First Presbyterian Church, Tucumcari

The Church With the Holy Spirit Window

March 20, 2016 Palm-Passion Sunday
11:00 a.m.

Rev. Amy Pospichal, Pastor

Nancy Mueller, Accompanist

Call to Worship (please see bulletin)

You may not see itbut the air is full of exciting energy!
You may not notice itbut something is stirring that cannot be contained!
So lets sing, Hosanna!and risk of being transformed
As we worship God, together!
Opening Prayer
Lord, on this Sunday morning, things are different in us. We are charged with your Spirit,
We know something is happening, and that something is you, at work.
We don't completely understand it all, but we can trust you do.
You have something in mind that is to save your creation from sin and darkness.
Thank you for being in charge, and thank you for including us in your plan.
We worship and praise you today for what you promise to do in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

*Opening Hymn #187 RH All Glory, Laud and Honor

Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession (please see bulletin)
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, in the name of the Jesus Christ, you and I are forgiven!
Thanks be to God! Amen!
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
*Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is
now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen.
PSALM 118:1-2, 19-29 (please see bulletin)
LUKE 19:28-40 2 minutes reading
28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he
sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you
will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone
asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it'" 32 So those who were sent
departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked
them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They said, "The Lord needs it." 35Then they brought
it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along,
people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down
from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully
with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
"Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." 40
He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."
Hymn RH #188 Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!
Prayers of the People
Steadfast Love:
you hand us the palm branches,
so we can wave them in hope;
you steady us in the days
when pain is stuck
to the bottom of our lives,
when fear is our constant companion.
We empty ourselves
so you might fill us with joy.
Humble Healer:
When our mouths turn numb
and we cannot speak our dreams,
you tenderly caress our cheeks,
leaning over to hear our faltering words.
When our arms have grown weak
from the burdens we carry,
you take them from us,

and strengthen us with your mercy.

We empty ourselves
so you might fill us with grace.
Voice of Wisdom:
when death hovers so close
we can feel its cold breath,
you come to us,
the warm breath of resurrection
pushing aside our fears.
When we hesitate to walk into
the unknown stretching before us,
you tightly clasp our hands
and teach us the first step.
We empty ourselves
so you might fill us with peace.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we open our hearts to you,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Time Out for Teaching: The Palms
Why Palms? There is a famous ancient coin from the period of Caesar Augustus which shows Caesar
standing and a man, kneeling in front of him in humility. In background, there are palm trees. Palms
symbolize a divinely appointed king. Such a leader is victorious over everyone and has all of the powers
of heaven on his or her side. Waving palm branches about someone was an indictor of such divine
power.
The people we aren't sure if it was a large or small parade were defying social conventions when
they were waving the palms about as Jesus came into town. You might say it was a way of disobeying
Caesar, and pointing to this humble man on a colt as the next ruler of the world. Notice how nervous it
makes the Pharisees, who want Jesus to quiet his disciples down. But he lets them continue their
parade, saying, if they are silent, the stones would shout out.
So if you have ever wondered the significance of the palms, they are meant for royalty.

Luke 22:24-34 (3 minutes to read)

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the
greatest. 25 But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in
authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather the greatest among
you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27 For who is greater,
the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am
among you as one who serves.

28 "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29 and I confer on you, just as my Father
has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom,
and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed
for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen
your brothers." 33 And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!"
34 Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three
times that you know me."
Luke 22:39-46 Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives, Disciples fall asleep
39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed
him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the
time of trial." 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,
42 "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." 43
Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed
more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 45
When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief,
46 and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into
the time of trial."
Luke 22:54-62 Peter denies Jesus and weeps bitterly
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter
was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and
sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight,
stared at him and said, "This man also was with him." 57 But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do
not know him." 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also are one of them."
But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, "Surely
this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean." 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what
you are talking about!" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The
Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had
said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." 62 And he went out
and wept bitterly. (3 minutes)
Special Music

"How Deep the Father's Love for Us" Kevin and Nancy Mueller, piano/organ

Sermon

"Is That All There Is?"

Rev. Amy Pospichal

Some years ago, Peggy Lee sang Is That All There Is? It is a sad song. It expresses a
deep disappointment in all things, both tragic and joyful. Lee gives you a feeling
meaninglessness about life, that starts when she was a child, and saw her own house burn
down, asking herself, is that all there is to a fire? And as a kid at the circus, she saw the
acrobats and fun things that are meant to delight children, and she again, is that all there is?
Even the last stanza, when she says that one day she is going to die, and she will again ask, is
that all there is? I have wondered if the question is her way of defying life's disappointments,
to protect her broken heart? Or an expression of unfulfilled expectations.
Disappointment can teach us helpful lessons. But it can teach us to never become
attached to anything causing joy or pain. A dangerous side effect of such a lesson it to avoid
ever feeling love.
Its possible that the disciples, after the joy and fanfare of Palm Sunday, crash into the
brick wall of disappointment. After the hoopla, there is betrayal, arrest, trials, and torture, a
mocking thorn of crowns, before the death on a cross. The word "letdown" doesn't exactly
capture it. At least a few of them must have wondered, "Is that all there is? This is the one we
thought to be the Messiah?'" Now, after that excitement, their king is emptied of power and
they, deflated.

Is that all there is, to our Messiah?

Remember, the disciples don't have the benefit of hindsight as we; surely there was
something helping them manage their terror and grief. Just imagine yourself sitting with them
in this moment of time. It's not time to jump forward to Easter, for without the suffering and
death of Jesus, we cannot have Easter, much less appreciate it. Let's stand at the foot of the

cross and behold Him who suffers for us. It's not time to ring our happy handbells, but listen to
their tolling, and we look together into the deep, dark abyss of death.
We stand with them at the edge of this great mystery of death, whenever we stand with
a friend by the hospital bed, whenever we look with outrage at warlike anger of politicians,
anytime we feel our spirits indescribably disturbed at the sight of starving children. We know
there are no satisfactory answers that come to mind to respond to the brokenness we see.
But that's not all there is, I am sure of it. Even as we behold what we think is
nothingness , remember Jesus and what he did. Remember and give thanks for his witness to
God's love and showing His obedience to God's will. We are called forward into faith for times
like these, but even that can feel impossible. But his love is not gone, just because he hangs
from a cross. It can be a love called forth by our remembrance. Love which emerges from what
Jesus did. His washing of feet. His last meal with his beloved friends, including even the one
who would betray him. He grants them a promise which continues to this day: that they would
be a kingdom whenever they gathered in his name at a meal. He goes calmly with his captors.
In his trials with Pilate, Herod and the council, he spoke firmly yet peaceably. In spite of the
shameful death on a cross, in spite of being mocked, tortured and wore the sarcastic crown of
thorns, he took it all, just as a noble king on behalf of his people.
This one is the Messiah, come to tear apart the curtains that separate us from God. He is
our Messiah, even if we at times cannot see Him at work, and wonder at the emptiness we feel.
There are no words to make us feel better about the situation, except to say, He did it all for
love. That's not "all there is." It is SO MUCH for us to live by. For that we can still say, Thanks
be to God. Amen.

*Closing Hymn

BH #95

"He Never Said a Mumbalin' Word"

Handbell
Medley
Marjorie McKenzie, Kenna McKenzie-Young and
Robin Cherry with Nancy Mueller on piano
*Benediction