Note: the core of the service is an interactive drama that will be led by a worship leader with other adults participating in the group. We will have various children be Jesus, and other characters. A few adults will be with the group as various characters, but also as backup. There will be some discussion with the leading adults prior to the service, but we will rely on the scriptures to guide the action of the drama. The drama I write are not intended to have a lot of anxious preparation but rather rely on the scriptures itself to tell the story with the people adding visual emphasis. If things don't go in a smooth way, don't worry about it. Worship is grace, and trust the Holy Spirit to use the best we can offer in the worship of God.

Organ Prelude
Announcements & Welcome

One: Praise God! Hosanna to the Son of David!
All: Hosanna to the Son of David!
One: Hosanna in the highest heaven! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
All: Hosanna to the Son of David!
One: Hosanna in the highest heaven!
All: Hosanna in the highest heaven!

Sing Hymn #122 All Glory Laud and Honour

The Procession

{Children Gather at the front for a short theme time on Palm/Passion Sunday}
Read: Mark 1:1-11 (The Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.)

{Choose someone to be Jesus, and give them stick donkey colt to ride}
Choir Leads first verse of #128 "San-na, San-na-ni-na" and congregation joins in as children and some adults process through the sanctuary. When they come down the middle isle, adults who have been given clothes toss them in front of Jesus. Offering baskets are passed around as we sing.

The Passion of Jesus in Scripture and Drama

Narrator: Jesus rode into Jerusalem to great shouts of welcome. He and his disciples stayed each night in Bethany with Mary, Martha and Lazarus, just a short distance outside of Jerusalem. It was a special holiday time called Passover.

Read Mark 14:1-2,10,12-17

All: Were you there when he gathered with his friends (X2)
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when he gathered with his friends

The Last Supper

{Move to an area designated and set up for the Last Supper: Choose someone to be Jesus.}

Read Mark 14:18-22. Have Jesus break the bread and pass it around.
Read Mark 14:23-25. Have Jesus serve the grape juice.
Read Mark 14: 26-31.

All (sung): Were you there when he gave them bread and wine? (X2)
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when he gave them bread and wine? (X2)

In the Garden of Gethsemane

{Move to the area set up as a garden. Choose another person to be Jesus and place the cape on their shoulders. Choose a Peter, a James, a John, a Judas, and a guard. Explain that when Jesus is praying they are supposed to be praying too, but they fall asleep. Everyone else including Judas will just listen carefully and do what the story says. Give the guard some rope to tie Jesus' hands.}

Read Mark 14:32-50.

All: Were you there when he knelt and prayed to God? (X2)
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when he knelt and prayed to God?

In the Courtyard

The guard and Jesus move to the trial area. The rest move to the campfire. Peter enters after verse 66. Choose someone to be the servant girl and someone to crow. Suggest that Peter shake his head and draw back, afraid, trying to hide behind others any time someone points at him.

Read Mark 14:53-56,66-72.

All: Were you there when his friends betrayed and ran? (X2)
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when his friends betrayed and ran?

Jesus Is Tried by Pilate

Move to the area designated for the trial by Pilate. Guards bring Jesus out. (Change actors for
Jesus if you wish.) Have person with cue cards standing ready

Read Mark 15:1, 6-9 (Cue card #1: No)
Read Mark 15:10-13 (Cue card #2: Crucify him!)
Read Mark 15:14 (Repeat Cue card #2.)
Read Mark 15:15-20.

Three soldiers put the scarlet cloak on Jesus, and place a crown of thorns on Jesus' head. All
mockingly fall to their knees and join with reader in saying "Long live the King of the Jews!
Then the cape is removed and Jesus is given the cross by one soldier, who whispers to Jesus to walk a little way and then stumble.

All: Were you there when they sentenced him to death? (X2)
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they sentenced him to death?

The Walk to Golgotha

Jesus begins to walk and then stumbles. One soldier asks the crowd if someone will carry the cross. Ask several times. If no one responds, the 3 soldiers seize someone who will be "Simon of Cyrene."

Read Mark 15:21-22.

The Crucifixion

{Ask the group to sit down, close their eyes, and imagine the next scene. Take the cross from Simon of Cyrene. Read the following which is based on Mark 15:23-43.}

"Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross between 2 robbers. It was a horrible death normally kept for criminals. His enemies laughed and hurled insults. As Jesus hung there in great pain the whole world grew very dark. It was as though the sun could not bear to watch what was happening. The crowd was hushed. Jesus repeated one of the psalms to himself.

"My God, my God, Why have you abandoned me? I have cried desperately for help But still it does not come."

After 3 agonizing hours he took one last deep breath. And then he died. It was toward evening when Joseph of Arimathea arrived to ask Pilate if he could take Jesus' body for burial."

Invite participants to open their eyes.

Read Mark 15:44-47

All: Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Stripping of the Sanctuary
{Led by the young people, in silence, the altar cloths, banners, candles, etc is removed. The cross is draped with a black or purple sheer fabric} Some of the adults will naturally pray during this time if the leading adults bow their heads.

Close With The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as Forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Closing Benediction (Say a blessing that fits your tradition, no commissioning is used now since that will come on Easter)

PROPS

Donkey colt stick (or an adult that will be the donkey and carry a child once around the sanctuary
Clothes
Branches to wave (Done: Janet has them)
Cape to identify Jesus
Matzo bread and juice
Fake campfire (wood and coloured paper will do)
A black purple sheer cloth to cover the cross

Area set up as a garden.
Small table covered by a gray cloth
Some green house plants
Some rope.

Area set up as a courtyard
Fake campfire

Area set up for the trial
a small box for Jesus to stand on?. (The box the children stand on to read)
Cue cards with "No", "Crucify Him!"
A scarlet cloak and crown of thorns.
A wooden cross big enough for a child to carry

Adult/Teen Leaders
- Peter
- Soldier who orders Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross
- Two other soldiers who mock Jesus
- One or two narrators
- Four teens & some adults to strip the sanctuary
- One worship leader (Me)