Palm Sunday Service - Live on RTE

Arklow Presbyterian Church are really excited to announce that we will be celebrating the Palm Sunday Service, this coming Sunday, live on RTE.   

The Service will be led by  Rev. Michael Anderson and Music Director, Alison Crammond.  

We have chosen some beautiful hymns for this very special occasion which will be sung by Tara Crammond & Holly Prestage; Sharon, Kate & Laura O’Sullivan; and Elaine & Rebecca Kearon.   

Some younger members of the Arklow Shipping Silver Band, with their teacher Mr Artur Bosy will be in attendance, adding a lovely dimension to the worship of the King of Kings.  🏻 

The Service will be televised on the 28th of March at 11:00 am on RTE 1.  The service will have a link at 11:00am on Sunday, if you click on rte.ie/live.  The service will be available on the  RTE player for the next 3 weeks following the broadcast. 

RTE Palm Sunday Service Order  TRANSCRIPT
 
INTROIT     To be in your presence (Sharon and Elaine)         2 min 32 secs
WELCOME and INTRODUCTION            Michael      1 min 40 secs
OPENING PRAYER and LORD’S PRAYER            2 min 12 secs
INTRODUCTION TO KING OF KINGS                      1 min 10 secs
 
PRAISE           King of Kings (All)                 2 min 40 secs
READING Mathew 21 v 1-11        Tara                     1 min 45 secs
INTRODUCTION TO ‘SING HOSANNA’           Michael      45 secs
 
PRAISE   Give me joy (All, Instruments only v 3)   2 min 40 secs     (Artur, Rebecca, Kate and Laura accompany)
TALK       ‘Hosanna’ (Part 1)                 Michael               5 mins 30 secs
PRAISE       The Lord’s my shepherd Tara and Holly    3 mins 26 secs
TALK       ‘Hosanna’ (Part 2)                 Michael               5 mins
PRAYER FOR OTHERS          Michael              2 mins 40 secs
PRAISE           It is well with my soul (All)    3 mins 44 secs
CLOSING WORDS                  Michael                         50 secs
BENEDICTION Michael                         30 secs
RECESSIONAL       Oh Lord my God (All)  4 min 54 secs
 
 
INTROIT     To be in your presence (Sharon and Elaine)         2 min 32 secs
To be in your presence
To sit at your feet
When your love surrounds me
And makes me complete
This is my desire, O Lord
This is my desire
This is my desire, O Lord
This is my desire
To rest in your presence
Not rushing away
To cherish each moment
Here I would stay
This is my desire, O Lord
This is my desire
This is my desire, O Lord
This is my desire
 
WELCOME and INTRODUCTION            Michael      1 min 40 secs
Good morning everyone and welcome to our very special, Palm Sunday service.  Thank you Sharon and Elaine for your beautiful introduction to our service.
Today marks the beginning of Holy Week- that time of the year when Christians throughout the world pause to reflect on Jesus’ final week on earth before his crucifixion. 
Holy week begins by focusing on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem when Jewish crowds waved palm leaves to celebrate their belief that Jesus would become their new King.  That’s why today is called ‘Palm Sunday’.  This week, many churches will provide special online prayers to help us reflect on significant events in Jesus’ final days.  This will end on Friday, Good Friday as we remember the ‘Passion’ or death of Christ on the cross.
Then next Sunday morning, ‘Easter Sunday’, we will gather to celebrate the truth that Christ is alive and to reflect on the significance that can have for our lives.
But today our focus is on the amazing, if somewhat bizarre story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  This event is obviously a very significant one because it is recorded by each of the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  This morning we will look at this event as seen through the eyes of Matthew.  But before we do, let’s take a moment to pause and talk to God, let’s pray…
 
OPENING PRAYER and LORD’S PRAYER            2 min 12 secs
Gracious God thank you for this new day and for another opportunity to worship you together.
As we remember this day how Jesus entered Jerusalem to cries of celebration, help us to welcome Him afresh into our own hearts and lives.
Lord God, whether we are here in the studio or sitting at home, accept the praise and worship we bring you and give us a very real sense of expectation as we look forward to the coming of Christ’s Kingdom.
Hosanna to the Son of David,
Glory in the Highest heaven.
Gracious God, like your people long ago, we do not always see clearly.  At times our faith is shallow and self-centred; we do not understand as we should, our praise short-lived and superficial.
But we ask- take the faith we offer, weak though it may be, and deepen it through this day, so that we may truly welcome Christ as our King and worship Him with joyful praises and obedient lives, now and always.
Hosanna to the Son of David,
Glory in the Highest heaven.
Join with us now as we share in the Lord’s Prayer, thoughtfully and sincerely together…And so we pray…
The Lord’s Prayer
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
 
INTRODUCTION TO KING OF KINGS              1 min 10 secs
 
Recently there has been much debate over the pros and cons of the Monarchy.  It’s a debate that also raged throughout the history of the Nation of Israel.  Over the years that spanned the record of the Old Testament there many good Kings and some that were not so good.  During that time God promised that one day He would send a final King, someone who would fulfil all His people’s dreams for a society filled with kindness, fairness, peace and happiness.  They expected that King to be a military or political leader.  But God had other plans.  Today looking back, as Christians we believe that Jesus Christ is God’s promised King.  We worship Christ as the King of Kings and look forward to the day when His Kingdom will come in all its fullness.  Let’s do that now as we join together in the beautiful hymn “King of Kings, Majesty.”
 
PRAISE           King of Kings (All)                 2 min 40 secs
King of kings, Majesty
God of Heaven living in me
Gentle Saviour, closest friend
Strong Deliverer, beginning and end
All within me falls at Your throne
Your Majesty, I can but bow
I lay my all before You now
In royal robes I don't deserve
I live to serve Your Majesty
Earth and Heaven worship You
Love eternal, Faithful and True
Who bought the nations, ransomed souls
Brought this sinner near to Your throne
All within me cries out in praise.
Your majesty, I can but bow
I lay my all before You now
In royal robes I don't deserve
I live to serve Your Majesty
 
READING Mathew 21 v 1-11 (NIV         )        1 min 45 secs     Tara
Our reading today comes from Mathew Chapter 21 reading from verses 1 to 11… Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King…
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
“This is the word of the Lord”
Thanks be to God.
 
 
INTRODUCTION TO ‘SING HOSANNA’           Michael    45 secs
 
Every town and region has its own special genre reflected in its history and the clubs and societies that have evolved over the years.  Founded in 1968, The Arklow Shipping Silver Band has provided enormous enjoyment for its musicians and for all of us who have had the pleasure of experiencing their performances.  They have become one of the premier brass bands in Ireland achieving multiple awards over the years.  We’re privileged to have 3 of its youngest members in our church family (that’s Rebecca, Kate and Laura) and I’m delighted that along with their teacher, Artur Bosey and members of our church choir, they will lead us in worship now as we ‘Sing Hosanna’ to the King of Kings!
 
PRAISE       Give me joy (All, Instruments only v 3)       2 min 40 secs
Rebecca, Kate and Laura accompany on Cornet, Baratone and Trombone
 
1       Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning till the break of day


Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna, to the King


2       Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing
Give me joy in my heart, I pray
Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing
Keep me singing till the break of day


Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna, to the King


VERSE 3 INSTRUMENTS ONLY
4       Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
Give me love in my heart, I pray
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
Keep me serving till the break of day


Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna, to the King
 
TALK       ‘Hosanna’ (Part 1)                 Michael               5 mins 30 secs
Hosanna! means, “Rescue us, now!”
That’s what the crowds of people lining the streets shouted all those years ago as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. 
Knowing who He was and why He’d come, Jesus had deliberately chosen a donkey as his mode of transport.  This would fulfil the promise of the prophet Zechariah-
“Rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorious, but humble and riding on a donkey...”
The whole incident bears all the signs of being prearranged and stage managed.  A way of advertising his identity to the masses.  Friends had been tipped off to release the donkey on the agreed password, “The Master needs it.”
Still reeling with excitement over the resurrection of Lazarus, a group from Bethany gathered around Jesus.  No doubt pilgrims from Galilee who had witnessed other miracles made up another large portion of the crowd.  Matthew tells us that further support came from the blind, the lame and children.  Then others lining the streets for the Passover Festival joined in with the drama, spreading their clothes on the road and breaking into spontaneous cheering!
Hosanna! – “Rescue us, now!”
The scene is almost comical.  You can imagine a Roman officer galloping up to check on the disturbance.  He laughs when he compares it with the processions that he’d attended in Rome.  The conquering general sitting in a golden chariot, stallions straining at the reins, wheel spikes flashing in the sun.  Behind him marching officers carry the captured banners of vanquished armies.  At the rear comes a ragtag procession of slaves and prisoners in chains, proof of what happens to those who defy Rome.
As his mind returns to the ragtag bunch of the poor, the needy and the youngest and their forlorn general, weeping on the back of a donkey, he concludes, “No threat here.”  Perhaps he even joins in with the crowd,
Hosanna! – “Rescue us, now!”
It seems so ironic to call it, “The Triumphal Entry.”
But for those who had eyes to see, and ears to hear – the understated procession, was the whole point!  Yes, Jesus was indeed the King, God had sent to rescue them.  But not as they imagined…
The events of this past year have been devastating for us all but particularly for all those who have lost their lives and their families.  Perhaps like at no other time in our lives, we have all been brought to the point of literally shouting out loud, Hosanna! – “Please, somebody, rescue us, now!”
People have cried out to government.  Government have cried out to scientists.  Scientists have cried out to one another. Hosanna! – “Rescue us, now!”
The response has been amazing.  We thank God today for every frontline worker, for every researcher and manufacturer, for every government minister who has worked long into the night, for every teacher who has zoom taught our children, for every person that has taken time to pick up the phone and ask, “How are things?” 
All of these people and so many others have tried their best to answer our cries and in so many ways it has helped.
But at the same time, there has been such loss- loss of employment, loss of freedom, loss of education, loss of sleep and loss of life.
Any pride that we had about our abilities, achievements and security has been punctured by a microbe so tiny that 100,000 of them will fit on the head of a pin.
We’ve all felt vulnerable, anxious, isolated and afraid.
This Pandemic has made us realise how fragile we really are; and  how broken this universe really is.  This world needs rescued from disease and natural disasters and the effects our lifestyles are having on its climate.
We need rescued from our own innate instincts which cause us at times to do and say things or adopt attitudes which cause deep hurt to ourselves, to one another and to our world.
Even many of us who wouldn’t class ourselves ‘religious’ have been left looking skyward and crying out, Hosanna! – “Rescue us, now!”
For those of us who are Christians it’s a genuine comfort to know that God is our Shepherd, the one in whom we can shelter, the one in whom we can trust.  So let’s worship Him again as Tara and Holly lead us in the song, “The Lord’s my Shepherd”.
 
PRAISE       The Lord’s my shepherd Tara and Holly    3 mins 26 secs
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.
And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.
He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.
And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.
And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.
And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.
 
TALK       ‘Hosanna’ (Part 2)                 Michael               5 mins
The fantastic news is that God has heard and answered our cries, Hosanna! – “Rescue us, now!”
Only, not in the way we expect, or in the timescale that suits us best.
Naturally, we want rescued now.  We want healed now.  We want our lives back to normal now.  Those of us who believe that God is real want Him to intervene now! 
Sometimes He does.  Any consultant in the country will tell you that at times the unexplainable happens, and strangely, often in answer to prayer.  But even those of us who regularly pray can sometimes get frustrated because it feels as if God is simply sitting on His Hands.  We know He could do this or that in an instant.  So why doesn’t God rescue us, now?
After years of theological reflection and interaction with hundreds of people in all circumstances of life and death, my answer to that question is simply, “I don’t know”. 
What I do know is that God cares deeply about the reality of our suffering.  In fact, He cares about it so much that from the very moment sin entered this world God set in motion a long term plan that would eventually remove all sin and all suffering by restoring this universe to its original perfection.
Part of that rescue plan is personal and something we can experience now.  That’s why God came to earth in Jesus Christ- to offer Himself on the cross to take the judgement that we deserve for all the ways that we have grieved His heart and hurt each other.  By acknowledging our guilt and by trusting in His death we can receive forgiveness and be reconciled to Him forever.  Every time we pray, God comes near to help us in our times of greatest pain.
God’s plan is also cosmological.  Not only does God wish to restore our relationship with Himself, He also desires to restore this entire universe to the perfection that existed at the beginning of creation.
God could complete this plan in an instant.  Instead, for reasons only He knows, He has chosen to roll it out over time.  And as He does so, He invites us to be part of His rescue.  That means we must continue to search for cures for cancer, we must continue to reduce our carbon footprint and do all we can for the environment, we must champion the cause of the poor, the migrant, and all who suffer injustice, and do everything we can to stop the spread of this virus and return our lives to what we miss so much. We must tell people the good news that if they turn away from wrong and believe in Jesus they can become God’s friends forever.  In all these ways, to some degree, God answers our cry, “Hosanna!  Rescue me now.”
In the meantime, I just don’t know why God doesn’t come now and do all this immediately.  I don’t know why His plan for the redemption of the universe is still just a promise and not yet a reality.  I don’t know why he calls us to be part of His great rescue
plan when He could easily do a much better and quicker job Himself.
But what I am certain of is that God has promised that one day the current heaven will come to earth and the new perfect universe will be formed.  All who trust in Jesus will receive a new resurrection body and will live happily forever in this transformed land without any hint of suffering, pain or sorrow. 
“Yes there is sin, yes there is suffering but my goodness, in Christ there is hope!  Hosanna!”    Let us pray…
 
 
PRAYER FOR OTHERS          Michael            2 mins 40 secs
Lord Jesus Christ, you entered Jerusalem in quiet humility, taking the form of a servant, even to the point of death on a cross, emptying yourself, so that we might be filled.
Come afresh to our troubled world, with all its needs, its tensions, its problems and its evil.
Bring healing where there is division, love where there is hatred, hope where there is despair, joy where there is sorrow, confidence where there is fear, strength where there is weakness, healing where there is sickness. Life where there is death.
Lord, we thank you for all those who have followed your example, even without knowing it, over this past year.  Thank you for the humility and the sacrifice made by so many people to keep one another safe and to prevent the spread of the Corona virus.
We remember especially today all those who have lost family members to this illness and ask that you will comfort them deeply.  We ask that you will continue to give wisdom, strength and encouragement to all who are in positions of leadership and who are tasked with making difficult decisions that impact us all.
We pray for all those who are struggling emotionally at this time and ask that through family, friends and other networks, each one will find the care and the support that they need. 
We pray that in your mercy, the vaccination program will continue to roll out effectively and as a consequence that soon the levels of infection will reduce to an extent that will enable us to return to our normal way of living. 
Take a moment now in quiet to bring your own prayers for others to the Lord…(Count to 15)
Lord Jesus Christ, reach out to your church and to your world, despite the weakness of our faith and the rejection of so many.  May your will be done on earth even as it is in heaven.  Come again now and establish your Kingdom, for it’s in your name that we pray.  Amen.
 
PRAISE           When Peace like a river          3 mins 44 secs
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well (it is well),
With my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, if trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And has shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well (it is well),
With my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well (it is well),
With my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
But Lord it’s for you- For your coming we wait,
The sky not the grave is our goal:
O trump of the angel!  O voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.
It is well (it is well),
With my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
 
CLOSING WORDS          Michael                    50 secs
It has been a joy and privilege for us to lead you in worship this morning.  Special thanks to Alison Crammond our Musical Director for all her encouragement and support, thanks to all our musicians, readers and singers for taking part and a big thanks to all the staff at RTE for their kind invitation, help and advice.  Most of all thanks to you at home for tuning in.  We really hope you’ve enjoyed the service and found this time to be encouraging.  Please remember to tune in again next Sunday, as we celebrate the amazing and powerful reality that Christ is alive!
In these challenging times do keep everyone in your prayers and look out for anyone you can help.  But for now, let me close with a benediction after which, I invite you to join me in saying the grace together…
 
BENEDICTION         Michael                    30 secs
My sisters and brothers.  As we enter this holy week, let us keep our eyes on Jesus.  He will show us where we need to go and what we ought to do. 
 
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.
                            
RECESSIONAL       Oh Lord my God (All)  4 min 54 secs
O Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all
The works Thy Hand hath made,
I see the stars,
I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout
The universe displayed,
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
When through the woods
And forest glades I wander
I hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze,
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; 
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; 
That on a Cross, my burdens gladly bearing, 
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come,
With shouts of acclamation,
And take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!