Proper Liturgies for Special Days – Palm Sunday
The Liturgy of the Palms
When circumstances permit, the congregation may gather at a place
apart from the church, so that all may go into the church in procession.
The branches of palm or of other trees or shrubs to be carried in the
procession may be distributed to the people before the service, or after
the prayer of blessing.
The following or some other suitable anthem is sung or said, the people
standing
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
| Celebrant | Let us pray. |
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our
salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation
of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and
immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Here a Deacon or other person appointed reads one of the following
270 Palm Sunday
Year A Matthew 21:1-11
Year B Mark 11:1-11a
Year C Luke 19:29-40
The Celebrant then says the following blessing
| The Lord be with you. | |
| People | And also with you. |
| Celebrant | Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. |
| People | It is right to give him thanks and praise. |
It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by
which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ
our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in
triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who
spread their garments and branches of palm along his way.
Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that
we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King,
and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives
and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and
for ever. Amen.
The following or some other suitable anthem may then be sung or said
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Procession
| Deacon | Let us go forth in peace. |
| People | In the name of Christ. Amen. |
During the procession, all hold branches in their hands, and appropriate
hymns, psalms, or anthems are sung, such as the hymn “All glory, laud,
and honor” and Psalm 118:19-29.
At a suitable place, the procession may halt while the following or some
other appropriate Collect is said
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Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but
first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he
was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way
of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and
peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the absence of a bishop or priest, the preceding service may be led by a
deacon or lay reader.
At services on this day other than the principal celebration, suitable
portions of the preceding may be used.
At the Eucharist
When the Liturgy of the Palms immediately precedes the Eucharist, the
celebration begins with the Salutation and Collect of the Day.
Let us pray.
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the
human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take
upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross,
giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant
that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share
in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
Old Testament Isaiah 45:21-25, or Isaiah 52:13–53:12
Psalm 22:1-21, or 22:1-11
Epistle Philippians 2:5-11
The Passion Gospel is announced in the following manner
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to_________
The customary responses before and after the Gospel are omitted.
272 Palm Sunday
Year A Matthew 26:36-27:54(55-66) or 27:1-54(55-66)
Year B Mark 14:32-15:39(40-47) or 15:1-39(40-47)
Year C Luke 22:39-23:49(50-56) or 23:1-49(50-56)
The Passion Gospel may be read or chanted by different persons. Specific roles
may be assigned to different persons, the congregation taking the part
of the crowd.
The congregation may be seated for the first part of the Passion. At the
verse which mentions the arrival at Golgotha (Matthew 27:33,
Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33) all stand.
When the Liturgy of the Palms has preceded, the Nicene Creed and the
Confession of Sin may be omitted at this service.
Preface of Holy Week
Palm Sunday 273