St Columba's Scottish Episcopal Church, Largs - Pew Sheets
April 17th 2011 - Palm Sunday

Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death on the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

A reading from the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 50:4-9a)
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Psalm 31:9-16

Hear the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St Matthew (Matthew 26:14-27:66)
Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; but hast set my feet in a large room. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble, and mine eye is consumed for very heaviness; yea, my soul and my body. For my life is waxen old with heaviness, and my years with mourning. My strength faileth me, because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I became a reproof among all mine enemies, but especially a/mong my neighbours; and they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me; and they that did see me without, con/veyed them/selves from me. I am clean forgotten as a dead man out of mind; I am become like a broken vessel. For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and fear is on every side; while they conspire together against me, and take their counsel to take away my life. But my hope hath been in thee, O LORD; I have said, Thou art my God.

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:5-11)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Post Communion:
Lord Jesus Christ, you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant, and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation: give us the mind to follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father.