Holy Week

Interim Pastor’s Ponderings
           
           I love Palm Sunday!  There is something about the children leading the procession with “All Glory Laud and Honor,” the majestic hymn and the bopping little ones.

           That odd counterpoint of upbeat and solemn, of kids flailing palm fronds at each other (even some adults!) and the march of the King, the glory and the donkey, is a part of the psychology of Palm Sunday for the church.  We know that after the triumphant entry comes a week of turmoil and fear and discouragement.  Yet we also know that triumph will return with resurrection on Easter.  It’s just the way it is.

           It can be easy to skip from the mountain top experience of Palm Sunday right over Holy Week to the super mountaintop of Easter without moving through the valley of the shadow in between.  This is why many churches and even this one fairly often observes this Sunday as “Passion Sunday” or “Palm and Passion Sunday,” reading the whole Biblical narrative of Jesus’ suffering as part of the liturgy so that everyone feels the emotions.  Still, the best way to experience, really experience the whipsaw of emotions is to attend the worships of Holy Week.

           I encourage you to participate in the whole drama of Holy Week.  We begin with the triumph of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday at morning worship.  We commemorate the Last Supper and hear the scripture of the last words in the darkening sanctuary on Maundy Thursday at 7:30 pm, and the tale of the Passion on Good Friday at 5:30 pm.  Then we gather for the Sunrise Service on Easter morning at 6:30 am at Lakeview, and have the two celebrations of the Resurrection at 9 and 11 am, with time to share fellowship.

          Come share the excitement and spring green of Palm Sunday.  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  Blessed are us when we celebrate in the name of Jesus!

                                       In Christ,
                                                  David


Texts For Sunday Worship:
*Luke 19:28-40
Philippians 2:5-11

Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.