The Wilderness Journey from Palms to Passion Worship Service w/ Midrash
The Wilderness Journey from Palms to Passion Worship Service w/ Midrash
[This resource is also included in our Wilderness Lent Bundle]
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FOR ONE-TIME LICENSE
This creative worship service for Palm/Passion Sunday follows Matthew’s telling of the events from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, highlighting a few narrative moments in between. This service is designed to be a hybrid of worship and dramatic reading. The hope is to engage people in a new way using the ancient Jewish tradition of midrash, helping teach and immerse them in the narrative flow of the Passion story.
Invite members to be midrash readers, embodying characters who each testify to who Jesus is. Get creative with blocking and offering the midrash with emotion and authenticity.
Liturgy & midrash by Sarah Are
About the midrash:
In addition to liturgists, the service engages 5 midrash readers who embody the following characters:
A woman in the temple who witnessed Jesus flip the tables
A Pharisee
The woman with the alabaster jar who anointed Jesus’ feet
Judas
A disciple in the garden of Gethsemane
Summary order of the worship service:
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD
Opening Voluntary
Words of Welcome
Call to Worship
PROCLAIMING THE WORD TOGETHER
Scripture Reading: Sunday | Matthew 21:1-11
Opening Litany | “Who is this?”
Palms Processional and Triumphal Entry
Hymn | “All Glory, Laud and Honor”
Scripture Reading: Tables Turned | Matthew 21:12-13
Dramatic Reading: Monday | The woman in the temple
Prayer of Confession
Scripture Reading: Authority Questioned | Matthew 21:23
Dramatic Reading: Tuesday | A Pharisee
Scripture Reading: Anointed | Matthew 26:6-13
Dramatic Reading: Wednesday | The Woman with the Alabaster Jar
Invitation to the Offering
Music During the Offering (or Choral Anthem)
Prayer of Dedication for the Offering
Scripture Reading: Betrayal | Matthew 26:14-16
Dramatic Reading: Wednesday | Judas
Holy Communion
Thursday Evening | The Last Supper
Communion of the People
Scripture Reading: The Garden | Matthew 26:36-47
Dramatic Reading: Thursday Night | A Disciple in the Garden of Gethsemane
RESPONDING TO THE WORD PROCLAIMED
Hymn | “What Wondrous Love is This”
Closing Litany | “Who is he?”
Benediction
Download includes:
17-pg PDF with the full worship script (including all liturgy, midrash readings, blocking suggestions, and leadership notes)
Credit Info:
Liturgy and midrash written by Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
