The Sunday of the Passion Palm Sunday
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Glenside, Pennsylvania
March 24, 2024 10:00 A.M.
Please note: During the service you will be prompted to use the red Book of Common Prayer (BCP), which can be found in your pew.
Gathering In Joy
(Liturgy will begin in the courtyard.)
Prelude: A Festive Intrada
Cynthia Dobrinski
St. Peter’s Bell Choir
Presider: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Presider: 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 Palm Sunday Gospel - Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying
it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
The Blessing of the Palms
Presider: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Presider: 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 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 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 for ever. Amen.
Presider: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: Hosanna in the highest.
Presider: Let us go forth in peace.
People: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Opening Hymn: The Hymnal of 1982 #154, All Glory Laud and Honor
The Word of God
The Collect of the Day BCP 219 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.
The First Reading – Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain
the 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 face from 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?
The Word of Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 31:9-16 (Please read together from the Book of common Prayer) BCP 622
The Epistle -- Philippians 2:5-11
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 him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Hymn: #170 To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord
ThePassionGospel
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
Please remain seated until invited to stand. The congregation reads the lines that are bold and sings the verses in italics.
When the cross is brought out, members of the congregation are invited to come up as they are moved taking turns holding it through the rest of the service.
AllSing:
WereyoutherewhentheycrucifiedmyLord?
WereyoutherewhentheycrucifiedmyLord?
Oh,sometimesitcausesmetotremble,trembletremble, WereyoutherewhentheycrucifiedmyLord?
Two days before Passover, Jesus' enemies were trying to figure out how they could arrest Jesus and have him killed without causing the people to get too upset.
When Jesus was visiting friends in Bethany, as he was sitting at the dinner table, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of very expensive ointment. She broke the jar open and poured the ointment on his head. Some people in the room saw that and said,
All: ''Why would you spend so much money on this; when you might have given it to the poor instead?"
Jesus told them to leave her alone, that she was doing what she could to honor him, and get him ready for what was to come. Jesus said, "Let me tell you, people are going to be talking for a very long time about what
she did, here for me tonight."
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, told Jesus' enemies where they might find him and arrest him. They were thrilled to get this information from Judas and promised him money if he would deliver Jesus to them.
While they were eating their Passover dinner, Jesus said, ''You know, one of you is going to hand me over to my enemies."
It upset all of them. Jesus continued, "It's one of you who is eating with me tonight. It would have been better if that person had never been born."
As they were eating, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread, blessed it and broke it into pieces, and gave it to them, saying, "Eat this. It's my body." Then he picked up a cup of wine, thanked God for it, and had all of them drink from it. "This is my blood, a new agreement with God and everyone. I won't share wine with you again until the kingdom of heaven comes to pass."
After dinner they sang songs, and then went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus told them there that they would all desert him just as the scriptures had said they would. "After I'm raised from the dead, I will meet you in Galilee."
Peter said, "Even if everyone else leaves you, I would never leave you." Jesus replied, "Really? You won't even make it through this evening before denying you ever knew me. Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you never knew me."
Peter insisted that he would die before denying he knew Jesus. And all the disciples said the same.
All Sing: WereyoutherewhenJesuswasbetrayed?
WereyoutherewhenJesuswasbetrayed?
Oh,sometimesitcausesmetotremble,trembletremble, WereyoutherewhenJesuswasbetrayed?
Then they went to a garden called Gethsemane. Jesus told the disciples to sit and pray while he went farther ahead to be alone and pray. For hours he prayed that God would keep his arrest and death from
happening.
"It is up to you, Father," Jesus said. "I will do what you want me to do.”
When he was done praying, he went back to find the disciples and they were fast asleep.
"Peter," Jesus said, "couldn't you even stay awake for an hour while I prayed?"
Jesus returned to his quiet spot and kept on praying for strength for the dark hours ahead. When returning to the disciples, he found them sleepy again. He went back to pray a third time. After that, he woke up the disciples and told them the time to sleep was over. His time to be handed over to his enemies had come.
Just then, Judas Iscariot showed up with an army of men sent by Jesus' enemies with swords and clubs. Judas had told them that '' the man he would kiss would be Jesus.“
So Judas went up to Jesus, called him "Rabbi," and gave him a kiss. The soldiers arrested Jesus, knowing he was the one they were looking for.
One of the disciples took out his sword and cut off the ear of one of the slaves. Then Jesus said to soldiers, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a thug? I've been teaching in the temple every day. Why didn't you come and get me there? But this is the way the scriptures said it would be."
And right then all the disciples ran away, leaving Jesus there by himself.
AllSing:WereyoutherewhenJesuswasdenied?
WereyoutherewhenJesuswasdenied?
Oh,sometimesitcausesmetotremble,trembletremble, WereyoutherewhenJesuswasdenied?
They took Jesus to the high priest where all the authorities were gathered. Peter followed at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat down next to the fire to warm himself alongside the guards.
Jesus' s enemies were trying to find testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, but they couldn't find any. Some people stood up to talk about Jesus, but their stories didn't match so their testimony was thrown out.
Then the high priest asked Jesus, "Don't you have anything to say about these stories we hear about you?" Jesus said nothing.
Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
Jesus said, "I am, and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.' "
Then the high priest said, "That's all I need to hear. It sure sounds like he thinks he's God's son and to say that is against our law!"
All of them said Jesus deserved to die. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him:
All: "Tell us more, prophet of God!
The guards took him away to beat him. Meanwhile a servant girl saw Peter in the courtyard. She stared at him as if she recognized him. She said, "Hey, you. You were with Jesus, weren't you?"
Peter said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Just then Peter heard the rooster crow.
The servant girl started telling people that Peter was one of Jesus' disciples. Again he said that he was not. Peter tried to get away but others said to him, "Sure you are. You are from Galilee just like the rest of Jesus' followers."
Peter starting cursing and swore to God, saying, "I have no idea who this Jesus is that you're talking about."
Just then the rooster crowed a second time, just like Jesus said it would. And Peter broke down and cried.
AllSing:Wereyoutherewhentheynailedhimtothetree?
Wereyoutherewhentheynailedhimtothetree?
Oh,sometimesitcausesmetotremble,trembletremble,
Wereyoutherewhentheynailedhimtothetree?
In the morning, the chief priests and the rest of them had a meeting. They tied Jesus' hands together, led him away, and took him to Pilate, a Roman governor. Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus said, “You say so."
The chief priests started listing all their charges against him. Pilate said, "Listen to all their accusations against you. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Pilate was surprised that Jesus had nothing to say.
It was tradition to release a prisoner for the people during this Passover festival time. They could choose who they wanted released. Pilate asked the crowd of people, "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews?"
The chief priests talked the people into asking that Barabbas, a murderer, be released instead of Jesus. Pilate asked them what they wanted him to do with Jesus, the ”King of the Jews.” The crowd said, '
All: “Put him to death on a cross."
Pilate asked them why he should do that, since he couldn't see that Jesus had done anything wrong. The crowd shouted,
All: "We Want you to· crucify him!"
Pilate wanted to keep the crowd happy, so he released the murderer, Barabbas. He had Jesus whipped and sent him to be nailed to a cross.
The soldiers decided to have some fun with Jesus after they whipped him and beat him. They put a purple robe on him, made a fake crown of thorns and pushed it onto his head. They saluted him, saying,"Hail, King of the Jews."
They spit on him. When they were done mocking him, they put his own clothes back on and took him to crucify him.
Jesus was too weak to carry his own cross to the place where they crucified people, so they found Simon of Cyrene in the crowd and got him to carry the cross for Jesus. When they got to Golgotha, they offered Jesus some wine to ease his pain, but he refused it. They nailed him to; the cross, and divided his clothes between themselves.
This happened at nine o'clock in the morning. A sign was hung over his head that read, "The King of the Jews."
Two thugs were crucified right next to Jesus. People walked by and shouted to Jesus,
All: "Save yourself if you're the Son of God. Fool."
The chief priests mocked him too, saying, "He saved others but can't do anything to save himself." Even those on the crosses next to him made fun of him.
AllSing:Wereyoutherewhentheylaidhiminthetomb?
Wereyoutherewhentheylaidhiminthetomb?
Wereyoutherewhentheylaidhiminthetomb?
Oh,sometimesitcausesmetotremble,trembletremble, Wereyoutherewhentheylaidhiminthetomb?
At noon, the whole world went dark until three o'clock in the afternoon. Jesus yelled out to God, "Why have you left me all alone? Where are you, God?"
Someone got him a sponge full of sour wine for him to drink. Then Jesus cried out one last time, and took his last breath. A Roman soldier who was at the foot of the cross and had seen and heard all of this, said, "Jesus really was God’s son.”
Many women who supported Jesus were there watching from a distance: Mary Magdalene; Mary, mother of James; and a woman named Salome. After Jesus died, a man named Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take Jesus' body and bury it. He wrapped the body in a linen cloth and laid it in a grave that had been carved in the rock in the hillside.
He rolled a stone against the door to the grave. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where Jesus' body was laid.
AllSing:WereyoutherewhentheycrucifiedmyLord? WereyoutherewhentheycrucifiedmyLord?
Oh,sometimesitcausesmetotremble,trembletremble, WereyoutherewhentheycrucifiedmyLord?
The Sermon The Reverand Barbara Ballenger
The Nicene Creed (Please read together from the Book of common Prayer)BCP 358
The Prayers of the People, Form I (Please read together from the Book of common Prayer)BCP 383
The response to “let us pray to the Lord” is “Lord have mercy. “
Presider: Loving God, we offer you our prayers, some in words, others written in our hearts. Break open our hearts, hear our prayers and continue to give us your light, Christ Jesus, this day and forever. Amen.
The Confession and Absolution BCP 360
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Presider and People
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Presider concludes Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
Please greet other members of the congregation with a sign of peace.
Presider: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrating Holy Communion
Offertory Anthem: The Palms Jean- Baptiste Faure St. Peter’s Choir
Timothy Flaherty, Tenor
Presentation Hymn: The Hymnal of 1982 #313, Let Thy Blood in Mercy Poured
The Great Thanksgiving, Eucharistic Prayer A BCP 361
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give God thanks and praise.
The Presider continues
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth…
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Sanctus: Lift Every Voice and Sing II #255, Holy, Holy, Holy (books not available in the pew)
The Presider continues
Holy and gracious Father: 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 Father of all.
He 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 Lord 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 he 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:
PresiderandPeople
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Presider continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his 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 him. 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 your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. AMEN.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
The Lord’s Prayer BCP
364
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.
The Breaking of the Bread
The Presider breaks the consecrated bread. A period of silence is kept.
Presider: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People: Therefore, let us keep the feast.
Fraction Anthem: Lift Every Voice and Sing II #270, Lamb of God (books not available in the pew)
The Presider continues
The Gifts of God for the People of God.
The Communion of the People
Communion Music: Lament Robert Lau
The Post-Communion Prayer Priest and people together Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sending Out
The Blessing
Eucharistic Visitor Commissioning (occasional)
Presider: In the name of the congregation of St. Peter's, we send you forth bearing the gift of Holy Communion…
All: We who are many are one body, because we all share in one bread and one cup.
Birthday & Anniversary Prayer BCP 830
O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace; and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Announcements
• Join us for a sandwich luncheon in the parish hall following morning worship. See the newsletter signup to become a coffee hour volunteer.
• Easter Flowers: Please submit your loved ones' names and donations to the office by March 27 for inclusion in the Easter leaflet. The suggested donation is $30.
• Easter Volunteers: Please consider helping prep egg casserole on March 30 at 9a.m.
• Please donate individually wrapped candy for our Easter egg hunt in the black and yellow bin on the kitchen counter by Saturday, March 30 at 10 a.m. See the newsletter for more details.
• See page 14 of the leaflet for the Holy Week schedule.
Closing Hymn: The Hymnal of 1982 #458, My Song Is Love Unknown
The Dismissal
Presider: Let us go forth in the name of Christ
People: Thanks be to God.
Worship Ministers
Preacher & Presider The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Acolytes: Alyssa Clemens, Teresa Mignogno, Kirsten Sibley
Lectors: Lana Fabijonas, Henry Bennecoff, Dori Meginley, Katy Monserrat , Donna Kulp, Terita Reeve
Intercessor: Barbara Sibley
Vestry Steward: Amy Michener-Wall, Eucharistic Ministers: Charlie Hannum, Addie Johnson, Kristina Marchuk
Ushers: Anne Gibson, Peter Gottemoller, Bob Smith, Jack Wilbur
Counter: Jeanne Robson
Altar Guild: Karen Sayer Fellowship: Suzanne Teleha & Deborah Way
Bell Ringer: Bill Bacon
Organist & Choir Director: Carol Cei
Tech Team: PJ Linke, Mike Levin, James Moore
Vestry
Debbie Dekalb: sojourner_44@yahoo.com
Mark Evans: MarkCarverEvans@gmail.com
Meredith Flaherty: merflah@aol.com
Jeanné Hannum: jeannefhannum@aol.com
Audrey Kipphut (People’s Warden): ajkipphut@verizon.net
Amy Michener-Wall: adwall@hotmail.com
Dave Mosteller (Rector’s Warden): davemos2010@gmail.com
John Olson: john.olson@villanova.edu
Amy Neske: amyh120@yahoo.com
Douglas Pneuma: douglas.pneuma@gmail.com
Mike Reeve (Accounting Warden): mreeve1128@outlook.com
Karen Sayer: karmaflower@gmail.com
Grayson Torpey: gtorpey09@gmail.com
Matt Torpey: mtorpey79@gmail.com
Staff
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger (Rector)
stpeter654rector@gmail.com
Charlese Freeman (Communications Administrator)
stpeter654@gmail.com
Tim Valera (Caretaker)
timvalera@gmail.com
Carol Cei (Organist and Choir Director) carol@carolcei.com
Kathy Flaherty (Bell Choir Director)
stpeter654music@gmail.com
Tech Team: PJ Linke, Mike Levin, James Moore stpetertechteam@gmail.com
Holy Week Schedule
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Starting March 24 and continuing through Holy Week, a self-guided booklet on the Stations of the Cross will be available in the church. The guide is based on ten images from Kathrin Burleson’s The Soul's Journey: An Artist's Approach to the Stations of the Cross, prints of which will be in the window wells of the church.
Garden of Repose
Plantings and flowers in the St. Philip-in-the-Fields chapel at St. Peter’s create a space for quiet, personal contemplation during the three days leading up to Easter.
• Opens Thursday, March 28 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday, March 29 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• The garden will be disassembled on Saturday morning.
Maundy Thursday, March 28
Agape Meal at 6 p.m. -- A simple supper of soup and bread, along with traditional prayers over the food and sharing of Scripture will precede the Service. RSVP and let us know what you're bringing here.
Maundy Thursday Service at 7:15 p.m. -- A choral Eucharist including foot washing and the stripping of the altar.
Good Friday, March 29
Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 7p.m. As the church slowly dims to darkness, contemplate through Scripture, music, prayers, and silence the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Holy Saturday, March 30
The Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh, 7020 Camp Hill Rd. Fort Washington, PA. This service invites our siblings in Christ from parishes throughout the deanery for the first celebration of Easter. There will be a combined choir, with rehearsal beginning at 6 p.m. Immediately following the service, a reception will be held in MacColl Auditorium.
Easter Sunday, March 31
Easter service at St. Peter’s at 10 a.m. Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus
with this joyful choral Eucharist, followed by a Brunch in the parish hall and an Easter Egg hunt in the courtyard.
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ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
65 N. Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038-4310 (215) 887-1765
E-mail: stpeter654@gmail.com
Website: www.stpetersglenside.org