Zion Episcopal Church
SCRIPTURE - TRADITION - REASON
We promise to share the love of Christ with all of God’s children
in our worship, words and witness.
Palm Sunday March 29th, 2026
Year A 10:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist (Rite II)
The Liturgy of the Palms
The people gather in the Parish Hall, as they are able. Those who are unable to participate in the procession with palms are welcome to spend time in the sanctuary in quiet reflection and prayer.
Celebrant Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
People Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Celebrant Let us pray
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our
salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation
of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and
immortality, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew
When Jesus and his disciples 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 fulfill 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."
The Blessing of the Palms
Celebrant: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise
Celebrant then says the following blessing
It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by
which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ
our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in
triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who
spread their garments and branches of palm along his way.
Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that
we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King,
and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives
and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and
for ever. Amen.
Celebrant: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
People: Hosanna in the highest.
The Procession with Palms
Celebrant: Let us go forth in Peace
People: In the name of Christ, Amen
While processing into the Church, the Priest and people sing Hymn 154:
The Liturgy of the Passion
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
PeopleAnd also with you
Celebrant Let us pray.
The Collect
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens--
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 31:9-16
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *
I have said, "You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."
Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn: 158, vs. 1-3 “Ah, holy Jesus, how has thou offended”Blue Hymnal
The Passion Gospel
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (booklet insert)
The Congregation responds as “Crowd.”
The people are welcome to sit during the Passion Gospel.
Silence
Strepitus
The Sermon The Reverend Alexander Herasimtschuk
The Prayers of the People Form I
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the
Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church
of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our Presiding Bishop, Sean; our Bishops, Matthew and Allen, our Priest-in-Charge, Alex; for Michael, our Rector emeritus; and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy
For Greg and Peggy, our wardens, and for the members of our vestry, that the Lord may guide them and bless them with wisdom, patience, and fortitude. Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy
For our President, Donald; our Governor, Kathy; for the leaders of the nations, and for all in
authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this village of Wappingers Falls, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all victims of violence and terrorism; for all refugees and the countries who shelter them; for our brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces; for the families and friends of those serving in the Armed Forces; for all people who are caught in the midst of war; for peace among the nations; for prisoners and their families and those who minister to them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for our food pantry patrons, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our needs and those of others.
The People may add their own petitions, silently or aloud
Let us pray to the Lord
Lord, have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
In the Interparish Council rota of prayer, we pray this week for:
The Church of The Resurrection, Hopewell Junction.
In the communion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Margaret of Antioch, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.
To thee, O Lord our God.
Silence
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
Blessings of those celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries
Offertory Sentence
Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name. Bring offerings and come into His courts.
Offering You may continue to bring your gift to the altar through the online payment application VANCO.
Offertory Hymn: 458 “My song is love unknown” Blue Hymnal
The Liturgy of the Holy Communion
Eucharistic Prayer B
The people stand.
The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every-
where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. For our sins he was lifted high
upon the cross, that he might draw the whole world to himself;
and, by his suffering and death, he became the source of eternal
salvation for all who put their trust in him.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and
Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever
sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord S-130
The people stand or kneel.
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love
which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling
of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the
prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your
Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from
the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world.
In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy
to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error
into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took
bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body,
which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon
these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of
Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your
Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him,
being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time,
put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to
that heavenly country where with the Blessed Virgin Mary,
St. Margaret of Antioch, and all your saints, we may enter
the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation,
the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and
for ever. Amen.
And now, as our Savior
Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say,
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 we forgive those who trespass against us.
And 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.
The Fraction
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
Fraction Anthem S-161 Agnus Dei David Hurd
Celebrant
The Gifts of God for the People of God.
Take them in remembrance that Christ died for
you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
The Distribution
All baptized Christians are welcome at the Lord’s table. Worshippers are welcome to receive the Eucharist in both kinds (bread and wine) or in one kind (bread only), as partaking in one kind is considered sufficient under certain circumstances, according to the Book of Common Prayer. If anyone receiving in one kind desires to reverence the holy chalice, please make the sign of St. Andrew’s cross. If anyone desires to receive a blessing instead of the Eucharist, please also make the sign of St. Andrew’s cross. For those who are joining us in worship and prayer, but do not yet feel called to receive the Eucharist, you are welcome to sing our communion hymns, or to spend time in prayer and reflection. Gluten-Free host, as always, is available upon request. May God’s peace and blessings be with you always.
Communion Anthem: “God so loved the World”/ John Stainer
Communion Hymns: 439 “What wondrous love is this” Blue Hymnal
168 “O sacred head, sore wounded” Blue Hymnal
Let us pray.
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Solemn Prayer
The Celebrant says
Bow down before the Lord.
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The Benediction
The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
Recessional Hymn: 164 “Alone, thou goest forth, O Lord” Blue Hymnal
The Dismissal
Celebrant Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
You are encouraged to stay to listen to the postlude.
Ministers of the Liturgy
Celebrant The Rev. Alexander Herasimtschuk
Organist Gregory Citarella
Reader Doug & Sylvia Propfe
Lay Eucharistic Minister Frank Mariani
Crucifer Leeann Haubrich
Altar Guild Annette Goodwin
Ushers Greg and Jody Fredeman
Wardens
Greg Fredeman
Peggy Kelland
Treasurer
Maya Hennebery
Vestry
Barbara Clark
Phil Engle
Maya Hennebery
Wendy McNeil
Leo Ocola
Betty Oommen
Sylvia Propfe
Rector Emeritus The Rev. Michael B. Webber
Bishop The Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, Bishop of NY
Suffragan Bishop The Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin
Please remember Zion Episcopal Church of Wappingers Falls in your will so this magnificent church may be upkept and mission in the name of the Lord Jesus may continue after you have joined the Church Triumphant.
Limited Podcast / Streaming License, Category B average weekly attendance 1 to 100.
M-400628 for Jul 07, 2025 - Jul 06, 2026
Zion Episcopal Church
12 Satterlee Place, Wappingers Falls, New York
(845) 297-9797