Palm Sunday holds a great tension for the worship planner: on the one hand, it’s a festive event with children waving palm branches; on the other hand it signals Jesus’ descent into judgment, betrayal, and execution. How do you experience such a complex range of emotions and themes in one service?
Well, how about just listening to the story once again?
This Sunday, the whole liturgy is shaped around scriptures from Jesus’ final week of earthly ministry, culminating in a reading of the Passion narrative in place of a sermon. The scripture readings are interspersed with songs and liturgy that will allow us to place ourselves inside the story. Pray that the Spirit will allow us to hear the Gospel with new ears!
–Greg Scheer