Sermon Tone Analysis

*Theme                 *Our commitment to discipleship is challenged by fear, ambivalence, apathy, and the status quo.

Prelude

~*Hymn of Praise          # 134        Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Welcome

Call to Worship

Leader: I can tell: Word has gotten out!

Today is a good day!

Today we tell an ancient story of a parade, palms and possibilities.

\\ \\ People: And we wear palms and crosses, reminding ourselves that both ecstasy and agony, joy and disappointment are part of our living.

\\ \\ Leader: Today we say: Blessed is the One who comes in God’s name!

Hosanna! \\ \\ People: This One is Jesus of Nazareth — teacher, builder, cornerstone, Christ.

\\ \\ Leader: In ancient Jerusalem, people gave Jesus a wonderful welcome the week before Passover rituals.

\\ \\ People: Today, we celebrate the presence of the living Christ!

\\ \\ All: Holy One, thank you for your unmistakable presence!

With our senses and our minds, we delight in the gift of life!

We honor you with attentive listening and we eagerly wait for your voice.

Amen.

~*Invocation        (the Lord’s Prayer)       As we  pray for the gift of your presence, Lord, we know that to stay close to human life is a commitment that cost a high  p rice for you.

However, in humble faith, we do pray that we will know you here today

~*Gloria Patri

Anthem                              The Holy City                             

Our  Offering to God               (same as last week)

~*Doxology

~*Prayer of Dedication           God, who pours out the abundance in which we live, receive these offerings, brought together from that abundance.

Bless us, as you blessed the unknown woman who ministered to Jesus, with the generosity of heart to pour out our greatest treasures in your honor.

Amen.

Scripture Reading                Mark 14:  12 – 31

12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

13So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready.

Make preparations for us there.”

16So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

17When it was evening, he came with the twelve.

18And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” 20He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me.

21For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!

It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”

*The Institution of the Lord’s Supper*

22While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”

23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.

24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

25Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

*Peter’s Denial Foretold*

26When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

27And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,

     ‘I will strike the shepherd,

       and the sheep will be scattered.’

28But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.”

30Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

31But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.”

And all of them said the same.

~*Hymn of Prayer          insert        Heal Me, Hand of Jesus

Pastoral Prayer  Humble God of majesty, in the life of Jesus, in the life of the unnamed woman with the ointment, you showed us again and again that both majesty bending to service and humility rising to glory are part of our vocation as disciples.

Grant us the humble pride that bends to serve the most needy because there – amid the oppressed, beside the suffering, enfolding the unwanted – we know the honor of serving Christ himself.

Grant us the obedient majesty that uses your power in us to raise a sister or a brother to glory.

Grant us the mind and the heart of Christ, that we may carry on his work until he comes again in triumph.

Amen.

*Prayer of Confession*

All-loving God, we confess that sometimes we offer you only half our heart.

We confess that we too often hold back, willing to commit only a limited portion of our time, our energy, our resources, our vision, and our gifts to witnessing your goodness and your good news in the world.

We confess that the example of the woman who ministered to Jesus often makes us uncomfortable because it is so abundant, so abandoned, so excessive.

Remind us, all-loving God, that you gave everything.

Remind us that you created us in your image and filled us with your spirit so that we, too, can give everything.

Grant us the courage to be people whole–heartedly yours!

Amen.

Scripture            Mark 14: 32-72

32They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.

34And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”

35And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”

37He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep?

Could you not keep awake one hour?

38Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

40And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.

41He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?

Enough!

The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42Get up, let us be going.

See, my betrayer is at hand.”

*The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus*

43Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.

44Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”

45So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!”

and kissed him.

46Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.

47But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?

49Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me.

But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”

50All of them deserted him and fled.

51A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth.

They caught hold of him, 52but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

53They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled.

54Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.

55Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.

56For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree.

57Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”

59But even on this point their testimony did not agree.

60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer?