The Passion of our Lord

Palm Sunday

March 29, 2026

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Folcroft

   stjohns1500@gmail.com 

https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org      https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsLutheranFolcroft/

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

You will need to use your ELW for the Hymn of the Day (ELW 343)

Events for this week are:

PRELUDE HOSANNA!

P:  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

C:  Hosanna in the highest

P:  Let us pray.  

     Mercifully assist us, 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  

     everlasting;  through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen

P:  The holy gospel according to St. John the 12th chapter

C:  Glory to you, O Lord.

JOHN 12:12-16

12The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!"  14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:  15"Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.  Look, your king is coming,  sitting on a donkey's colt!"  16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

P:  The gospel of the Lord. C:  Praise to you, O Christ. 

GATHERING HYMN:  All Glory Laud and Honor   ELW 344  VS 1 & 3

* PRAYER OF THE DAY

     As we now enter into the contemplation of the passion of our Lord Jesus 

     Christ and meditate on the salvation of the world through his sufferings, 

     death, burial, and resurrection, let us pray: 

    

     Sovereign God, you have established your rule in the human heart through 

     the servanthood of Jesus Christ.  By your Spirit, keep us in the joyful 

     procession of those who with their tongues confess Jesus as Lord and with 

     their lives praise him as Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy

     Spirit, one God, now and forever.  

C:  Amen.

THE READING OF THE PASSION ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

In fulfillment of scripture and obedience to God's will, Jesus goes to the cross so that a new covenant in his blood may bring forgiveness of sins. Even the soldiers who crucify him recognize him to be the Son of God.

P: The gospel of the Lord: C:  Praise to you O Christ

MEDITATION:  Bishop Yehiel Curry (video excerpt used with permission)

* HYMN OF THE DAY: My Song Is Love Unknown   (ELW 343) 

* THE APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

   creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

   who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

   born of the virgin Mary,

   suffered under Pontius Pilate,

   was crucified, died, and was buried;

   he descended to the dead.*

   On the third day he rose again;

   he ascended into heaven,

   he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

   and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

   the holy catholic church,

   the communion of saints,

   the forgiveness of sins,

   the resurrection of the body,

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Reconciled by God’s mercy and sustained by God’s presence, let us pray for the world and its needs.

O God, you announce words of grace and truth. Give wisdom to all preachers in your church both globally and locally. Open our hearts to encounter the infinite life you offer in Jesus. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You hold the whole universe. Gather sun and moon, clouds and stars, land and sea, and plants and animals around the cross, so that all creation bears witness to your saving love. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Your power is sure. Destroy inequity and division in every place, and build your beloved community among all people. Guide judges, attorneys, and juries so that they act with justice and fairness. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Your heart breaks open at our pain. Send healing and vindication to all who, like Jesus, know the sting of betrayal, denial, abuse, or false accusations. Be with those experiencing pain or loss this day.  We pray for the Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, Bill and Pam, Pastor Wende, Ray, Richie, Derek, Chris, Donna, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, Ceaser and those we now raise before you in our hearts. Grant them healing and wholeness. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Your ways show compassion. Let this same mind be in us as we enter Holy Week. Bless those here who will lead worship and tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

O God, your embrace is eternal. Praise and thanks to you for all the faithful departed who rest in your mercy. Deliver us all from death’s power and raise us to life in you. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Receive our prayers, O God, through Jesus Christ, our strength and salvation.

Amen.

OFFERING

Offerings may be placed in the tray as you leave the sanctuary, or on line using the donate button on our website, or mailed to the church. All gifts are welcomed and appreciated.  Thank you for supporting our ministry as we bring God’s Word to people and help provide for their needs.

OFFERING PRAYER:

Let us Pray:  Merciful God, receive the sacrifice of our praise and thanksgiving and the offering of our lives, that following in the way of the cross, we may know the joy of the resurrection; through Christ our Lord.   

Amen.

* DIALOGUE

The Lord be with you.

And also with you

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

* PREFACE

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; whose suffering and death gave salvation to all.  You gather your people around the tree of the cross, transforming death into life.  And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  

 * HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

* THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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 trespasses,

   as we forgive those

       who trespass against us;

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.

* INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Come to the table of the Lord where Jesus’s meal will nourish and sustain your spirit.

COMMUNION SONG

 COMMUNION

The body of Christ, given for you.     

The blood of Christ, shed for you.

TABLE BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.  Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

+ SENDING +

+ God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world +

*BLESSING

Receive the blessing of the holy Trinity: God, who calls all things into existence, Jesus Christ, who redeems us, and the Holy Spirit, whose breath sustains creation,   bless you now and always. Amen.

* SENDING HYMN: Beneath the Cross of Jesus (ELW 338)

* DISMISSAL  Go in peace. Serve in love. Thanks be to God.

A:  We hope this service was meaningful for you and brought the love of God and peace of Jesus into your homes.  Pray, trust, believe and wait.   Remember to join us Thursday evening at 7 for Maundy Thursday service.   

The Eternal Candle is sponsored for the month of March by the Shortt Family in memory of Beatrice and Edwin Shortt.

MAUNDY THURSDAY, Holy Communion 

and the Stripping of the Altar,

April 2, at 7:00 p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY, Tenabrae, 

a service of Lights and Shadows, 

April 3, at 7:00 p.m.   

Join us as we celebrate the 

RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD ON EASTER SUNDAY, April 5th, 

a service with Holy Communion at 10:15 a.m.

Our Financial Response  (February) 

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month        $   7,305.04

Offering last month        $   4,372.14

Budget required to date (2 months) ..     $ 14,610.08

Total received to date        $   7,597.28

MISSION SUPPORT

Budget required to date (2 months)        $     800.00

Total received to date        $     675.44

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

Easter flowers are beautiful, and this year, again, we would love to see them in our sanctuary.  Make your check payable to St. John’s and send to the church office along with the Easter Flower tear-off included. You may also send an email to the office with your specific wishes, stjohns1500@gmail.com. Be sure to specify your wishes on the tear-off, and if you are giving in honor of or in memory of someone. We will list all who have made flower dedications in the Easter bulletin.

This year we are offering Lilies ($9.25), Mums ($10) and Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths ($7.25). 

You may also choose to make a donation to the World Hunger Fund.

There are extra forms available on the hallway table to sponsor Easter flowers.

Deadline for ordering flowers is March 29.

Easter Flowers 

Choose from:

   Lilies ($9.25)    Mums ($10)

   Daffodils    Hyacinths    Tulips  (all $7.25)

   A donation to World Hunger

        Given by _________________________________________________________

In memory of ______________________________________________________

In honor of ________________________________________________________

Make checks payable to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Please include this form with your payment with your offering, or return to the Church Office.

Deadline for ordering: March 29th!