Sunday 29 March 2026
- General:
- Lectionary
Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday
Two themes are combined on this Sunday of the year: the marking of Palm Sunday and a meditation on the events of Holy Week as a whole. For this reason, alternative readings and hymns are suggested under the headings 'Entry into Jerusalem' and 'The Passion'.
Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading
Entry into Jerusalem
Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29
Hymn that echoes the psalmist’s theme
Christ is made the sure foundation (StF 677)
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King (StF 77)
We are marching in the light of God (StF 483)
Matthew 21: 1-11
All glory, laud, and honour (StF 262)
Blest are the pure in heart (StF 244)
Holy, holy, holy Lord (StF 789)
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest! (StF 263)
Make way, make way for Christ the King (StF 264)
Ride on, ride on in majesty! (StF 265)
Sanctus and Benedictus (Holy, holy, holy Lord; Blessed is he) (StF 785)
Santo, santo, santo (Holy, holy, holy God of power and might) (StF 766)
The Passion
Isaiah 50: 4-9a
Come, wounded Healer (StF 271)
My eyes be open to your presence (StF 560)
Through all the changing scenes of life (StF 638)
Who would ever have believed it? (StF 290)
Psalm 31: 9-16
Hymns that echo the psalmist’s theme
My soul finds rest in God alone (StF 633)
Safe in the shadow of the Lord (StF 509)
You give rest to the weary (StF 657)
Philippians 2: 5-11
Angel voices ever singing (StF 39)
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow (StF 317)
Crown him with many crowns (StF 347)
May the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day (StF 504)
The Church of Christ, in every age (StF 415)
Matthew 27: 11-54
OR begin reading at Matthew 26: 14
Come and see, come and see (StF 270)
From heaven you came, helpless babe (StF 272)
He became poor that we may be rich (StF 344)
He came to earth, not to be served (StF 445)
Here hangs a man discarded (StF 273)
Jesus the carpenter, hanging on Calvary (StF 275)
Lord, we recall your words that speak (website only)
My song is love unknown (StF 277)
O precious sight, my Saviour stands (StF 279)
O sacred head, sore wounded (StF 280)
Sing, my tongue, the Saviour’s Glory (StF 268)
There is a green hill far away (StF 284)
When my love for Christ grows weak (StF 289)
A prayer for the world and the Church
God, who changes not, we trust in you for our todays and tomorrows. We pray for those with responsibility for making key decisions that might change the direction of world or local events. We pray for those affected by the decisions of others, but who feel powerless in the face of forces of change. We commend to you the decisions that have to be made in your Church, and those charged with making them. Take our gifts and talents, voices and musical worship, Lord, and use them we pray in the service of your kingdom. Amen.
John Morton, supernumary presbyter, Kendal Circuit
A prayer that our whole lives be given to God - Alternative Prayer
Preserve us, O God, our whole journey through; that we may live in your love, die in your favour, rest in your peace, rise in your power and reign in your glory, in the joy of Christ and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Nicholas Ferrar (1592-1637)