison Nash
Crucifer: Scott Ferguson
Torch Bearers: Denise Atimango Abwola, Sherifa Olivia Buthune
Chalice Bearers: Kari Potts, Andrew Wasson
Greeters: Elizabeth Hines, Carol Schmidt
Announcements: Kellie McCoy
Streamer: Markie Jo Crismon
Holy Week Schedule
Please join us on the path to the cross this Holy Week.
Services are as follows:
Maundy Thursday, April 17: 7:00 pm Holy Eucharist Service with foot washing
Good Friday, April 18: 12:00-3:00 pm Stations of the Cross and Labyrinth Walk
7:00 pm Choral Service
Easter Vigil, April 19: 8:00 pm Great Vigil Service (followed by dessert potluck)
*No Compline
Easter Sunday, April 20: 8:00 am Spoken Service
10:30 am Choral Eucharist Service + Egg Hunt
Vestry
Fran Caradonna, Senior Warden
Joe Donahou, Junior Warden
Kellie McCoy, Treasurer
Pat Redington, Secretary
Rebecca Comas
Heidi Volkl
Andrew Wasson
Tim Anderson
Rudy Walz
Gloria Grenwald
Announcements
More information on upcoming events can be found at holycommunion.net
Financial Peace University Class: STARTING Monday nights from 6:30-8pm, May 5 - June 30, in the Undercroft. FPU is a nine-week class that teaches you step by step how to master budgeting, attack debt, save for emergencies, and take control of your finances. Teens & households of all kinds, at any income level, are welcome. Contact our facilitators to sign-up or inquire: Treasurer, Kellie McCoy (treasurer@holycommunion.net; 910-322-7020); Vestry Member, Heidi Volkl (ascending2truth@yahoo.com; 417-393-5973). Registration Deadline: TODAY, April 13.
Easter Flower & Musician Offerings: Easter offering envelopes can be found in the pews of the Sanctuary, or stacked in the Narthex entries, if you would like to make a contribution towards Easter flowers or musicians. To request a memorial or honorary acknowledgment in Easter bulletins, please write name(s) on the envelope. Submission deadline for adding names to bulletins: TODAY, April 13.
Farming While Black: On Tues, April 15 at 6pm, attend a showing of the documentary, Farming While Black, hosted by the students of Brittany Woods Middle School in UCity. Light dinner offered beforehand (5:15pm) and the students grew the produce themselves! Support our student community at this FREE event! Location: UCity High School Auditorium, 7401 Balson Ave. Email office@holycommunion.net for the RSVP link.
Laundry Love: Through Laundry Love, Holy Communion members have supported our University City community since 2017. Each third Tuesday of the month, this ministry shares pizza and conversation, while putting quarters in the machines for our neighbors. Join us on April 15, 6-8 p.m. at Classic Coin Laundromat on Balson Ave. Sign up on website under the Service & Outreach > Laundry Love tab.
Easter Service Set-up: Volunteers are needed on Sat, April 19 at 9 a.m., to help set up for the Easter Vigil & Easter Sunday services! Help put everything back in place after Maundy Thursday/Good Friday, and assist with arranging flowers and lilies in the Nave. Contact Jean Parker to sign up: jparker7435@att.net
Easter Vigil Dessert Feast: Easter Vigil Dessert is back in full this year! Following Saturday’s 8 pm Easter Vigil service (Sat, Apr. 19), we celebrate the resurrection with a dessert feast! Bring your favorite dessert to share at the party after, as we make a toast and celebrate with a chocolate fountain.
Church Work Day: On Saturday, April 26, help Holy Communion with Spring cleaning! Join the Building & Grounds Committee to help with yard work, indoor painting, and other tasks to refresh our place of worship. Take an opportunity to get to know congregation members, sip good coffee & eat donuts. Come as you are able, from 9am-12pm. Email Bob Lowes for more information: robertlowes1@gmail.com
Baptism & Birthday Sunday: On Sunday, April 27, Jeremiah Houry (parents, Erin & Jordan Houry) will be Baptized at the 10:30 service. Come and join in support of the Houry family, as we welcome baby Jeremiah into the loving arms of Jesus Christ! April birthdays will also receive a birthday blessing at this service.
Holy Communion Staff
The Rev. Earl Mahan, Rector
call 314-721-7401 x303 text 314-669-6231
The Rev. Julie Graham, Associate Rector
call 314-721-7401 x302 text 314-886-7594
The Rev. Chester Hines, Deacon
call 314-367-7332 chinesj@charter.net
Darcy Brainard, Parish Administrator
call 314-721-7401 x301
Mary Chapman, Director of Music
Earl Naylor, Organist
Jim Kern, Financial Administrator
