First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
Palm Sunday
10:00 A.M. May 29, 2026
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PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 118: 1
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP The Palms Faure
Refrain: Join all and sing, His name declare, Let every voice
resound with acclamation, Hosanna! Praise to the Lord!
Bless him who cometh to bring us salvation!
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
“Hosanna!” They shouted. “Save us!”
“Hosanna!” We’re shouting. “Save us!”
Savior, ride into our hearts again,
wash us with excitement and hope,
give us a reason to praise
and to shout again, “Hosanna! Hosanna!”
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 197 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna ELLACOMB
Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple the joyful anthem rang;
To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to His breast,
The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud;
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.
“Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
And in his blissful presence eternally rejoice.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Holy Christ, we confess that amidst all the Palm Sunday crowds, we find ourselves in more turmoil than triumph. Our faith is unsteady. Our wisdom is eroding. Our resolve is shaken. Our mercy is hardening. Our hope is weakening. Come again and save us from these sins. Give us strength to follow you, our humble Savior, our all in all. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Hear this promise: Jesus has set his face toward the cross. Nothing we can do can deter him. He has determined that we are worth saving. By the power of the cross, by the power of wondrous love, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
PASSING THE PEACE
As God has forgiven us in Christ let us also forgive one another.
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Please share the sign of peace with one another.
The sharing of Christ’s peace.
RESPONSE Peace is Flowing Like a River TRADITIONAL
Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
His love is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Philippians 2: 5-11
SPECIAL MUSIC Let Your Mercy Flow Down Shackley
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? Lord, let your mercy flow down from Your cross and Your thorny crown. Oh, blessed Jesus, look down; have mercy on a sinner like me. Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 21: 1-11
MESSAGE “Acting as Agents of God” Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 750 Goodness Is Stronger than Evil GOODNESS IS STRONGER
Goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness; Life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours; victory is ours through God who loves us.
Victory is ours; victory is ours through God who loves us.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Responsive)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.
Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Lamb of God Arr. Larson
*DOXOLOGY Praise God Throughout These Forty Days OLD 100TH
Praise God throughout these forty days. Praise Christ, our Lord, whom God did raise. And praise the Spirit who imparts God’s love in Christ into our hearts. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS 471 O Lord, Hear My Prayer HEAR MY PRAYER
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Unison)
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 and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
*HYMN I Have Decided to Follow Jesus ASSAM
I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow, though none go with me still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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