Palm Sunday Reading & Liturgy

Our scripture was from Zechariah 9:9-10.  This is the text the Israelites read as Jesus came into Jerusalem on a Donkey. They were certain that this was the beginning of revolution.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

As we worshiped on Palm Sunday we prayed a prayer of confession together. 

King of Glory,
you rode a donkey and came in peace,
humbled yourself and gave yourself for us.
We confess our lack of humility.
As you entered Jerusalem,
the crowds shouted “Hosanna: ‘Save us now!’”
On Good Friday they shouted “Crucify!”
We confess our praise is often empty.
We sing “Hosanna,” but cry “Crucify.”
As the crowd laid their palms in front of you,
you took no glory for yourself.
We confess that we want to be accepted and take the easy way. 
We do not stay true to your will.
Forgive us, Lord, and help us
to follow in the way of obedience. Amen.

As we confess so do we recognise that God has already forgiven & restored us so we heard the assurance of pardon in the Word of the Lord from Psalm 118:

Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures for ever.”
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; 
the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is my strength and my song; 
he has become my salvation.
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
In Christ, God answers us and sets us free! 
In Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God.