Who's In Charge Here?

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.

Gracious God, as we enter this Holy Week, strengthen us to move beyond the festive pride of palms and to follow Jesus into the way of the cross, that as we learn to walk in the way of Jesus, we would build the community of loving kindness that Jesus first envisioned so many years ago. Amen.

God in the highest, you came to us in a human being who humbled himself like a servant and taught us to live your way of love.

We pray for the nations and leaders who worship power and might; may they be ruled by humility and peace.

We pray for the church and its leaders, that we may have the mind of Christ.

We pray for the victims of human tragedies and disasters of nature.

We pray for those who are in prison — the repentant and unrepentant and those falsely accused.

We pray for those who are ill or infirm or are rejected because they are seen to be weak.

God of compassion, through Jesus Christ you have come to us and shared our common lot. Mold us into people who show your mercy and teach us to live the way of Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.

Eternal God, quiet with us all lesser voices, that through the story of your kin-dom we may see where we are to serve as your love in the world. Amen.

²⁸After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.²⁹When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” ³²So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. ³³As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”³⁴They said, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ³⁶As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. ³⁷As 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, ³⁸saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” ³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” ⁴⁰He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” ⁴¹As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, ⁴²saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. ⁴⁴They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Where do we see the pageantry of empire today? How might we respond faithfully, in the way of Jesus to the pageantry of empire that we see today? Where have we mistakenly celebrated empire in the church? What does it mean for us to no longer support empire as we seek instead, to follow Jesus?

God has given us Jesus who turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple and established a different relationship with God, a relationship founded on love and the abundance that comes from God. Out of our abundance let us give to God in community.

Holy One, we give you thanks for your great deeds of love that you revealed in Jesus and continue to make possible through the Holy Spirit. Bless these gifts that we bring this day in thanksgiving for your love of us and your creation. Amen

May you know the love of Jesus for you and the world. May the same mind be in you that was in Jesus. And may you go forth in peace, to bring peace to the world around you. Amen.

Church Staff: Jennifer Rudy, Soprano Hannah Yi, Pianist John Fluker, Pianist Jim Orr, Technology Dave Albulario, Tenor / Music Director

LEISUREWORLDCOMMUNITYCHURCH 14000 Church Pl, Seal Beach, CA 90740 562-431-2503 CCLI License No. 1872250