This paragraph is only for planners. If the service begins with a Palm Sunday procession or reading, see that option in Service Builder under Occasional/Seasonal Services. Congregations without Service Builder may access a similar rite in CW: Occasional Services (2004). The service below includes Holy Communion. Changes can be made if the sacrament is not offered. The sermon may be shorter than usual or even omitted, especially if longer hymn responses are used along with the Palm Sunday beginning and/or Holy Communion.

If using thematic summaries from the Year C Planner (from The Foundation), substitute the following. Theme of the Day = SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: HIS HUMILITY, OUR HOPE. Explanation: Today's service begins with the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then moves to the monumental story of his suffering and death. The juxtaposition of these two readings emphasizes that Palm Sunday led directly to Good Friday. Both days were part of our Savior’s saving work. While their tone could not have been more different, their purpose was the same: the salvation of all people.

The Word

Prayer of the Day
Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, you sent your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon himself our flesh and suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of his great humility and patience and be made partakers of his resurrection; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

The History of Our Lord's Suffering and Death according to St. Luke

420 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now	CW 420 sts. 1, 5

Text: tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.; Sigmund von Birken, 1626–1681
Tune: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1570–1615
Text and tune: Public domain

Part One
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
	1Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
The Last Supper
	7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
	9“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
	10He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
	13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
	14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
	17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
	19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
	20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

663 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness	CW 663 st. 6

Text: tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.; Johann Franck, 1618–1677, abr.
Tune: Johann Crüger, 1598–1662
Text and tune: Public domain

Part Two
24A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
	31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
	33But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
	34Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
	35Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
	“Nothing,” they answered.
	36He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”
	38The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”
	“That’s enough!” he replied.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
	39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
	45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

873 Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray	CW 873 st. 1

Text: tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–1878, alt.; Johann B. Freystein, 1671–1718, abr.
Tune: adapt. William H. Monk, 1823–1889; Hundert . . . geistlicher Arien, Dresden, 1694
Text and tune: Public domain

Part Three
Jesus Arrested
	47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
	49When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
	51But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
	52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Peter Disowns Jesus
	54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
	57But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
	58A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
	“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
	59About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
	60Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The Guards Mock Jesus
	63The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65And they said many other insulting things to him.

420 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now	CW 420 st. 4

Text: tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.; Sigmund von Birken, 1626–1681
Tune: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1570–1615
Text and tune: Public domain

Part Four
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
	66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”
	Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
	70They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
	He replied, “You say that I am.”
	71Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
	1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
	3So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
	“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
	4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
	5But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
	6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
	8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

422 A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth	CW 422 st. 1

This hymn does not show in full since the text is copyrighted. Those with the electronic edition of CW93 may include it. Others may substitute a different hymn.

Text: tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.; Paul Gerhardt, 1607–1676, abr.
Tune: Wolfgang Dachstein, c. 1487–1553
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 739468
Tune: Public domain

Part Five
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”
	18But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
	20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
	22For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
	23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
	26As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30Then
“ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” 
	and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’
31For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
	32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

397 My Song Is Love Unknown	CW 397 st. 5

Text: Samuel Crossman, c. 1624–1683, alt.
Tune: John N. Ireland, 1879–1962
Text and tune: Public domain

Stand. A moment of silence is observed at the death of Jesus.

Part Six
33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
	35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
	36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
	38There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews.
	39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
	40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
	42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
	43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
	44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
	47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
	50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
	55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

437 Rest, O Christ, from All Your Labor	CW 437 sts. 1–2

This hymn does not show in full since the text is copyrighted. Those with the electronic edition of CW: Supplement may include it. Others may substitute a different hymn.
Text: Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr., 1923–2007
Tune: Geistliche Volkslieder, Paderborn, 1850
Text: © 1993 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission: OneLicense no. #######
Tune: Public domain

Be seated

Sermon

Stand

Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
        maker of heaven and earth,
        of all that is,
        seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
        eternally begotten of the Father,
        God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
        begotten, not made,
        of one being with the Father.
    Through him all things were made.
    For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,
        was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
        and became truly human.
    For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
    He suffered death and was buried.
    On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.
    He ascended into heaven
        and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
    He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
        and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
        the Lord, the giver of life,
        who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
        who in unity with the Father and the Son 
            is worshiped and glorified,
        who has spoken through the prophets.
    We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
    We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
    We look for the resurrection of the dead
        and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Be seated

Prayer of the Church

Offering

The Sacrament

Stand

Preface	CW 165
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who brought the gift of salvation to all people by his death on the tree of the cross so that the devil, who overcame us by a tree, would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

Holy, Holy, Holy	CW 167

Prayer of Thanksgiving
We give thanks to you, O God, through your dear Son, Jesus Christ, whom you sent to be our Savior, our Redeemer, and the messenger of your grace. Through him you made all things; in him you are well pleased. He is the incarnate Word, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. To fulfill your promises, he stretched out his hands on the cross and released from eternal death all who believe in you.

As we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection, we thank you that you have gathered us together to receive your Son’s body and blood. Send us your Spirit, unite us as one, and strengthen our faith so that we may praise you in your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him, we glorify and honor you, O God our Father, with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

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 forever. Amen.

Words of Institution
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my T body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my T blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.

O Christ, Lamb of God	CW 169

Be seated

Distribution

396 Christ, the Life of All the Living	CW 396

5	Thou hast suffered men to bruise thee
    that from pain I might be free;
falsely did thy foes accuse thee:
    thence I gain security.
Comfortless thy soul did languish
me to comfort in my anguish.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    dearest Jesus, unto thee.

6	Thou hast suffered great affliction
    and hast borne it patiently,
even death by crucifixion,
    fully to atone for me.
Thou didst choose to be tormented
that my doom should be prevented.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    dearest Jesus, unto thee.

7	Then, for all that wrought my pardon,
    for thy sorrows deep and sore,
for thine anguish in the garden,
    I will thank thee evermore,
thank thee for thy groaning, sighing,
for thy bleeding and thy dying,
    for that last triumphant cry
    and shall praise thee, Lord, on high.
Text: Ernst C. Homburg, 1605–1681, abr.; (sts. 1–2, 5, 7): tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–1878, alt.; (sts. 3–4, 6): tr. Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1912, alt.
Tune: Das grosse Cantional, Darmstadt, 1687, alt.
Text and tune: Public domain

As he dismisses the communicants, the minister says:

The true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you to life everlasting. Go T in peace.
Amen.

Stand

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures forever.

Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this saving gift. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and T give you peace.
Amen.

420 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now	CW 420 st. 6

Text: tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.; Sigmund von Birken, 1626–1681
Tune: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1570–1615
Text and tune: Public domain

Acknowledgments
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