Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 03-29-26 Final
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. March 29, 2026
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** For those with health concerns, masks and safe social distance are suggested within the sanctuary, especially so, when singing or responding in prayer! Masks are available at the rear of the sanctuary.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 03-29-26 — Palm Sunday —
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
Gathering Music/Prelude — Musician Amy Cann
Prelude — Jesus is Coming, Pave The Way With Branches – (Bret Hesla 1999)
* See music notes for lyrics.
Welcome and Announcements (Linda Robertson, Council Chair)
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
*Please observe a moment of silence; so we may each offer our prayers and praise to Creator, Christ & Holy Spirit.
*Hymn #129 “Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates” ©
1 Lift up your heads, O mighty gates; behold, the glorious Ruler waits;
the Sovereign One is drawing near; the Savior of the world is here!
2 Fling wide the portals of your heart; make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven's employ, adorned with prayer and love and joy.
3 Redeemer, come! We open wide our hearts to you; here Christ abide!
Let us thy inner presence feel; your grace and love in us reveal.
4 So come our sovereign; enter in! Let new and nobler life begin;
your Holy Spirit guide us on, until the glorious crown be won.
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License
#21383697
* Call to Worship (from “Prayers for the World & Its People,” Iona Abbey Worship Book)
One: Believing that God made and loves the world,
Many: we gather.
One: That it may be reshaped to fulfill God’s purposes,
Many: we pray.
One: To seek a wisdom deeper than our own thinking,
Many: we listen.
One: To honor God who gave us voice,
Many: we worship.
* Unison Prayer
God of our salvation, we are often caught between joy and despair. We yearn to be filled with Divine Spirit, with the joy of this moment, with celebration for life, even while knowing the brokenness of our world. Sustain and inspire us through your loving presence. Amen!
*Response: (Hymn #129 Verse 4)
So come our sovereign; enter in! Let new and nobler life begin;
your Holy Spirit guide us on, until the glorious crown be won.
Scripture:
Psalm 118: 1 & 19-29
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Matthew 21: 1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.
If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately."
This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet;
"Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;
they brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"
The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
*Hymn # 192 “All Glory, Laud and Honor”
1 All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel Great David's greater Son;
you ride in lowly triumph, Messiah, Blessed One.
2 The company of angels are praising you on high;
and we with all creation in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present.
3 To you before your passion they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted, our melody we raise.
As you received their praises, now hear us as we pray.
Since you delight in goodness, rule in our hearts today
Reflection: “Just for Today, Joy” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: We know what is coming during this Holy Week. We cannot skip over the pain and fear of the Crucifixion. But let us rest for this moment, in Palm Sunday’s joy and celebration.
*Hymn #191 “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty”
1 Ride on, ride on in majesty! As all the crowds hosanna cry;
through waving branches slowly ride, O Savior, to be crucified.
2 Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die;
O Christ, your triumph now begin o'er captive death and conquered sin.
3 Ride on, ride on in majesty! The angel armies of the sky
look down with sad and wondering eyes to see the approaching sacrifice.
4 Ride on, ride on in majesty! Your last and fiercest foe defy;
bow your meek head to mortal pain, then take, O God, your power and reign.
Offerings of the People
You can present your offering for the work of Grafton Community Church, using the “Donate Now” button on our Facebook page at The Grafton Church, or on our web site www.graftoncommunitychurch.org (The button may actually say “Shop Now,” but it has the same function.
Offertory: — Little Grey Donkey (Natalie Sleeth 1972)
* See music notes for lyrics.
Response: Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God all creatures here below – Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God above the source of gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit – Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Offertory Prayer of Dedication
The Benediction & The Lord's Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Postlude: — Two Processions – (Amanda Udis Kessler)
* See music notes for lyrics
As the postlude ends, greet your neighbors on Zoom or in the sanctuary, using appropriate precautions for those with health concerns.* On Zoom, unmute your mikes and share greetings and the peace of this virtual space.
*Masks are available in the sanctuary for those wishing to use one.
Music Notes:
Prelude: Jesus is Coming, Pave The Way With Branches
Jesus is coming, pave the way with branches.
Jesus is coming - hosannah!
Hosannah - Jesus is coming.
Hosannah to the Prince of Peace.
Hope for the downtrodden/Land for the landless/Debts are forgiven …
Offertory: Little Grey Donkey
Little grey donkey, Ho!
Do you know just who it is you carry on your back?
'Tis no ordinary load, no mean or common pack.
You are blessed of all beasts to carry into town
Christ the Lord of Galilee; He wears no earthly crown.
Little grey donkey, Ho!
Once you were a simple beast of poor and lowly state.
Christ Himself hath chosen you and honored is your fate.
Though your path with palms is spread, make haste along the way;
You were destined here to ride on this triumphal day.
Little grey donkey, Ho!
Yonder is a grassy hill; it's known as Calvary
Up against the cloudless sky a barren cross you see.
Little grey donkey, little grey mare, don't hide your head in shame.
For you bear the Lamb of God, and Jesus is His name
Postlude: Two Processions
Two processions entering Jerusalem, two opposing kingdoms on display.
Which of these processions are we part of? Which one will we follow on its way?
Will we shout “Hail Pilate” or “Hosanna” when we have a choice whose praise to sing?
Will we trust the violent mighty ruler? Will we trust the peaceful peasant king?
Two processions entering Jerusalem, power of love against the love of power.
Will we choose the path of domination? Will we let compassion have its hour?
God has had a dream of joyful justice. Rome has spun a nightmare of neglect.
If we join the commonwealth of servants we may bring God’s joy and justice yet.
Two processions entering Jerusalem: Realm of hope, dominion built on fear.
As we choose the path that love has opened, may we see the realm of hope draw near.
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth * Immigrants experiencing or facing detention or deportation in their loneliness and fear *Transgender people and their families *Those enduring times of stress *Those with PTSD & their families *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *The Rowley family *Carol Bason *Arthur Park *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Gayle Arbuckle *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Sophie Field *Irene Rice *Max Brown *Dick Desrochers *Ben Williams (Pastor King’s husband) *Patricia Donatelli *Lorrie Young *Sherry Brown & Family *Ed Gruelich *Flo & Tim Bosch *Ross Ludeman *The Olsson families. *Roberta Geist *Candace Damon & the Jacobson family
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Liam Parker (Michele Chickering’s son) *Family & friends of Barbara Andrews (Meg Gonzalez’ mom) *Family & friends of Bob Haseltine *Family & friends of Denize Schemm *Family & friends of Helen Lanoie (mother of Andre Lanoie) * Family & friends of Bernard “Pete” Haley *Family & friends of Donna Rice *Family & friends of Galen Pinkham *Family & friends of Susan Lathrop *Family & friends of David James Smith (Cecile Smith’s brother in law) *Family & friends of David Fischmann (partner of Katherine Brown) *Family & friends of Estelle Pieth *Family & friends of Dave Robinson *Family & friends of Debbie Wright *Family & friends of Stephan Fitzsimmons (Caidin Domeracki’s grandfather) *Family & friends of Norm Robertson *Family & friends of Ginger Ludeman *Family & Friends of Lisa Cashetto (Lorrie Young’s sister-in-law) *Family & friends of Diana Toomey *Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father)
Extended Care:
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Addie Hall Vogel. Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255
*Judy & Chuck Dickinson, Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101
Grafton Community Church, 55 Main Street, PO Box 158, Grafton, VT, 05146, United States
(802) 843-2346 Graftonchurch@gmail.com
Our Website: www.graftoncommunitychurch.org
On Facebook: The Grafton Church
Celebrate the Joyful Promise!