The Parish Church of St Brelade

with St Aubin on the Hill

Palm Sunday
Today we come together to begin our solemn celebration of Holy
Week in union with our brothers and sisters around the world.
Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to
suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith and
love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his
risen life.

Alleluia! Alleluia! See our king comes riding on a donkey. Let us

praise him in word and deed. Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ according to Luke
Glory to you, O Lord.
Luke 19:28-40
28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to
Jerusalem. 29When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany,
at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the
disciples, 30saying, ‘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. 31If anyone asks you, “Why are you
untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ 32So those who
were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33As they
were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you
untying the colt?’ 34They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ 35Then they
brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt,
they set Jesus on it. 36As he rode along, people kept spreading
their cloaks on the road. 37As 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, 38saying, ‘Blessed is the
king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and
glory in the highest heaven!’
39
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher,
order your disciples to stop.’ 40He answered, ‘I tell you, if these
were silent, the stones would shout out.’

Blessing of the Palms

God our Saviour, whose Son Jesus Christ
entered Jerusalem as Messiah to suffer and
to die, let these palms be to us signs of his
victory; and grant that we who bear his name
may ever hail him as our King, and follow him
in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now
and forever. Amen
 Hymn:

All glory laud and honour,

to thee, Redeemer King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

The company of angels

Are praising thee on high,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.

To thee before thy passion

They sang their hymns of praise;
To thee now high exalted
Our melody we raise.

Thou art the King of Israel,

Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest,
The King and Blessed One.

The people of the Hebrews

With palms before thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before thee we present.

Thou didst accept their praises;

Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious king.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
Jesus did not shrink from fulfilling God’s plan
to set us free from the sin that separates us
from God. Let us enter into his light and
accept God’s gift of grace for us.
When we have followed the world’s lead
more than God’s word, Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.
When we have served our own wants more than other’s needs,
Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy.
When we have pursued our ambitions more than the growth of
God’s kingdom,
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

May God who is both power and love, forgive us

and free us from all that binds us, healing and
strengthening us by his Spirit, and raising us to
new life in Christ our Lord. Amen

THE COLLECT for Palm Sunday

Lord, your love is broken open among
cheering crowds and traitor’s coins,
deserting friends and hands washed clean,
the mockery of power and the baying mob:
as we follow your way of passion, give us
the faith to bring our weak and divided
hearts to the foot of the cross and the door
of the unguarded tomb, that they might be
opened, astonished and healed; through
JESUS CHRIST, who carries the weight of
the world. Amen
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke,
Glory to you, O Lord.

Luke 23:1-49
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before
Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man
perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor,
and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ 3Then Pilate
asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You
say so.’ 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I
find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ 5But they were
insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout
all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a

Galilean. 7And when he learned that he was under Herod’s
jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusa-
lem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for
he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had
heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some
sign. 9He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no
answer. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently
accusing him. 11Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with
contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him,
and sent him back to Pilate. 12That same day Herod and Pilate
became friends with each other; before this they had been
enemies.

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and
the people, 14and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one
who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in
your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your
charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back
to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16I will
therefore have him flogged and release him.’
 18 Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Re-
lease Barabbas for us!’ 19(This was a man who had been put in
prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for
murder.) 20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them
again; 21but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ 22A third
time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found
in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have
him flogged and then release him.’ 23But they kept urgently de-
manding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their
voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand
should be granted. 25He released the man they asked for, the
one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and
he handed Jesus over as they wished.

26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene,

who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on
him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A great number of the
people followed him, and among them were women who were
beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned to
them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but
weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the days are
surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and
the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never
nursed.” 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on
us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” 31For if they do this when the
wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put
to death with him. 33When they came to the place that is called
The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on
his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive
them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast
lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching;
but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him
save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ 36The
soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour
wine, 37and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save
yourself!’ 38There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the
King of the Jews.’
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept
deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save
yourself and us!’ 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you
not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of
condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly,
for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man
has done nothing wrong.’ 42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom.’ 43He replied, ‘Truly I tell you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.’

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole
land until three in the afternoon, 45while the sun’s light failed; and
the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, crying
with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the
centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said,
‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ 48And when all the crowds
who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken
place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49But all his
acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from
Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

This is the Gospel of the Lord; Praise to you, O Christ.

The reading is followed by the Tenebrae Choir singing

‘Crucifixus’ by Antonio Lotti.

REFLECTION:
 Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry.
O Saviour meek, pursue Thy road,
With palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die.
O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O'er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!

The angel armies of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes
To see the approaching Sacrifice.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!

Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father on His sapphire throne
Expects His own anointed Son.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die.
Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain.
Then take, O Christ, Thy power and reign.
 PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION:
The response is:
Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
At the end:
Holy God, holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

THE PEACE:

We, who were enemies of one another and

of life, have been reconciled by the free gift
of God; for while we were still at war, God
has made peace by the blood of the cross.

The peace of the Lord be with you always; and also with you.
PEACE BE TO YOU!
 Hymn:

From heaven you came helpless babe,

Entered our world, your glory veiled;
Not to be served but to serve,
And give your life that we might live.

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.

There in a garden of tears,

My heavy load he chose to bear;
His heart with sorrow was torn,
‘Yet not my will but yours’ he said.

Come see his hands and his feet,

The scars that speak of sacrifice,
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered.

So let us learn how to serve,

And in our lives enthrone him;
Each others needs to prefer,
For it is Christ we’re serving.
 The Lord is here
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.

Now is the time to give you thanks

When rage and spite deface your image.
You are the undying one whose gift of life never ceases;
You journeyed with your people to break the bonds of slavery;
You gave the law of justice to free them from lifeless idols;
You called the prophets and judges to speak
for the dispossessed.
When empires ruled you gave your Beloved to systems which
silenced what they could not control, and wormed their way into
our colluding hearts.
In his self-offering love the wound of torment became a healing
spring, the place of execution a gateway into life.
Therefore we stand with all the victims,
The faithless and the treacherous,
And the ones who only followed orders,
Knowing we depend on grace to speak of life renewed:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes

in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
 On the night before he died, Jesus
shared a meal with his friends. He took
the bread, and thanked you. He broke it,
and gave it to them, saying: Take and
eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of
wine. He thanked you, and gave it to
them, saying: Drink this, all of you. This
is my blood, the new promise of God's
unfailing love. Do this to remember me.
Let us proclaim God’s truth:
Jesus Christ has died.
Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine, and remember his
death and resurrection, send your Holy Spirit, that we who
share these gifts may be fed by Christ's body and his blood.
Pour your Spirit on us that we may love one another, work for
the healing of the earth, and share the good news of Jesus,
as we wait for his coming in glory.
For honour and praise belong to you, Father, with Jesus your
Son, and the Holy Spirit: one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread

Jesus took bread; he gave thanks

and broke the bread
His life is our life.
Jesus took the cup and said: drink from it all of you.
His life is our life.
See, here is your God coming to you in gifts of bread and wine.
The gifts of God for the people of God.

Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sin,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace

Come, come to our Lord’s table and receive his gifts of suste-
nance, sacrifice and love. Gifts freely and generously given to
save us from ourselves and the world we have created. Come,
be restored in him and for him. It is Jesus who invites you.
Lord, we do not deserve it, but help us to receive your
unconditional love.
All may now receive communion.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS:
Lord, we thank you that in your passion you offer forgiveness
and invite us to be with you, where hunger is no more and death
has no dominion: may the broken bread of life fracture our stony
hearts for the sake of another world. Amen

Lord of this feast beyond measure and price; we thank you

for meeting us in our brokenness so that none might be
lost: liberate us now to share bread with our neighbour,
each receiving from the other what we need to be ourselves.
Amen
 Hymn

I cannot tell how he whom angels worship

should stoop to love the peoples of the earth,
or why as shepherd he should seek the wanderer
with his mysterious promise of new birth.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary,
when Bethlehem's manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently he suffered,

as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted,
and stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
for yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is here.

I cannot tell how he will win the nations,

how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun shall shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,

when, at his bidding, every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with perfect love is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad, myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer:
'At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!'
May the cross be the sign in which we begin again to undo the
cords of violence, the misery of exclusion, and proclaim the love
without conditions; and the blessing of God, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, be with you and all those you love and care for, now
and forever. Amen
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ. Amen