Palm Sunday (March 24)
Welcome! We’re glad you’re here.
Citylife strives to be a diverse community of grace that forms disciples of Jesus for the renewal of Boston and our neighbors.
“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalms 100:2-3
Order of Worship
*Please stand as you are able
Welcome and Preparation
Call to Worship*
LEADER: Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
PEOPLE: Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
LEADER: Lo, your king comes to you;
PEOPLE: Triumphant and victorious is he,
LEADER: Humble and riding on a donkey,
ALL: On a colt, the foal of a donkey.
-
Gregory W. LaFollette
Holy, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of Your gloryChorus
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
And blessed is He who
Comes in the name of the LordHoly, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of Your gloryChorus
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
And blessed is He who
Comes in the name of the Lord—
CCLI License No. 7161130
-
Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Aaron Keys, James Tealy
For what we have done and left undone
We fall on Your countless mercies
For sins that are known and those unknown
We call on Your name so holyFor envy and pride, for closing our eyes
For scorning our very neighbor
In thought, word, and deed, we’ve failed You our King
How deeply we need a SaviorChorus
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on usFor what You have done, Your life of love
You perfectly lived, we praise You
Though tempted and tried, You fixed Your eyes
You finished the work God gave You
And there on the tree, a King among thieves
You bled for a world’s betrayal
You loved to the end, our merciful friend
How pure and forever faithfulChorus
Bridge
For hearts that are cold, for seizing control
For scorning our very Maker
In thought, word, and deed, we’ve failed You our King
How deeply we need a SaviorChorus
—
CCLI License No. 4903820
Corporate Confession
LEADER: Loving God, you rode a donkey and came in peace, humbled yourself and gave yourself for us.
PEOPLE: We confess our lack of humility.
LEADER: As you entered Jerusalem, the crowds shouted “Hosanna: ‘Save us now!’”On Good Friday they shouted “Crucify!”
PEOPLE: We confess our praise is often empty.
LEADER: We sing “Hosanna,” but cry “Crucify.” As the crowd laid their palms in front of you, you took no glory for yourself.
PEOPLE: We confess that we want to be accepted and take the easy way.
LEADER: We do not stay true to your will.
ALL: Forgive us, Lord, because of what your Son has accomplished on our behalf. Amen.
Personal Confession
Receiving of Grace
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!
Doxology*
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
-
Catherine Winkworth, Joachim Neander, Straisund Gesangbuch
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near
Praise Him in glad adorationPraise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how thy desires have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend theePraise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him
Let the Amen sound from His people again
Gladly will ever adore Him—
CCLI License No. 4903820
Prayer of Intercession* (concluded by 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 and ever. Amen.
Hosanna (Praise is Rising)
Palm Processional & Kids Choir
Prayer for Children
Extending Peace
MINISTER: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
ALL: And also with you.
Announcements
Gospel Lesson
Scripture Reading*
21 “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
— Matthew 21:1-11, ESV
READER: This is the Word of God.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
“Courageous Leader”
Rev. Benjamin Bae
Prayers for Tithes and Offerings
ALL: Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us - our selves, our time, and our possessions - signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
-
Rich Thompson, Jonny Robinson
Your will be done, my God and Father
As in Heaven, so on earth
My heart is drawn to self exalting
Help me seek Your kingdom firstChorus
As Jesus walked, so I shall walk
Held by Your same unchanging love
Be still my soul, oh, lift your voice and pray
Father not my will but Yours be done
How in the garden He persisted
I may never fully know
The fearful weight of true obedience
It was held by Him aloneChorus
What wondrous faith, to bear that cross
To bear my sin, what wondrous love
My hope was sure when there my Savior prayed
Father not my will but Yours be done
When I am lost, when I am broken
In the night of fear and doubt
Still I will trust in my good Father
Yes, to one great King I bowChorus
As Jesus rose, so I shall rise
In ransomed glory at the throne
My heart restored, with all Your saints I sing
Father not my will but Yours be done
As we go forth, our God and Father
Lead us daily in the fight
That all the world might see Your glory
And Your Name be lifted highChorus
And in this Name we overcome
For You shall see us safely home
Now as Your church, we lift our voice and pray
Father not my will but Yours be done—
CCLI License No. 7105729
Benediction & Dismissal*
MINISTER: Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
ALL: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Connect with Citylife. We’re happy you’re here! If you are new, the easiest way to get in touch with us is by filling out the Connect Card HERE.
Congregational Meeting TODAY! Join us after service for our congregational meeting. Open invite to everyone, and all members are strongly encouraged to attend!
Good Friday & Easter Services. At the center of the Christian faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Good Friday, we hold a special Tenebrae service (Latin for “darkness”), which is a reflective and somber gathering with liturgy centered around the crucifixion of Jesus. Easter, on the other hand, is a joyous celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and victory over sin and death. We will join millions of other Christians around the world who worship a God who died and rose again to rescue his people. We hope you’ll worship with us and invite your friends and neighbors for these special services.. Our Good Friday service is on 3/29 @ 7-8PM and our Easter service is on 3/31 @10:30AM. (There will be no childcare for our Good Friday service and but activity sheets will be provided).
Community
April Community Meals. The next Community Meals are April 13-14. Community Meals are casual potlucks where you have the chance to meet people you might not otherwise cross paths with. There will be a brunch and dinner option; people will sign up ahead of time and be randomly assigned a location. Sign ups close on April 7th! Sign up HERE.
Citylife One-Day Getaway - 4/27. SAVE THE DATE for our One-Day Getaway, 4/27! Stay tuned for more details and registration.
University Ministry
University Ministry City Night Fellowship. Citylife is one church made up of college students from multiple campuses across our city. We gather monthly at City Night Fellowship to develop meaningful relationships with students across campuses. Invite your friends and join us for our next monthly large group gathering this Thursday 03/28/24 at Ruggles Baptist Church. Go to our church website HERE for more info.
Kids & Youth
Youth Confirmation Class. Registration is open! Classes will run Sunday, April 14 -- Sunday, May 5. Email Youth Director at cecily@citylifeboston.org for more info.
Youth Ministry. We meet every 1st and 3rd Saturday from 6:30-8:30pm at Ruggles Baptist Church and every 2nd and 4th Sunday from 9:15-10:25AM in the Toddlers classroom. Hope to see you there! Next Youth Sunday School: 3/24, and next Saturday Youth Group: 4/6
Justice & Mercy
Help Needed to Support a Citylife Foster Family. Join our community’s effort to wrap around the Van Meerbeke family as they care for their foster baby and their daughter while she undergoes cancer treatment. Contact namhee@citylifeboston.org to join a rotation of childcare volunteers.