A Christ-Centered Community of Practice Awaking to the Abiding Presence of God

April 5, 2020

WE GATHER IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Celebrant Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.People Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

Leader: Here comes your King, riding on a donkey!

People: Hosanna to the Son of David!

Leader: Here enters your King into Jerusalem!

People: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Leader: There lies your king, dying on a cross.

People: Hosanna to the Son of David!

Leader: There your king rests, in a tomb hewn out of rock.

People: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Leader: Your Messiah has fallen, how can you still go on?

People: Hosanna to the Son of David!

Leader: This path leads to death, and still you choose to follow him?

People: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Leader: Come, let us follow this Christ, who lives and dies for us, and lives again.

People: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

HYMN All Glory, Laud and Honor

V. 2  The company of angels is praising thee on high;

 and we with all creation in chorus make reply.

THE BLESSING OF THE PALMS

Celebrant The Lord be with you.People And also with you.Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord, our GodPeople It is right to give God thanks and praise

CelebrantIt 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 palm along his way. Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reign in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Celebrant: Let us pray

THE COLLECT FOR PALM SUNDAY

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURE Isaiah 50: 4-9a The servant speaks for the Lord and suffers persecution, but still trusts in God’s help and vindication.

The Lord God has given methe tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustainthe weary with a word.

Morning by morning he wakens--wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

The Lord God has opened my ear,and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.

I gave my back to those who struck me,and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;

I did not hide my facefrom insult and spitting.

The Lord God helps me;therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like flint,and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?Let us stand up together.

Who are my adversaries?Let them confront me.

It is the Lord God who helps me;who will declare me guilty?

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.People: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 31:9-16 9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *

my eye is consumed with sorrow,and also my throat and my belly.

10 For my life is wasted with grief,and my years with sighing; *my strength fails me because of affliction,and my bones are consumed.

11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *when they see me in the street they avoid me.

12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *I am as useless as a broken pot.

13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;fear is all around; *they put their heads together against me;they plot to take my life.

14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *I have said, "You are my God.

15 My times are in your hand; *rescue me from the hand of my enemies,and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *and in your loving-kindness save me."

A READING FROM THE EARLY CHURCH Philippians 2:5-11 From one of the earliest Christian hymns we hear how Christ Jesus accepted the condition of a servant, was obedient even to the point of death, and was then given the name above every name.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted himand gave him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.People: Thanks be to God.

THE SEQUENCE HYMN The Hymnal 439

The hymn is printed on the next page

Preceding the Gospel...The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to MatthewGlory to you, Lord Christ.

THE GOSPEL Matthew 21:1-11Jesus comes to the holy city of Jerusalem and is hailed as the promised Son of David

When Jesus and his disciples 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 fulfill 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."

Following the Gospel…The Gospel of the LordPraise to you, Lord Christ

THE SERMON The Reverend Duncan Hilton

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Intercessor: We acclaim you and sayCongregation responds: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord be always with you.And also with you.

THE HOLY COMMUNIONTHE OFFERTORY HYMN The Hymnal 691

THE OFFERINGWe ask you to continue to support St. Michael’s during this time of physical separation. Please send your pledges or donations through the mail or online. Our ministry at St. Michael’s depends on your generosity.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Celebrant: The Lord be with youPeople: And also with youCelebrant: Lift up your heartsPeople: We lift them to the LordCelebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our GodPeople: It is right to give God thanks and praise

The Presider praises God for God’s creation and love. Then all sing the Sanctus together:

THE SANCTUS

The Celebrant recalls (and makes present for all) Jesus’ life and last supper.

Celebrant: And seeing that the power of sin is broken, and Christ is all in all, we praise you and we bless you.

People: We praise you, we bless you, we give thanks to you and we pray to you, O Lord our God.

The Celebrant asks the Holy Spirit to consecrate the bread and the wine to be God’s holy food.

Celebrant: By Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever

People: Amen

Celebrant: And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:

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

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated bread as all sing

THE FRACTION ANTHEM

Translation: “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, grant us peace.”

The presider invites the following prayer to be said by all:

My God, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. I love you above all things, and long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen. (St. Alphonsus de Liguori, 1696-1787) 

THE POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER

Celebrant: Let us pray.

All: God of our Lenten journey, you have said that the gate of mercy will stand open for those who trust in you: look upon us with your favor, that we who follow the path of the Cross, may never wander from the way of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN The Hymnal 662

LENTEN PRAYER

CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Neil Montgomery, Monday; Kelli Allen, Tuesday; Sherry Stimmel, Friday and Peter Johnson and Kurt Johnson, Saturday.

Healing Prayers: Those who wish to receive healing prayers via the phone may call Megan Buchanan at 802, 387-5733 from 11:30-12:00pm

Holy Week at Home

Yes, Holy Week is still happening. But it is happening at your own home. Since we cannot use the holy things of the church, we invite you to gather what you have at home – branches, candles, bowls of water, a home altar – and join with the rest of us in our homes to mark this most important and holy of Christian weeks.

In the table below, you will find a list of services, and “what you need” (if possible) to celebrate each service at home. PLEASE CHECK THE HOMEPAGE OF THE WEBSITE FOR ZOOM LINKS AND BULLETINS.

Day Time Description What you needTenebrae April 8

7 pm Tenebrae or “Darkness” is a service of music and readings, in remembrance of Jesus’ betrayal.

Maundy ThursdayApril 8

6 pm Jesus’ Last Supper and New Commandment

A simple meal, a basin or container to wash feet, a home altar (if you have one).

Maundy Thursday Vigil April 9-10

8 pm-7 am

Keeping watch with Jesus through the night or for one hour

Check Website to sign up for slots

Good FridayApril 10

9am Remembering Jesus’ death

A cross

Good FridayApril 10

12-3pm

Ecumenical Christian Service with other congregations in our community

Good FridayApril 10

7pm Remembering Jesus’ death

A cross

Holy SaturdayApril 11

9 am

Simple service of waiting at the tomb of Jesus.

Easter Vigil April 11

TBA We will join with Bishop Shannon over Zoom as we bless the new fire of Easter tell the ancient stories of God’s people.

A candle and a bowl of water

Easter DayApril 12

8 am Celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection

A bowl of water and a branch.

Easter 10:15 Celebrating Jesus’ A bowl of water and a branch.

DayApril 12

am Resurrection

A Note about the Maundy Thursday Vigil

Keep watch with Jesus through the night on Maundy Thursday, either for the night or just for an hour. At the top of each hour those keeping vigil will come together for a short time of prayer on Zoom.  For the remainder of the time, people are committing to praying in a way of their choosing offline at home.  You may sign up for a prayer slot on the website or by emailing Duncan at Duncanhilton@gmail.com There may be multiple people for multiple time slots. If you sign up, we'll send you the prayers and a Zoom link to the short liturgy at the top of each hour.

Opportunities to Serve

Blood Donations Needed

Over 2,000 blood drives in the country have been cancelled so far due to the virus. Going to a blood drive is one of the activities permitted in Vermont's "stay safe, stay home" measure. 

The next drive in Brattleboro is coming up on April 7th and still has openings. There are other donations other dates and other locations. All blood donations can only be given by appointment now, not drop-in. So, people must sign-up in advance. The Red Cross has incredibly thorough practices to ensure the safety of all donors, volunteers, and staff. Sounds safer than the grocery store;)

How to make an appointment...

- Go to www.redcrossblood.org OR

- Call1-800 -RED CROSS (1-800 -733-2767)

Location of next block drive in Brattleboro on 4/7:

Fraternal Order of the Eagles54 Chickering Drive, Unit 1Brattleboro, VT 05301