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While we sing are first hymn are invited to wave palms as we sing, HYMN Tell Me the Stories of Jesus #277 UMH

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the lovelight of Jesus’ face.

Into the city I'd follow the children's band,
waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
loudest hosannas, “Jesus is King!” 

Psalm 31:24 (NRSV)
Be Strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.

HYMN All Glory, Laud, and Honor #280 UMH, refrain only

All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King.
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

Daniel 7:13-14 (NRSVUE)

13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before God. 14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

THE PASSION

SCRIPTURE Matthew 27: selected verses (NABRE)
Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was  greatly amazed. Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus 
called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!  But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside  the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.

SOUNDS OF THE CROSS

After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left.Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.

Final HYMN Lamb of God  FWS #2113

Your only Son, no sin to hide,
but you have sent him from your side,
to walk upon this guilty sod,
and to become the Lamb of God.

Refrain:
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God,
I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood
my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Your gift of love, they crucified,
they laughed and scorned him as he died, 
the humble king they named a fraud
and sacrificed the Lamb of God. (Refrain)

I was so lost, I should have died,
but you have brought me to your side,
to be led by your staff and rod,
and to be called a lamb of God. (Refrain)

Thank you for sharing in worship! See you next week.

Blessings