-We Gather as God’s People- My hope will vanish into terror.



I know my passion for justice will be swallowed

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hoshia-na in the highest!
HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates UMH 213 by my lust for safety.

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up,
I know. 

saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds kept saying,
But I dare to trust my fickleness will be redeemed,

CALL TO WORSHIP and is already.
 “This is the prophet Yeshua, from Natzeret in the Galilee.”
Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything I dare to believe now because I can,

Then Yeshua entered the Temple and drove out all those selling
to you, you shall say, ‘The Master needs them.’ even if later I will recant.
 and buying in the Temple. He overturned the tables of the
I dare to call for justice 

My heart, my time
 moneychangers and the seats of those selling doves. And he
though I myself will delay it.
 said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house
my prayer, my imagination, I dare to have joy, even before the disaster,

my faith, my doubt— of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves!”
because I know I will have joy again. 

The Master needs them!
 God has already blessed my brokenness,

My thoughts, my voice, 

the way I treat strangers,

transformed my evil, conquered my death.

This is my faith: that in the face of my sin

-We Respond to God’s Word-
The Master needs them! I rejoice.

In the face of evil I have hope,
 REFLECTION Un-Tied for What?
Christ needs our presence

in the face of failure I am confident,

where there is hurt.
 in the face of death I live life. 
 HYMN Lord of All Hopefulness FWS 2197
Christ needs our risk 
 How revolutionary, to rejoice in the face of despair!

in loving those who are hard to love,
 Mortal, flawed, inadequate and doomed,
 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
our vulnerability in caring for what is heartbreaking,
 I wave my palm for the Beloved.

our hope in the dawn long before dawn. And the Beloved smiles. 
 OFFERING & DOXOLOGY UMH 94
Christ needs us to convey him into the city,
 Hosanna in the highest.
to bear him into people's hearts.

Each of us, donkey-plain,

-We Listen for God’s Word- -We Are Sent Into God’s World-
ordinary and waiting,

we are what Christ needs! GOSPEL Matthew 21:1-13 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Listen: Now as they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to
We have been called!
 the Mount of Olives, then Yeshua sent two disciples, saying to BENEDICTION
We have been untied! them, “Go into the village before you. Right away, you’ll find RESPONSE Go to Dark Gethsemane UMH 290
a donkey tied up and a colt with her. Untie them and bring Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter's power;
PRAISE Hosanna! Hosanna! FWS 2109 them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The your Redeemer's conflict see, watch with him one bitter hour.
Master needs them.’ And right away he will send them.” Turn not from his griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
We Will Glorify the King of Kings FWS 2087 This happened to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet,

j
saying, Say to the daughter of Zion,
PASSING THE PEACE ‘See, your King is coming to you,

humble and sitting on a donkey,

YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna UMH 278 Birthdays
The disciples went and did as Yeshua had directed them. They
brought the donkey and colt and put their clothing on them, 15 April: Laura McDonald 16 April: Otis Cleveland
OPENING TO GOD Jesus The Velvet Underground and he sat on the clothing. Most of the crowd spread their 18 April: Nancy Bartlett 19 April: Marjorie St John
clothing on the road, and others began cutting branches from 21 April: Noah Heffernan
PRAYER OF CONFESSION SG-H the trees and spreading them on the road. The crowds going
I will wave palm branches today.
 before him and those following kept shouting, saying, Essex Eats Out Schedule
Yes, I know they will be burned tomorrow;
 Hoshia-na to Ben-David!
 Apr 19 - St James Apr 26 - EUMC
I know my praise will turn to betrayal.
 Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai!

 Announcements Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Please keep them in your prayers at home.
COTS request from Mission Committee: Biggest need is new Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.

Palm Sunday
linens, necessary toiletries, baby wipes and warm mittens (they
have enough hats). Red Tub in Fellowship Hall is open-- full list Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont.
is beside it. **Paula Pickering is forming a COTS Walk Arlitha Tim
Team** Callie Lenore
Anne Kennison Michael Parker
JUMP has requested donated items, needed by early April.
Mary Willard Lifted Up Last Sunday
Please bring any items you are able to donate to church and
Norma Strickland Dana - friend Terry’s family, still no
leave in box labeled JUMP in fellowship hall. Please collect only
Judy & Diezela answers
the items on our list! Thank you for supporting JUMP and
helping our low-income neighbors! Matthew C. Passing of great-uncle Eddie
Elissa & Leif Mitch - all those on ongoing prayer list
Calendar Greg Judy - brother Jerry, cancer
Paula DeMichele New grandson, Carter (parents Jessica
Tuesdays: Pastor Is In @ Nest Coffee Shop 10 am - 11:30 am
Jericho Clergy Group 11:30-12:30 Don Strickland and Wes)
Church Office 1 pm- 2 pm Ellie Uckele Traveling mercies to FL
Mt Mansfield Bible Study 2 pm Cole Midge - thankful for prayers
Thursdays: Church Office 10:00 am- noon Harley Sarah - travels, care of self
j Gordon Mitchinson
Susan
Ken S - DCF case finalized, thankful
Dawn - those struggling
Mon, 15 Apr: Living the Questions 7:00 pm Subject: Trinity
Reading The Divine Dance by Richard Rohr

j
Tue, 16Apr: Trustee Board, 7 pm

Wed, 17 Apr: Lenten Taizé & Lectio Divina Service, 7 pm

Thu, 18 Apr: Maundy Thursday Dinner Church 5:30 pm

Fri, 19 Apr: Good Friday Tenebrae 7 pm Essex Center United Methodist Church
essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
Sat, 20 Apr: Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil www.essexumc.com

Sun, 21 Apr: Sunrise Service, Bixby Hill, 6:00 am Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Resurrection Service, 10:00 am Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Mon, 22 Apr: Monday Companions at Eve’s home. Conclude Office Manager: Elissa Johnsen
Wesley Discussion. Next Book: Holy Envy by Sunday School Coordinator: Krista Rochefort
Barbara Brown Taylor for May 6. Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Song Leader: Dana LaClair Projection: Sam Evans
Fri, 26 Apr: WoWW Luncheon, JP’s Restaurant (River Rd),
11:30am Ushers: Jody & Kevin H next week: Essex Center
Wed-Thu, 1-2 May: Pastor Mitch will be at the Board of
Greeter: Pat & John M
Nursery Helper Gail G
next week: Chuck & Jeremy, Claire N
next week: Liz R Un-Tied Methodist Church
Ordained Ministry Retreat in North Andover. MA. Sun. Sch. Helper: Nancy N next week:
Palm Sunday 14 April 2019