This is a form of prayer you might find helpful to use on Sunday Morning, perhaps at the time you would usually be in Church. Know that others, in their own homes, will be joining with you.  If a household are praying together one person may act as leader and the others join in the sections in bold type. If alone, read all the black words aloud. The bits in red type are to help guide you. 

Opening Words

Before you begin you may wish to light a candle, make sure you are sitting comfortably and take a few deep breaths to still yourself.

The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us.

 Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

Take a moment to reflect on your life and our need of God's compassion and mercy.

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect

You may like to pause for a moment and consider if there is one thing in particular that want to pray for or give thanks for today and offer it to God.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings

Psalm 118.1-2, 19-29

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures for ever.
Let Israel now proclaim,
'His mercy endures for ever.’

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Come, O Lord, and save us we pray.
Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
we bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God; he has given us light; 
link the pilgrims with cords
right to the horns of the altar.

You are my God and I will thank you;
you are my God and I will exalt you.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures for ever.

Matthew 21.1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
   humble, and mounted on a donkey,
     and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
   Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Spend a few minutes re-reading the readings in your head. Pay attention to which words or phrases jump out at you – hold on those words.

Reflection

Robert's reflection for this Sunday 

Prayer

Spend a few moments praying for the people you know and love, the needs of the world and for an end to the current Pandemic.

You may like to pray:

On Palm Sunday

True and humble king, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory.

For all who feel alone

God of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the earth

We give thanks for the diversity of life in the seas and rivers of the world, for the grandeur of whales, the beauty of fish and the intricacy of coral reefs. Bless those who make their living from the sea, and help us to strike a wise balance between fishing for food and preserving the integrity of the marine environment.

From our Prayer Cycle this week 

pray for all residents of Winchcombe Place and Boundary Gardens.

For the sick

Jaqueline Pearson, David Bowers, Eric Wright, Alan Trotter, Wilma Doig, Doreen Richardson, Becky Jackson, Maureen Harper and Dorothy Graham.

For those who have died recently

Ken Graham

For those whose year's mind is this week

Margaret Carver, Arthur Howe, Ivy Sylvia Ireland, Dorris Cooper, Janet Orr, Frank Fenwick

The Lord's Prayer

You can finish your prayers with the Lord’s Prayer.

The Conclusion

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God.