ST. JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Maytown, Pennsylvania

The Rev. Robert M. Lescallette, Pastor

Keith D. Smith, Organist and Choirmaster

Lisa Moss, Parish Secretary

(717-201-0437 or email lmoss218@gmail.com)

Charlie Johns and JoNan Shirk, Youth Leaders

Jennifer King, Parish Sexton

www.stjohnsmaytown.com

(This Special Service Employs the GREEN Hymnal.)

The Prelude music –“The Palms”                                                       J. Faure

the palm sunday liturgy

        At the sound of the chimes, the congregation rises and faces the Pastor, Lector, and Crucifer, who stand at the annex door, in the rear of the sanctuary.

    pastor:   Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

    people:     Hosanna to the son of David.

    pastor:   The Lord be with you.

    people:     and also with you.

    pastor:   Let us pray.  Mercifully assist us, 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 everlasting; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

    people:     amen.

the processional gospel – MATTHEW 21:1-11

        At the conclusion of the Reading, all raise their palm branches in the air and keep them lifted up until the hymn.

    pastor:   The Lord be with you.

    people:     and also with you.

    pastor:   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

    people:     it is right to give him thanks and praise.

    pastor:   We praise and thank you, O God, for the great 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 acclaimed Son of David and King of Kings by those who scattered their garments and branches of palm in His path.

                          We ask that you bless these branches, and those who bare them, and grant that we may ever hail Him as our Lord and King, and follow Him with perfect confidence; through you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

    people:     amen.

    pastor:   Let us go forth in peace.

    people:     in the name of the lord.

the processional hymn - #108 “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

the prayer of the day                                            All sit, following the prayer.

THE FIRST READING - ISAIAH 50:4-9a

THE PSALM # 31:9 - 16                                                Read responsively, see insert.

THE ANTHEM - "Lift Up Your Heads And Sing!”          D. Wagner                                 

THE SECOND READING - Philippians 2:5-11

THE LENTEN SENTENCE                                                                            Sung seated.

THE GOSPEL – MATTHEW 27:11-54

    Read in sections by the Pastor and Deacon.

The Congregation will remain seated during

the Gospel reading, due to its length.

THE HYMN OF THE DAY #94 “My Song Is Love Unknown”

THE PALM SUNDAY PLAY

          “Who Are We On Palm Sunday?”  by Kay Bascom

                                   Cast

Pastor……………….Narrator/Director

Al Getz…….              Caiaphas, the High Priest

Glenn Bachert……..The Disciple, Thomas

Saige Demmy………A Youth in the Crowd

Janie Mohr…………A Pharisee, devoted to the Law

JoNan Shirk………  A Greek “seeker”

Paul Purnell………..The Disciple/Betrayer, Judas Iscariot

Anne Leonhart……..Mary of Bethany

Carol Bachert………A Member of the Crowd

Jamey Shirk…………The “Beloved” Disciple, John

Diane Leonard and Vernetta Wallander……Wardrobers

      (Kindly refrain from applauding after the play. You will be able to

       thank the actors later, as you exit the church.)

THE DUET - “Pie Jesu” by Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber

        Sung by Margie Landis and Rose Barr, this powerful, plaintive

        song from a “requiem” mass in remembrance of the dead is

        sung in Latin.  The title means:  “Holy Jesus”.

THE NICENE CREED - p. 64                                                         Confessed Standing.

THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

THE PEACE  

In keeping with the solemnity of this passion service, we shall

refrain from exchanging the Peace with one another, as

pairs and by gesture.  Simply reply "and also with you"

to Pastor's words

All are seated.

THE OFFERING “Jesus Is My Life”                                                      T. Kendall

THE OFFERTORY FOR LENT See Page 9                                          Sung standing.

THE PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS - p. 68 – Top

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Entirely spoken today, not sung.

        The PREFACE - p. 68

        The Sanctus - p. 69 "Holy, Holy, Holy"

        The Prayer Of Thanksgiving      From another source used by Pastor

        The Lord's Prayer Traditional Version

        The Agnus Dei - "Lamb Of God"                  All sit, following the singing.             

The Distribution

(Come forward as directed by an usher, via the center aisle, return to your pew via the side aisle on your side of the Church.)

(All who are baptized and who believe that Christ is present in this communion, offering the forgiveness of sins and strength for living the Christian life, are welcome to share in this supper. Very young children, the un-baptized, and those who do not wish to commune may remain in their pews or come forward for a blessing. Indicate your intention to NOT receive communion by bowing your head before the pastor.)

Due to the solemn nature of today's service, we shall not sing hymns during communion, as usually is done, but rather listen to Keith play on the organ.

After all have been communed, the people rise at the invitation of Pastor, for the table blessing. 

THE BLESSING

THE CANTICLE - p. 73 " LORD, NOW YOU LET YOUR

  SERVANT GO IN PEACE.”      Spoken, not sung.

THE PRAYER - p. 74                                                                   Prayed by the Deacon.

THE BLESSING - p. 74   

THE DISMISSAL - p. 74   

THE RECESSIONAL HYMN - See Page 10 

When the hymn concludes, keep silent and do not move.  Keith will sing "Jesus, Remember Me, When You Come Into Your Kingdom" The choir will sing it through the second time.  All should join in the third time through, then, leave the church in silence, in anticipation of Good Friday. 

THE POSTLUDE - “Praising the Almighty”                     E. Broughton

*********************************************************************************

THE PALMS ON THE ALTAR

…are given to the Glory of God and in memory of Walter E. Boyer, George and Anna Trostle and Eugene and Jean King…by Butch and Joyce Boyer

THE BULLETINS

…are given to the Glory of God

SERVING GOD’S PEOPLE THIS WEEK:

            LECTOR – BECKY THOMAS

            ACOLYTE – LAUREN ROSS

            CRUCIFER – CONNOR NESS

            HEAD USHER – JAMEY SHIRK

            ALTAR CARE – PAT VOGEL

            GREETERS – SARAH DEMMY

            ALTAR PALMS – BUTCH AND JOYCE BOYER

            BULLETINS –

            OFFERING COUNTERS – JIM LEONARD, CONNIE

                                                            LONGENECKER, AND

                                                             COLLEEN MACKISON

THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S:

TODAY:                9:00 AM - Breakfast starts

                                9:30 AM - Play rehearsal

                                               - Children’s Sunday School

                                9:45 AM - Breakfast serving stops,

clean up begins

                                10:00 AM - Store Card Sale

                                10:30 AM - Palm Sunday Service with play and

                                                    Special music.

                                11:45 AM - Store Card Sale

                                2:00 PM - Musicale Rehearsal

                                7:00 PM - Marietta Community Chorus Cantata

                                                    at Zion Lutheran, Marietta.

MONDAY:             6:45 PM - Van leaves for Social Ministry Meeting

                                7:00 PM - Social Ministry Committee (at Mt. Joy)

TUESDAY:            7:30 PM - Tuesday Night Bible Study

WEDNESDAY:         NO LONGWOOD BIBLE STUDY TODAY

                                7:30 PM - Choir Practice

THURSDAY:          6:00 AM - Quiet Hour Communion Service

                                 6:30 AM - Breakfast at Restaurant

                                 7:00 PM - Maundy Thursday Service at Zion

                                                      Lutheran/Marietta

FRIDAY:                   3:00 PM - Tolling of the church bell

                                   7:30 PM - Good Friday Tenebrae Service

SATURDAY:             NOON - Hiding of Eggs by youth and pizza

                                   2:00 PM - Parish/Community Easter Egg Hunt

NEXT SUNDAY:      9:00 AM - SS/ No Catehetics

                                   10:00 AM - Store Card Sales

                                   10:30 AM - Easter Festival Service with choir

                                                       and special decorations.

                                   NOON - Store Card Sale

                                     NO ALPHA AND OMEGA BIBLE STUDY

SERVING GOD’S PEOPLE NEXT WEEK: April 24^th:

            LECTOR – MARK HARNISH

            ACOLYTES – TANNER SHIRK AND

                                        CHRIS CHAPMAN

            CRUCIFER – WILLIAM WELLER

            HEAD USHER – JAMEY SHIRK

            ALTAR CARE – PAT VOGEL

            GREETERS – PAUL AND JUDY PURNELL

            ALTAR FLOWERS – PAT VOGEL

            BULLETINS –

            OFFERING COUNTERS – JIM LEONARD, CONNIE

                                                            LONGENECKER, AND

                                                             COLLEEN MACKISON

DON’T FORGET TO BUY YOUR WEEKLY…..

……grocery card before or after the service, in the church office, on this and every Sunday!  If you shop at Giant, Weis, or Darrenkamps, you can participate.  It costs you nothing more than you usually pay for your food, but it benefits our church by earning us 5% of the receipts for our van fund. Thank you for helping us!

LENTEN FOOD COLLECTION UP-DATE

Today is the deadline for contributing to our annual Lenten appeal to benefit the local food bank.  The wonderful news is that we have met and exceeded our Pork and Beans goal of 300 by 29!   A total of 166 jars of jelly have been donated so far, which means we need to receive an additional 134 today.   Pastor will box up the collection tomorrow morning and transport it to the food bank.   Thanks for your love of Christ’s poor, our neighbors.

EASTER FLOWER REPORT

A total of 56 flowers have been ordered to beautify our sanctuary for Easter.  Thank you!

EASTER EGG PRODUCTION……

…ended last Monday.  Almost 3,600 eggs were made by 17 volunteers.  Thanks to all who helped make, sell, and purchase the eggs.  Profits will benefit good works of the Social Ministry Committee.

THANK YOU FROM THE SOCIAL MINISTRY

COMMITTEE….

Thank you to all the volunteers involved in the 2011 Easter Egg candy project for the Social Ministry Committee. Thanks to the 18 volunteers who gave of their time on Mondays and Fridays and to our super sales people. To Vicki McConnell, Louise Goshen, Diane Leonard, Rose Leas, Jean Nace, Gladys Ney, Bob Long, Sue and Gordy Nell, Betty Henny, Barb Heinaman

, Kelsey and Cliff Hafer, Pastor Bob and Pauline Johns--We say a special thank you. You spent over 227 hours to make about 302 dozen eggs. We wish to thank the congregation and your friends for supporting our project.                               Richard, Louise and Ginny

THANKS TO:

…Margie Landis, Rose Barr, and Keith Smith, for providing today’s special duet.

….our choir, for their beautiful anthem.

….our actors in today’s chancel drama, and those who costumed them.

….our hosts for the final Lenten supper, the Evangelism/Fellowship Committee:  Connie Longenecker, Bill Earhart, Betty Henny, Jan Shelly, Judy and Paul Purnell, and Pastor.

ANOTHER MUSICALE REHEARSAL….

……is set for 2 PM today.  We’d love to have you join us for either a solo or the event chorus.   See Keith if you have a question…and just show up!

THE SOCIAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE……

…..meets at the community room at the Ivy Drive complex in Mount Joy which is home to Gladys Ney, Frank and Ginny Zimmerman, and Dick and Louise Baker, on Monday, at 7:00 PM.  If you want to go in the church van, come to church at 6:45 PM.

HOLY WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S!

Our parish will celebrate the holiest time in the church year this week with four special services and several events.

ON MAUNDY THURSDAY,  we shall offer two communions:  1) At 6 AM , a spoken service lasting about 20 minutes will be held for those who are early risers or who wish to commune before going to work or school. (IF PASTOR CAN GET UP AT THAT HOUR, YOU CAN TOO! JOIN US!)  After the service, a group generally goes out to breakfast at a local restaurant. 2)  At 7:00 PM, we shall join the people of Zion Lutheran Church in Marietta for a service that includes preaching, communing, altar stripping, and optional foot-washing.

ON GOOD FRIDAY, at 3:00 PM, the bell will be rung 33 times in honor of Christ’s death at the traditional age of 33.   At 7:30 PM, the dramatic TENEBRAE service of shadows will feature the reading of John’s Passion, the singing of hymns, the extinguishing of candles, the rite of “the reproaches”, a bidding prayer, special organ effects, and the dramatic darkening of the church.  NOT TO BE MISSED BY ANY ST. JOHNER!

On HOLY SATURDAY, at 2:00 PM, the parish egg hunt will take place in the church yard, and it will be followed by the candy scramble, a video, a craft-time, and snacks.

ON EASTER SUNDAY, at 10:30 AM, the festival communion service will be held with special music by our choir, a Mozart solo by Rose Barr, the congregational singing of the Hallelujah Chorus, butterflies galore, and beautiful flowers!

WE AGAIN THANK…..

…..Joyce and Butch Boyer for donating today’s “eco-palms”.  The palms help poor people in Central America earn a living and are good for the earth’s environment because they encourage selective harvesting and sustainable forests.  The program is run by the Lutheran World Relief.

RECOVERING FROM HOSPITAL STAYS THIS WEEK ARE:

Butch Boyer (Hershey Med Center)

Pork Heinemann (LGH)

Joyce Leese (Shirl Reich’s mother) (LGH)

Prayers and cards are always welcome!