Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura
Preacher: Revd Dr Margaret Goodall

Gathering Music

Call to Worship

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His steadfast love endures forever!

Open to us the gates of righteousness that we may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!

Lift up your branches. Lift up your hearts!
The King comes to us humbly and riding on a donkey.
Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, as we welcome you with palms and praise,
prepare our hearts to follow you in humility and faith.

Amen

Hymn: All glory, laud and honour

All glory, laud and honour
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
thou David’s royal Son,
who in the Lord’s name comest,
the King and blessed one:
All glory, laud and honour …

The company of angels
are praising thee on high,
and mortal folk and all things
created make reply:
All glory, laud and honour …

The people of the Hebrews
with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before thee we present.
All glory, laud and honour …

To thee before thy passion
they sang their hymns of praise:
to thee now high exalted
our melody we raise:
All glory, laud, and honour …

Thou didst accept their praises,
accept the prayers we bring,
who in all good delightest,
thou good and gracious King:
All glory, laud, and honour …

Thy sorrow and thy triumph
grant us, O Christ, to share,
that to the holy city
together we may fare:
All glory, laud, and honour …

For homage may we bring thee
our victory o’er the foe,
that in the Conqueror’s triumph
this strain may ever flow:

All glory, laud, and honour
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

Theodulph of Orleans (d. 821)
tr. J.M. Neale (1819–1866)
CCL31580

Introduction

This morning begins the greatest week of the Christian Year.
During Lent we prepare ourselves by works of love and self-sacrifice
for the celebration of the Lord’s death and resurrection.
With Christians throughout the world, we come together this week to call to mind,
and to express in word and action, the heart of the Easter mystery:
Our Lord’s Passover from death to life.
Christ entered in triumph into the Holy City to complete his work as Messiah:
to suffer, to die and to rise to new life.
Today we commit ourselves to walk the way of the cross,
so that, sharing his sufferings, we may be united with him in his risen life.

Blessing the Palms

Sovereign God, we thank you for these branches and crosses, representing palms.
By your blessing may they be for us signs of the victory of your Son.
May we who carry them in his name ever hail him as our Messiah
and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

The Procession

Let us praise Jesus our Messiah, as did the crowds who welcomed him to Jerusalem.
Let us proceed in peace.
In the name of Christ.

Amen

[The Choir lead the procession singing, ‘Alleluia, Yin Oluwa’.
The Congregation will follow the Choir with the palms outside the church (weather permitting).

Alleluia, Yin Oluwa – Alleluia, Praise the Lord

Aleluya Y’in Oluwa.
Aleluya Y’in Oluwa.
O şeun, o şeun, o şeun, o şeun baba
Aleluya Y’in Oluwa.

Alleluia, praise the Lord.
Alleluia, praise the Lord.
Praises, high praises, now bring to the Lord.
Alleluia, praise the Lord.

Songs of joy sing to the Lord.
Songs of joy sing to the Lord.
Dancing and singing your praises to God,
songs of joy sing to the Lord.

Beat the drum and praise the Lord.
Beat the drum and praise the Lord
Praises, high praises, give thanks to the Lord.
Beat the drum and praise the Lord.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

Gracious and faithful God, we thank you, for you are good. Your steadfast love endures for ever.
You have become our salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
Yet we confess, O Lord, that our praise is often shallow and our loyalty uncertain.
We shout ‘Hosanna!’,  but resist the way of the Cross.
We welcome you as King, yet hesitate to surrender our lives.
Forgive us for the times we seek a Saviour who serves our purposes
rather than a Lord whom we follow in obedience.
Renew us by your mercy. Humble our pride. Steady our faith.
Teach us to walk the road of love, even when it leads through sacrifice.
Hosanna! Save us, we pray. And make us faithful disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Kyrie

Absolution

Return to the Lord, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
In Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Be at peace and walk in newness of life.
Thanks be to God.

Prayer of the Week

Almighty and ever-living God,  who in your tender love for the human race sent your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross,
grant that we may follow the example of his humility and walk in the way of his obedience;
that, as we enter with him into his passion, we may also share in the glory of his resurrection;
through him who was obedient even to death upon the cross for our sake.

Amen

Scriptures

Psalm 118: 1–2 & 19–29

Read by Peter Steeds

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures for ever.

² Let Israel say:
‘His love endures for ever.’

[…]

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
²³ the Lord has done this,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
²⁷ The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
is love endures for ever.

NIV®

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Ride on! Ride on in majesty!

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry;
thy humble beast pursues his road
with palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
O Christ, thy triumphs now begin
o’er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
The wingèd squadrons of the sky
look down with sad and wondering eyes,
to see the approaching sacrifice.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
the Father, on his sapphire throne,
expects his own anointed Son.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
bow thy meek head to mortal pain,
then take, O God, thy power, and reign.

H.H. Milman (1791–1868)
CCL31580

Matthew 21: 1–11

Read by Don Head

Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king

¹ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’

⁴ This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet:

⁵ ‘Say to Daughter Zion,
“See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”’

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’

¹¹ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’

NIV®

This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.

Sermon

By Revd Dr Margaret Goodall

Musical Meditation

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God, whose steadfast love endures for ever,
who opens the gates of righteousness and calls us into thankful praise.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the humble King, who came in the name of the Lord,
who was rejected and became the cornerstone,
who bore the cross for our salvation, and who reigns in glory.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who leads us in the way of peace,
who strengthens us to follow Christ, and who gathers us as one people crying, ‘Hosanna!’
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

Amen

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Grace Hunting

Sharing Peace

Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.
In him, God has reconciled us to himself and to one another.
Friends, may the peace of the Lord be always with you,
and also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another and wave to those watching on the live stream.

Hymn: Have you heard God’s voice

Have you heard God’s voice; has your heart been stirred?
Are you still prepared to follow?
Have you made a choice to remain and serve,
though the way be rough and narrow?

Will you walk the path that will cost you much
and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts to you
the disciples of tomorrow?

Will you use your voice; will you not sit down
when the multitudes are silent?
Will you make a choice to stand your ground
when the crowds are turning violent?

Will you walk the path…

In your city streets will you be God’s heart?
Will you listen to the voiceless?
Will you stop and eat, and when friendships start
will you share your faith with the faithless?

Will you walk the path…

Will you watch the news with the eyes of faith
and believe it could be different?
Will you share your views using words of grace?
Will you leave a thoughtful imprint?

We will walk the path that will cost us much
and embrace the pain and sorrow.
We will trust in One who entrusts to us
the disciples of tomorrow.

Jacqueline G. Jones
CCL31580

Holy Communion

Invitation to the Table

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed are those who are invited to the supper of the Lamb.

This is not our table, but the Lord’s.
All who seek him in repentance and faith are welcome.

The Great Thanksgiving

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.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
You formed us in love, and when we turned away, your love remained steadfast.
You sent prophets and teachers, and in the fullness of time, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ.
He came to us in humility, riding on a donkey, welcomed with palms and shouts of praise.
He came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life for the salvation of the world.
And so, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you,
broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
‘Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’
When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
‘Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Living God, pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honour and glory are yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.

Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Amen

Breaking of the Bread

Because there is one loaf,
we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

Meal is shared

Post communion prayer

Lord Jesus, you entered Jerusalem in humility and gave yourself in love.
Having received this holy meal, strengthen us to follow you faithfully,
to serve boldly, and to love sacrificially; for you are our salvation.

Amen

Notices and Offertory

Support Earth Hour 2026

8.30–9.30 pm Saturday, 28 March 2026

Earth Hour is an annual event organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), when people and organisations all over the world switch off their lights at home for one hour ‘to help raise awareness on the most urgent issues facing our planet.’ As part of our activities as an Eco Church we would like to invite Cornerstone Members, if they can, to participate for one hour on Saturday, 28 March 2026 from 8:30 pm until 9.30 pm. This would involve switching off some lights and devices and perhaps taking time to pray. In addition, WWF is encouraging people to spend sixty minutes doing something – anything – positive for our planet, perhaps simply finding out more about the climate crisis across the world: https://www.wwf.org.uk/earth-hour.

Cornerstone Eco Church Group

Fairtrade Easter Eggs and Cards

Fairtrade Easter Eggs and cards are now on sale in the Cornerstone Shop:

Single Easter cards are 70p each; pack of 6: £3.60.
Real Easter Egg: Milk Chocolate £5.95; Dark Chocolate £6.95.
Easter Blessings Bar: Milk Chocolate £3.25; Dark Chocolate £3.50.

If you would like to sponsor an Easter Egg for the Food Bank, please text me on 07854 762676 or email cjoy.chapman9@.com.

Joy Chapman

Journeying with Jesus – Week 6: ‘Saved by Jesus’

We conclude our Lenten Bible study this week looking at Luke 19: 1–10, where Jesus meets Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, in Jericho, and invites himself to stay at Zacchaeus’s house.

Pilgrims Together Banner and new electronic screens

You’ve probably noticed that our Pilgrims Together Banner is not in its usual place in the Worship Area. At the end of March electronic screens will be installed with one over the doors to the Guildhall.

We are looking at where to re-hang the Pilgrims Together Banner in the Worship Area. Ideas welcome.

Cheryl Montgomery

Vestry meeting

12.00 noon Sunday, 17 May 2026

A Vestry meeting will be held on Sunday 17 May at 12 noon, following the morning Service. This meeting is to elect two additional people to join the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and to elect two churchwardens for the coming year.

If you are interested in joining the PCC or becoming a churchwarden, please contact me on annwilson.mk@googlemail.com You will need a proposer and seconder who are Church members and you can obtain the relevant paperwork from me.

Ann Wilson, Clerk to the PCC, Churchwarden

Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, all abundance flows from your endless love.
We humbly present these offerings before you, those placed before your altar today
and those given faithfully throughout the week,
whether shared in person or offered electronically, seen and unseen.
Receive them all as signs of our gratitude and tokens of our trust in you.
Bless these gifts and those who give them, that they may serve your purposes, proclaim your kingdom,
and reflect the generous love revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Hymn: Crown him with many crowns

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon the throne;
hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless King
through all eternity.

Crown him the Virgin’s Son,
the God incarnate born,
whose arm those crimson trophies won
which now his brow adorn:
Fruit of the mystic Rose,
as of that Rose the Stem;
the Root whence mercy ever flows,
the Babe of Bethlehem.

Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
those wounds yet visible above
in beauty glorified:
no angel in the sky
can fully bear the sight,
but downward bends his burning eye
at mysteries so bright.

Crown him the Lord of peace,
whose power a sceptre sways
from pole to pole that, wars may cease
and all be prayer and praise;
his reign shall know no end
and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years,
the Potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres,
ineffably sublime:
all hail, Redeemer, hail!
for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail
throughout eternity.

Matthew Bridges (1800–1894)
Revelation 19: 12)
CCL31580

Blessings and Sending out

May the love of God, who comforts us like a mother, fill your hearts with peace and joy.
May you go out to share kindness, patience, and love with all you meet.
And the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Dismissal

Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ, we will.

Congregational Hymn

May God’s blessing surround us each day,
as us trust him and walk in his way.
May his presence within guard and keep us from sin.
Go in peace, go in joy, go in love.