Structure of the Holy Week Liturgies: Palm Sunday
Cf Lent, Holy Week & Easter pg 76ff
The Liturgy has two distinctive features, the procession and the reading of the Passion.
'The procession is the first of the commemorative liturgical actions of Holy Week which reminds us of the main events in the last week of Jesus' ministry. Palm or other branches are carried, although they are secondary to the procession itself … The procession is an act of praise to Christ the King who reigns and triumphs on the cross and it expresses our own readiness to take up our cross and follow our crucified and risen Lord, as we go with him t the place of suffering and death …
The reading of the Passion gospel takes us into the heart of Holy Week … (the liturgies of Holy Week) taken together … form an extended celebration of the victory he won over death … Coming after the procession the Passion reminds us that the kingly power of Christ is the power of self-giving love.' (LHWE)
On Palm Sunday the Creed and Prayers of Penitence may be omitted, but the intercessions should always be used. The Liturgical colour for Palm Sunday may be red or violet, although red is more striking in emphasising the sacrificial nature of Christ's saving death.
Commemoration of The Lord's Entry into Jerusalem
Including the blessing and distribution of the palms
The Gospel of the entry into Jerusalem
The Palm Procession from another place preferably, or around the outside of the Church, inside if wet! Congregation and ministers carrying and waving palm branches / crosses. The children may like to make their own.
The Ministry of the Word
Old Testament Reading
Psalm
New Testament Reading
The Passion Gospel - so much more effective when read dramatically cf LHWE 143-168
A sermon may be preached, but allowing the Liturgy to speak for itself may be sufficient on such a day.
The Creed is optional on Palm Sunday and it is important not to let the Liturgy get too wordy
The Intercession - a simple appropriate form is provided for in LHWE page 83.
The Ministry of the Sacrament
The Pax
The Preparation of the Gifts
The Eucharistic Prayer - with appropriate Passiontide preface.
The Communion
Lord's Prayer
Fraction
Agnus Dei
Invitation - Jesus is the Lamb of God is particularly appropriate here.
Post-Communion
Sentence of Scripture
Give thanks to the Lord …
Post-Communion Collect
Congregational PC Prayer
Blessing - again using a Passiontide blessing
Dismissal.