Liturgy: Palm Sunday Lessons and Carols, John 12 (April 13, 2025)

  *You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know.*

Additional Hymns:

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

Hymn GTG #456, “Listen, God Is Calling”

Hymn GTG #200, “A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd”

This insert will be offered each week to help us think about conflicts in scripture and in our lives.

Call to Worship (based on John 12:13-15)

Leader: Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

People: Hosanna in the highest!

Leader: Don’t be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look! Your king is coming!

People: Blessings on the King of Israel!

Leader: Let us worship him with shouts and songs!

People: Let us worship him with palms and praise!

Call to Confession (based on John 12:35-36)

Leader: Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. It’s only in the light can we see our sin for what it is and turn from it. Let us move from confusion to enlightenment through our confession.

Prayer of Confession (based on John 12:40-43)

People: Exulted One, we confess that our eyes and minds have been closed to your glory. We wave palm branches and shout praises without understanding who you are. We hail you and call you our king without believing in your authority over our lives. Yet we know, O Lord, that you alone can heal our brokenness - you alone can save us from ourselves. Heal us, save us, and forgive us - Hosanna, we humbly cry! In your mercy, hear our prayers…

Declaration of Forgiveness (based on John 12:47)

Leader: Jesus assures us that he didn’t come to judge the world, but to save it. Our salvation, then, is assured despite our sin: in Christ’s name, we are all forgiven!

People: Thanks be to God!

LESSONS AND CAROLS FROM JOHN

Readings are done by three people: one representing Jesus, one representing Jesus' supporters, and one representing Jesus' opponents. They each wear a white, green, or red stole, respectively, to help clarify their roles. 

Mary Anoints Jesus: John 12:1-11

Hymn GTG #201, “A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar” [vv. 1 & 4]

Processional into Jerusalem: John 12:12-22

Hymn GTG #197, “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” [vv. 1 & 3]

The Human One Must Be Lifted Up: John 12:23-36

Hymn GTG #826, “Lift High the Cross” [vv. 2 & 3 with refrain]

Isaiah’s Prophecy: John 12:37-50

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord!

People: Thanks be to God!

        Hymn GTG #749, “Come! Live in the Light!” [verse 1 only]