Take some time today to gather palm branches. During our song of praise, have children wave the branches around. As we participate in our service, you will notice that the words of the crowd become our words- with joyous and shocking effect. Why joyous and shocking?

Palm Sunday is the week in which we commemorate Jesus riding into Jerusalem. In the Ancient Near East, when a conquering sovereign returned to his capital from battle, the people of the city would go out to meet him or her, throwing down cloaks and palm branches along the road for the royal train to walk on. When people did this for Jesus, the image was shocking and ironic- a king, on a donkey. He wasn't a king in any of the ways they expected... and the cries of "Hosanna" would become cries of "Crucify" when they realized their mistake. Then followed the longest weekend in history...

Join us for worship this Sunday night at 5 by clicking here. Click here to print out our bulletin.