Our mission is to be a presence in Albuquerque,

where Jesus' unconditional Love is central to life.

for Palm Sunday, and the Beginning of Holy Week, March 24, 2024

MAKE CENTRAL, CENTRAL TO LIFE

"COME UNTO ME": ALONG THE LENTEN WAY

Holy Week is here. These are the offerings for you to continue on the Lenten Way:

March 24, 8:30 & 11a: Palm Sunday :: Morning Worship

March 25, noon: Holy Monday  Meditation (Chapel)

March 26, noon: Holy Tuesday Lectio Divina (Chapel)

March 27, noon: Holy Wednesday Contemplation(Chapel)

Join the above services via ZOOM

March 28, 7:00p: Maundy Thursday Word & Table

March 29, 7:00p: Good Friday Tenebrae Worship Service

March 30, 9a-noon : Holy Saturday :: Experiential Retreat

March 31 8:30 & 11a: Easter Sunday :: Morning Worship

DETAILS FOR THE WAY: www.centraltolife.org/lent

TENEBRAE, "THE SHADOWS," SERVICE - FRIDAY, 7:00 PM

On Good Friday we will gather to remember the Crucifixion of Christ in a service of Tenebrae, or “the shadows,” as we hear the Seven Last Words from the cross. These seven sayings, which range from pleas for forgiveness and reconciliation to cries of despair, remind us that Christ became fully human and, as such, was subject in his final moments to the great sufferings of humankind. Through the music of our Good Friday service, we will experience how this suffering continues to plague our human family when we do not care for each other as Christ commanded us to do. Moira Smiley’s piece “Refugee” was born out of her work with the forsaken in refugee camps- living beings desperately seeking shelter in a war-torn existence. “Famine Song,” documents the perseverance of those who experienced deep hunger, thirst, and emptiness in the wake of war-created famine in Sudan. Mark Miller’s “I Believe” is a setting of words that were found written on a wall by Jews in hiding during the Holocaust. We will hear mourning through the songs, arranged by Moses Hogan, of those who experienced the effects of slavery. We will also journey to hope through the words of Native American elder Steven Charleston, retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska and citizen of the Choctaw Nation, whose writings will be used throughout the service as brief reflections on the Seven Last Words. 

As we travel into the shadows of Christ’s final hours on earth and reflect on how those shadows mirror our own historical and present moments of darkness, consider how we as people of faith might light candles against spiritual night. Can we resolve to move through the world with a renewed sense of compassion? Can we, as the great choir of witnesses, sing the darkness to light?

-Dr. Karen Marrolli

A Service of Song, Word, & Table

PSALM SUNDAY

March 24, 2024

* Please rise in body or spirit. 

WELCOME

PRELUDE        Dr. Dan Cummings

* CALL TO WORSHIP

God of the foolish cross, tottering down the streets of Jerusalem on a donkey,

You are not the savior we expect.

Your power doesn’t look like the power we want our God to demonstrate.

Your wisdom makes no sense to us.

We are happy to join the crowd, waving branches,

But not so sure we want to follow you

into the temple courts

into the upper room

into the Garden of Gethsemane

to the foot of the cross.

Forgive our false assumptions.

Clarify our clouded vision.

Let us relax into the foolishness of your love, your grace.

Hosanna, hosanna.

Save us, we beseech you! 

* HYMN All Glory, Laud, and Honor     UMH 280

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12:12-16

This is the Word of God for the People of God. 

Thanks be to God. 

Anthem        Ain’t No Rock Gonna Shout For Me    Lloyd Larson      Chancel Choir

HOMILY “I Love A Parade”

MUSICAL RESPONSE     He is Exalted   TFWS 2070

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER

PASSING OF THE PEACE

REGATHERING HYMN     Marching to Zion (v. 1)    UMH 733

INVITATION TO OFFERING 

OFFERTORY PRAYER

OFFERTORY  

Benedictus (Mass in G)          Franz Schubert    

Amanda Porter, Lore Alán, Marshal Hollingsworth, trio

[Translation: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!]

DOXOLOGY     Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow    UMH 95  

* SENDING HYMN    Hosanna, Loud Hosanna     UMH 278     

BENEDICTION 

POSTLUDE       Dr. Dan Cummings

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NEED A PASTORAL VISIT/PRAYER?

We are here for you. Central is staffed with excellent clergy resources and Stephen Ministers (lay persons trained to walk with you through a life event). Don't hesitate to contact Dr. Andy Stoker or the church office to assist you.