Prayers

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Church of the Province of West Africa

Episcopal Church

The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop

Diocese of Olympia

The Most Rev. Melissa Skelton, Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of Olympia

The Bishop Search Committee

St. Paul’s, Mount Vernon
La Inglesia Episcopal de la Resureccion, Mount Vernon

Those in authority

Joseph R. Biden, Jr, President of the United States
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States

Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington

Teri Gobin, Chair of the Tulalip Peoples
Cecile Hanson, Chair of the Duwamish People
Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians

Lessons

Lessons appointed for use for this day from the Revised Common Lectionary (Episcopal version).

The Liturgy of the Palms

Mark 11:1-11a (NRSV)

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple.

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (BCP)

Confitemini Domino

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
    his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
    “His mercy endures for ever.”
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
    I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *
    he who is righteous may enter.”
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
    and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
    has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, *
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
    we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! *
    Lord, send us now success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
    we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *
    form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
28 “You are my God, and I will thank you; *
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
    his mercy endures for ever.

The Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 45:21-25 (NRSV)

Declare and present your case;
   let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
   Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
   There is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Saviour;
   there is no one besides me.

Turn to me and be saved,
   all the ends of the earth!
   For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
   from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
   a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
   every tongue shall swear.’

Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,
   are righteousness and strength;
all who were incensed against him
   shall come to him and be ashamed.
In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
   shall triumph and glory.

Psalm 22:1-21 [or 1-11] (BCP)

Deus, Deus meus

 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
     and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?

 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
     by night as well, but I find no rest.

 3 Yet you are the Holy One, *
     enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

 4 Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
    they trusted, and you delivered them.

 5 They cried out to you and were delivered; *
    they trusted in you and were not put to shame.

 6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
     scorned by all and despised by the people.

 7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
    they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,

 8 “He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
    let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”

 9 Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
    and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.

10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
    you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
    and there is none to help.

12 Many young bulls encircle me; *
    strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

13 They open wide their jaws at me, *
     like a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; *
    my heart within my breast is melting wax.

15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *
    and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.

16 Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *
    they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.

17 They stare and gloat over me; *
    they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.

18 Be not far away, O LORD; *
    you are my strength; hasten to help me.

19 Save me from the sword, *
    my life from the power of the dog.

20 Save me from the lion’s mouth, *
    my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.

21 I will declare your Name to my brethren; *
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Mark 14:32—15:47 (NRSV) [or 15:1-39(40-47)]

Narrator	They went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to his disciples,
Jesus	Sit here while I pray.
Narrator	Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to the three disciples,
Jesus	I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.
Narrator	And going a little farther, Jesus threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said,
Jesus	Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.
Narrator	Jesus came and found the disciples sleeping; and he said to Peter,
Jesus	Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Narrator	And again Jesus went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found the disciples sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. Jesus came a third time and said to them,
Jesus	Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.
Narrator	Immediately, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given the crowd a sign, saying,
Judas	The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.
Narrator	So when Judas came, he went up to Jesus at once and said,
Judas	Rabbi!
Narrator	and kissed him. Then the crowd laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them,
Jesus	Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.
Narrator	All of Jesus’ followers deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following Jesus, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. The crowd caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked. They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed Jesus at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against Jesus, saying,
Witness	We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.”
Narrator	But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,
High Priest	Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?
Narrator	But Jesus was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him,
High Priest	Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?
Narrator	Jesus said,
Jesus	I am; and “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,” and “coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Narrator	Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,
High Priest	Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?
Narrator	The whole council condemned Jesus as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,
Council	Prophesy!
Narrator	The guards also took Jesus over and beat him. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said,
Servant	You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.
Narrator	But Peter denied it, saying,
Peter	I do not know or understand what you are talking about.
Narrator	And Peter went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders,
Servant	This man is one of them.
Narrator	But again Peter denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter,
Bystander 1	Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.
Narrator	But Peter began to curse, and he swore an oath,
Peter	I do not know this man you are talking about.
Narrator	At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him,
Jesus	Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.
Narrator	And Peter broke down and wept. [Mark 15:1-39, (40-47)] As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him,
Pilate	Are you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	Jesus answered him,
Jesus	You say so.
Narrator	Then the chief priests accused Jesus of many things. Pilate asked him again,
Pilate	Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.
Narrator	But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. Now at the festival Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then Pilate answered them,
Pilate	Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again,
Pilate	Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?
Narrator	The crowd shouted back,
Crowd	Crucify him!
Narrator	Pilate asked them,
Pilate	Why, what evil has he done?
Narrator	But they shouted all the more,
Crowd	Crucify him!
Narrator	So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, Pilate handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed Jesus in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him saying,
Soldier	Hail, King of the Jews!
Narrator	They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. The soldiers compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry Jesus’ cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then the soldiers brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). ¶ All stand. And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And the soldiers crucified Jesus, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Jesus. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews,” And with Jesus they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided Jesus, shaking their heads and saying,
Passer-by	Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!
Narrator	In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking Jesus among themselves and saying,
Chief Priest	He saved others; he cannot save himself.
Scribe	Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.
Narrator	Those who were crucified with Jesus also taunted him. When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
Jesus	Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?
Narrator	which means,
Jesus	My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Narrator	When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
Bystander 1	Listen, he is calling for Elijah.
Narrator	And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to Jesus to drink, saying,
Bystander 2	Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.
Narrator	Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. ¶ Silence may be kept. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way Jesus breathed his last, he said,
Centurion	Truly this man was God’s Son!
Narrator	There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow Jesus and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if Jesus were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether Jesus had been dead for some time. When Pilate learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Joseph then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

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The Old Testament, New Testament and Gospel readings are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Psalm is from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.