Liturgies Online

Isaiah 42: 1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 Recommended text - NRSV
Hymns: The Australian Hymn Book (AHB) or Together in Song (TIS) or as indicated.
Worship Leader - normal type. Congregational responses - bold type
Permission is granted to churches to use this material in services of worship.
This liturgy remains the property of Moira B Laidlaw

Additional resources for Monday: Fragrant candles or fragrant oil burning - placed around so that fragrance permeates the worship space; Uniting in Worship People's Book, Uniting Church Press, Melbourne, 1988.

INTRODUCTORY WORDS
The glad hosannas are no longer heard.
The shouting is over, the palms are gathered;
the shadows lengthen;
the plotting begins in earnest.
Knowing the outcome, we come with heavy hearts.

And what do we hear?
An unchanged and unchanging message of love;
God's love, a poet's love, a woman's love.

God's love, foretold by Isaiah, in the shape of a servant.

ISAIAH 42: 1-9

Silent reflection

HYMN: TIS 341/AHB 257: "My song is love unknown" verses 1-4

The poet's love:
the psalmist writes
as one whose life is grounded in the grace of God.
The joy which undergirds the words of the psalm
sits uneasily with our knowledge of what lies ahead
and yet words such as these would surely have strengthened
Jesus' resolve to tread the road towards the cross.

PSALM 36: 5-11

Silent reflection

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of sure and steadfast love, help us never to lose sight of your love
and the affirmation of the preciousness of all life made so visible through
the life and love of Jesus Christ. He must have known that living the life
of gentle servanthood - giving sight to the blind and setting the captives free -
would alienate the religious powerbrokers of his day, yet he did not turn
away from his mission.
Forgive us when we fail to follow his way.

Silence

In Jesus' servanthood we see God's justice exercised through the desire to
empower people rather than dominate them. His gentleness puts our
arrogance to shame and his persistence highlights our weakness.
Forgive us when we fail to follow his way.

Silence

Merciful God, we are blessed that your forgiveness is greater than our wildest
dreams. For this we offer our heartfelt thanks and praise.
Amen

TIS 693: "Come as you are"

Mary demonstrates through her extravagant love what it means to love
without heeding the cost.

JOHN 12: 1-11

Silent reflection

PRAYER BY IGNATIUS LOYOLA: "Teach us, good Lord to serve you ...."
No. 17, Page 219, Uniting in Worship People's Book.

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
God of grace and truth, we pray for all people whose lives reflect the humility and servanthood of Jesus Christ that they may be strengthened to continue this way of life.
Lord hear our prayer.

We pray for all whose lives are bereft of gentleness and kindness:
Lord hear our prayer.

We pray for all peacemakers that their efforts may lead to war being banished for ever:
Lord hear our prayer.

We pray for those who pursue the vision of a world shaped by God's justice:
Lord hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are persecuted for their faith:
Lord hear our prayer.

We pray for those who know that they will die soon, that they will know the comfort and peace of the One who gave his life that they would live - Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER

HYMN: TIS 682: "When human voices cannot sing"

BENEDICTION
Go into this Holy Week,
strengthened by the great love of God,
inspired by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ,
motivated by the indwelling love of the Holy Spirit.

People leave in silence or stay to meditate further.