United Church of Gainesville
Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025 – 10 a.m.
Rev. Talia Raymond
“Hosanna!”

Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.

WELCOME – Rev. Talia Raymond

PRELUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: When they were approaching Jerusalem, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a donkey with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to me. The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

ALL: Many people spread their cloaks on the road and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed we

One: The crowd would not remain silent, chanting that which rings out throughout time; The Ways of Love are mightier than death-dealing systems,

ALL: Hosanna to the Living God!

One: God’s presence is steadfast and stubborn like a donkey,

ALL: Hosanna to the Living God!

One: God’s spirit is refreshing like the breeze from palm branches,

ALL: Hosanna to the Living God!

One: When our souls are weary, hope rides into town, turning empire upside-down,

ALL: Hosanna to the Living God!

One: Holiness lives through those who have solidarity and compassion,

ALL: Hosanna to the Living God!

OPENING HYMN AND PALM PARADE – “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”

TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – Rev. Talia Raymond

INTERLUDE AND OFFERTORY

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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Ellen Ribe

MEDITATIVE MUSIC – offered by Mark Burlingame, Shirell Hix, and Penta Rose

RESPONSIVE READING – Rev. Chad McGinnis

One: As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” With the heart-pounding rush and the thrilling crush of the crowds in the busy streets, we sweep away our worries and wants and join our voices to the chorus of Hosannas all around.

ALL: But in the shadow of our eye, we sense a presence pushing back against our euphoria and joy.

One: As we make our way to the Temple courtyard, the shouts and smiles falter a step; slow back, tone down, and cast to murmurs among the Roman soldier and temple guards.

ALL: For a moment there, we knew no fear. The calls and cries sprang from our hearts and lips with unfettered adoration and hope, alive and well and calling us to life!

One: For a moment there, we even believed in God’s holy reign, knew the day we would overcome, and felt a kinship and kindness with and towards all creation.

ALL: The rocks and the stones, the dirt and the dust, the ashes and trees, the sun, moon, stars, and the breeze.

One: The planets aligned before the shouting began, but elation gave way to trepidation as we dispersed among the marketplace, and we wondered how long this Way-shower would last saying such things as give us hope in these days shrouded in fear.

ALL: (whisper) Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna.

HYMN – The Very Stones Would Sing, vs. 1-2, tune: Beach Spring

Here, we wave our palms in honor, here, we lay our garments down,
As you enter in your glory, and as we demand your crown.
We shout psalms of adoration, crying “Blessed is the One!”
And you say that if we’re silent then the very stones would sing!

We have waited for your coming. We have cried out for release.
You’re the savior we have longed for; You’re the One, the Prince of Peace.
So we wonder at your summons, to be the peace you bring.
In reluctance, we are silent, so the very stones must sing.

SERMON – “Crying Hosanna!” Rev. Talia Raymond

HYMN – The Very Stones Would Sing, vs. 3-4, tune: Beach Spring

We are frightened, thus unfaithful, when we’re silenced by the world.
We betray you; we deny you Lest their anger be unfurled.
We are scared, Lord, to speak boldly; to security we cling.
In our panic, we are silent, so the very stones must sing.

O God, help us to stand steadfast. Help us witness to your peace.
Help us to reclaim our voices That our praise may never cease.
Lead us forward on the journey; Bells of justice let us ring.
Underfoot, may stones be silent; Let us be the ones who sing!

READING – “Lent, 1991” by Maren C. Tirabassi

Lent comes.
We draw a holy comma
in rushed and busy lives.
We follow down old scripture words
the journey to Jerusalem.
We stumble into prayer again
and whisper soft
the dearest, fearest
of our thoughts.
Lent comes.
Last year’s palms
crumble into ashes.
Last year’s peace
weeps into war.
We sing of Gethsemane
amid new tears, new bleeding.
The screaming bombs
burn crosses in our hearts –
this too is God’s story.
Lent comes,
but also Ramadan’s fast,
Passover’s freedom memory
Easter’s crazy contradiction.
Faith is born of prayer
and sings with courage,
while all the children
of the earth
shelter in the wings of God
awaiting our embrace.

BENEDICTION – “Prayer of the Children” by Kurt Bestor, offered by the UCG choir, Phillip Herr-Klepacki, director. Translation of the Ukrainian: “Can you hear all the children’s prayers?”

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Holy Week and Easter Sunday at UCG

Maundy Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m. A simple service of song and holy communion, commemorating Jesus’s last supper and his commandment to the disciples: to love one another.

Good Friday, April 18, 7 p.m. Enter into the story of Jesus’ last hours and days with a self-guided journey linking the story of Jesus to our attachment to planet earth, living out our calling to creation care by not turning away from the whole story, both death and resurrection.

Easter Sunday, April 20, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The most joyful morning of the Christian year, we gather to sing and proclaim Good News. The first service quietly and beautifully greets the dawn of a new day; the second pulls out all the stops, with choir, brass, kids and more.