The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

The Liturgy of the Palms

When circumstances permit, the congregation may gather at a place apart from the church, so that all may go into the church in procession.

The branches of palm or of other trees or shrubs to be carried in the procession may be distributed to the people before the service, or after the prayer of blessing.

The following or some other suitable anthem is sung or said, the people standing

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

Celebrant   Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully with your help, 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 and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here a Deacon or other person appointed reads one of the following

Year A     Matthew 21:1-11
Year B     Mark 11:1-11a
Year C     Luke 19:29-40

The Celebrant then says the following blessing

Celebrant    The Lord be with you.
People     And also with you.
Celebrant     Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People     It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

The following or some other suitable anthem may then be sung or said
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

The Procession

Deacon     Let us go forth in peace.
People     In the name of Christ. Amen.

During the procession, all hold branches in their hands, and appropriate hymns, psalms, or anthems are sung, such as the hymn "All glory, laid, and honor" and Psalm 118:19-29.

At a suitable place, the procession may halt while the following or some other appropriate Collect is said

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the absence of a bishop or priest, the preceding service may be led by a deacon or lay reader.

At services on this day other than the principal celebration, suitable portions of the preceding may be used.

At the Eucharist

When the Liturgy of the Palms immediately precedes the Eucharist, the celebration begins with the Salutation and Collect of the Day

Let us pray.
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament      Isaiah 45:21-25, or Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm      22:1-21, or 22:1-11
Epistle      Philippians 2:5-11

The Passion Gospel is announced in the following manner

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to __________.

The customary reponses before and after the Gospel are omitted.

Year A      Matthew 26:36-27:54(55-66) or 27:1-54(55-66)
Year B      Mark 14:32-15:39(40-47) or 15:1-39(40-47)
Year C      Luke 22:39-23:49(50-56) or 23:1-49(50-56)

The Passion Gospel may be read or chanted by different persons. Specific roles may be assigned to different persons, the congregation taking the part of the crowd.

The congregation may be seated for the first part of the Passion. At the verse which mentions the arrival at Golgotha (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33) all stand.

When the Liturgy of the Palms has preceded, the Nicene Creed and the Confession of Sin may be omitted at this service.

Preface of Holy Week