Palm Sunday round up – inc video and printable

Palm Sunday already? How did that happen?

At the end of this post you’ll find your liturgy resources, with a choice of responses for the confession. I’ve used the ‘Liturgy of the Passion’ option rather than the Liturgy of the Palms’, but don’t worry, there are plenty of palm-related resources too.

Plus – Easter hols reading suggestions and a training event in the East Midlands (UK)

Palm Sunday Links

If you find these resources useful, please consider a donation to enable me to produce more free ministry aids. Thank you.

Upcoming Event

For my UK readers, here is a fab event coming up soon in the East Midlands. For those not familiar, Grantham (Yes, as in Downton Abbey) is north of Peterborough and east of Nottingham.

Easter Holiday Reading

Our sister site, fayrowland.co.uk has an interview with author Anne Jordan, who writes short stories for children and young adults about children with learning difficulties.

Pop over and read about her latest book where a mysterious visitor arrives down the chimney (spoiler: it’s not Santa)

For something more aimed at adults, I recommend The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen, an honest readable account of this modern saint’s encounter with the famous painting by Rembrandt.

It challenges me to rethink my assumptions about my relationship with God – when am I the younger son, when the older, when the father? It’s a slim book and well-illustrated, so it’s not a large commitment, but will perhaps stir us out of complacency this Easter.

Liturgy Resources for Palm Sunday

Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11

Confession and Absolution

You emptied yourself for our sake,
but we have filled ourselves with pride.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, or My times are in your hand.
for I am in distress. O Lord, deliver me.

You were made in human likeness to show us the likeness of God,
but we have remade God in our own image and worshipped idols.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, or My times are in your hand.
for I am in distress. O Lord, deliver me.

You became obedient, even to the point of death,
but we have chosen the easy path and followed our own ways.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, or My times are in your hand.
for I am in distress. O Lord, deliver me.

Forgive us, merciful Lord,
not because we are good,
but because you are.
Not because we have earned it,
but because of your unending love.

I trust in you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my God.”

May the God of all mercies grant us to know the joy of his salvation,
of guilt released, of life restored, of love revealed,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Blessing and Dismissal

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus:
May you share his humble obedience
and be raised with him in glory.
May your human life and longings
be transformed into the likeness of God.
May you be known by the Name that is above every name
and sing today with the heavenly throng
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Go with the face of God shining upon you
and strong in his steadfast love,
to proclaim his name to the ends of the earth.
Amen.