Palm Sunday: Procession with Palms

This version of the Palm Sunday Procession with Palms combines elements from several sources. The response: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” is taken from the Palm Sunday Gospel, and is found in the most ancient Palm Sunday liturgies.

The service begins in the back of the church.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Dear friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing for the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration with the church throughout the world. Christ entered Jerusalem this day in triumph, a triumph that led through suffering and death to resurrection and new life. In faith and love may we follow our Messiah, this humble ruler, who comes riding on a donkey.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!

Let us pray.

O God, to love and cherish you is true righteousness. Increase in our hearts the gifts of your grace. Just as you have given us hope for the things we believe through the death of your only Son, by his resurrection lead us to follow him where he has gone; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

A thanksgiving over the palms may be said here: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise. We give you thanks, almighty and eternal God, for sending your only Son in the fullness of time to redeem the world with his obedient life and innocent death. When he entered Jerusalem he was hailed as king by those who spread their garments and palm branches on his path. We carry these branches as signs of the victory he accomplished. Let his victory remain with us, even as we take up our crosses and follow him, that we may die and rise with him, and finally enter his kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

If Palm Sunday is observed as Passion Sunday, the Palm Sunday Gospel is read here.   The Holy Gospel according to St. _____, the _____ chapter. A Matthew 21:1-11   B Mark 11:1-10    C Luke 19:28-40 The Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ.

Let us go forth in peace,
in the name of the Lord.

‘All Glory, Laud, and Honor’ or another Palm Sunday hymn is sung. Children, choirs and others may process to the altar carrying palm branches.

Refrain:
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

1 You are the King of Israel
and David’s royal Son,
now in the Lord’s name coming,
our King and Blessed One.          Refrain

2 The company of angels
is praising you on high,
and we with all creation
in chorus make reply.           Refrain

3 The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayers and anthems
before you we present.           Refrain

4 To you before your passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise.           Refrain

5 As you received their praises,
accept the prayers we bring,
O Source of ev’ry blessing,
our good and gracious King.           Refrain

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!

The service continues with the Prayer (Collect) of the Day and the Lessons.

Narrative paragraph is modified from public domain sources.

Prayer: Freely modified from an ancient collect at the Procession of Palms.

For reference, read this history of Palm Sunday from the Lutheran Missal project. 

Thanksgiving Over the Palms is newly composed for A Collection of Prayers.

Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor is from Hymnary.org.

For a video of a similar liturgy, with the Palm Sunday Gospel read, see this YouTube video:

 

See also http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/lhwe/ps.html
and: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday

Richard J. Fairchild