Almighty God,
In your amazing grace, and by your Holy Spirit, you bless us with sanctuary and rest in your son Jesus Christ. You bless us by calling and drawing us here to you in order to receive your gifts.
King Jesus,
We live under the strain of our sin and a world groaning in darkness that can make hope feel distant. Yet you are present right here and right now through your Word and through your body and blood. Turn our hearts from sin and the world’s ways, and flood us with hope in you, the One foretold by the prophet,
“Behold, your king comes to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.”
As we walk toward the cross this Palm Sunday, may we shout “Hosanna!” with the church through all the ages. “Hosanna!” “God who saves, save us!” Remind us that when we cry “Hosanna!” it is out of our need for salvation, but also in faith that in you, we are already saved - and not by our works, but by your grace. For the King we welcome is the Servant King, the King who humbles himself to bear the wrath of God in our stead, that by His blood we are made full heirs of His Kingdom.
So turn us to you in hopeful faith that your resurrection life is invading now; that you are near with every breath; and that you know your plans to help, to heal, to restore, and to make all things new.
This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN.