Calendar

Order of Worship

Service for the Lord’s Day

Gathering around the word

Prelude                                        Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, Setting by J. Wayne Kerr

The tune name, ELLACOMBE, comes from an English village in Devonshire and was first included in a chapel hymnal for the Duke of Würtemberg in 1784. The cheerful tune and text are a wonderful introduction to our own youth choir who will follow the organ prelude.

Hosanna, loud hosanna the little children sang;
through pillared court and temple, the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

Introit                                                    Rejoice, the King is Coming, Mark Patterson

Sing hosanna praise the King of Kings.
Sing hosanna, come praise the King of Kings.

Rejoice, rejoice, the King is coming! See Him ride through Jerusalem.
Rejoice, rejoice the King is coming!
Sing hosanna to the King!
Rejoice, rejoice the King is coming!
Welcome now the King of Kings!

See the King of Glory as He rides on through the crowd.
Lay your palms before Him as we sing to the blessed King of Kings.

† Call to Worship

With crowds from ancient times we cry,
Hosanna! Save us!

O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good!
God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you in the house of the Lord!

Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Let us worship the living God!

† Hymn #196                                                                     “All Glory, Laud and Honor”

Prayer of Adoration

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, as we enter this Holy Week of Lent, solemnly gathered at your house of prayer, we turn our hearts toward Jerusalem. We want to walk the way with Jesus, to be present each step from the Mount of Olives to the cross to the empty tomb. And yet we fall away. Forgive our stubborn resistance to Christ’s work and witness. Inspire us by your Spirit to follow in his way, until we enter with him into the city not made by human hands, the new Jerusalem, eternal in the heavens. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Kyrie                                                                                               “Lord, Have Mercy”

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Pardon

The one who rode into Jerusalem to cheering crowds knew that the cross awaited. In this way, we might know the great love of God for us. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, has defeated sin forever.

Hear and believe this good news!
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God!

† Response of praise: Hymn #582                                  “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”

† Passing of the Peace

Life in Community

Proclaiming the Word

Children’s Message

Prayer for Illumination

Come Holy Spirit, Source of all life. As we hear again the story of the passion, let the same mind be in us that was in Christ, who was a servant that we might be free. Awaken our ears, open our hearts, and sustain your weary people with your Word.

Scripture                                                                                     Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Hymn #197                                                                         “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”

Scripture                                                                                                 John 12:12-16

Sermon                                                                                                         “Steadfast”, Ken Kovacs

Responding to the Word

Call to Offering

Offering of Tithes and Gifts

Offertory                                                 Ride On, King Jesus, Traditional Spiritual,  arr. Howard Helvey

Ride on, King Jesus; no man can a-hinder me.
He is King of Kings, He is Lord of Lords,
Jesus Christ, the First and the Last;  no man a-works like him
He is King of Kings, He is Lord of Lords,
Jesus Christ, the First and the Last;  no man a-works like him

Oh, ride on, King Jesus; no man can a-hinder me.
King Jesus rides a milk white horse; no man a-works like him.
The river of Jordan He did cross; no man a-works like him
King Jesus rides in the middle of the air; no man a-works like him.
He calls the saints from everywhere; no man a-works like him.
Ride on, King Jesus; no man can a-hinder me.
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on!

† Doxology #607                              “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

† Prayer of Dedication

As the crowds cried, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,” we are truly grateful for the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ our Lord. Receive these gifts as a symbol of the dedication of our very selves to you, O God. Use our gifts and use us as a part of the inbreaking of your kingdom, which comes and is still coming into our world today. Amen. 

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen.

† Hymn #209                                                                    “My Song Is Love Unknown”

† Charge & Benediction

Postlude                                                                               Arietta, Thomas H. Kerr

Baltimore native Thomas H. Kerr created a beautifully ornamented chorale based upon the Christmas tune, “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow.” The colorful registrations (sounds suggested by the composer and chosen by the organist) as well as the harmonies employing linear chromaticism and lowered scale degrees together evoke a mournful and wistful feel.

Sources

Storytelling the Season: Covenant. Karen Ware Jackson. “When we learn in God’s story together, we grow in God’s story together.” —Heather Ruth Johnson.

Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013).

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-734388; CCLI Copyright License B 20481088 + Streaming License B 481071

Worship Participants

Dorothy Boulton
Associate Pastor

Keith and Kathy Glennan
A/V Production

Wendy Johnston
Organist and Assistant Director of Music

Greg Knauf
Director of Music

Ken Kovacs
Pastor

Norman Lazarus
Liturgist

Vickie Lord
Social media support

Learning & Growing

Middle and High School Youth Group

Sunday, March 24 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to an Easter-themed escape room. Snacks and drinks are provided. Contact Jenny Hutton (jenhutton2010@gmail.com) with questions.

Adult Education: Resurrection

Sunday, April 7 | 9 a.m. in the Library | Led by Ken Kovacs

In this season of Eastertide, we’ll put a spotlight on the apostle Paul’s sublime understanding of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15:14). What is resurrection, and how did the early church understand it? We will focus on 1 Corinthians 15, contrasting the difference between “resurrection of the body” and “immortality of the soul.” And we’ll explore some of the themes we discussed in our Thursday morning Lenten series Toward a Theology of Death.

Announcements

Fellowship Hour

Thank you to Susan Hutton for hosting today’s Fellowship Hour! During today’s Fellowship Hour, all ages are invited to participate in an Easter craft.

Staff and Office Schedules

The church office will be closed on Monday, April 1, due to Easter. Ken Kovacs will be out of the office beginning Monday, April 1, and will return for worship on Sunday, April 7.

Contemplative Prayer & Meditation

On Easter Sunday, the Church celebrates resurrection and new life. On Monday, April 1, the Contemplative Prayer group will meet in-person in the France Room and online to practice opening ourselves to God’s transforming grace and gift of new life. This ancient and universal form of prayer begins by becoming still, breathing gently, and quieting our thoughts. It is a practice for realizing that our predominant way of thinking (that is often either/or, judgmental, etc.) is an obstacle to reaching a deeper inner sense of God’s presence. We pray in silence to find communion with God who says, “Be still and know that I am.”

April 1 at 7 p.m. provides an opportunity for anyone who wishes to experience the practice of contemplative prayer. Come, all are welcome. It is a practice for change into new life – a new way of being!

Iftar dinner

Please plan to join us for dinner in Fellowship Hall on Saturday, April 6th at 6:30 p.m. A breaking of the fast meal (Iftar), celebrating Ramadan, will be shared with our Muslim friends from Maryland Turkish American Inhabitants (MARTI). During the event, a freewill offering will be collected for World Central Kitchen, an NGO providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Please register online or contact the church office. Should you need assistance with reservations please email office@catonsvillepres.org or call (410) 747-6180.

Bridges to Housing Stability: Beans & Bags for Bridges

On May 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., join in a day of fun at Centennial Park in Ellicott City as we work to end homelessness through Bridges to Housing Stability’s Beans & Bags fundraiser! Chili tickets and cornhole registration are now available.

Night at the Yard

Back by popular demand, we’re planning another Night at the Yard! On May 17, we will watch the Orioles play the Mariners. Tickets are $16 per person. To reserve your tickets, please contact the church office no later than April 10. Hope to see you there!