DEVOTIONAL Palm Sunday is a service of invitation to the journey
Again, we see ourselves in the crowd, realizing
of Holy Week. The service begins on a spiritual high
our own sin of rejecting Jesus. In the grittiness and
point as we remember and celebrate Jesus’ triumphal
length of the Passion reading, we realize the depth of
entry into Jerusalem. Like the crowds in the Gospel
suffering that Jesus endured for us.
accounts (Matt. 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-40),
WHAT YOU SEE & HEAR WAVING PALM BRANCHES: In Matthew 21,
Week. The congregation participates in this reading
it says that crowds placed branches at Jesus’ feet as
by acting as those who call for Jesus’ crucifixion.
he made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Palm branches are an ancient symbol of goodness, victory,
INCENSE: Burned as a tangible reminder of God’s
and triumph.
presence with us, incense is traditionally used on holy days. The incense is carried by a person called
A PROCESSIONAL: We march through part
the thurifer. The incense also represents our prayers
of our neighborhood both to partictipate in Jesus’
rising to God in heaven. (Psalm 141:2)
own entry into Jerusalem as a victorious king and to LITURGICAL COLOR CHANGE FROM
announce the beginning of Holy Week.
PURPLE TO RED: A local custom dating back CHUPPAH: This structure symbolically honors the
to the late ‘80s, the shift from purple to red is meant
crucifix, which represents Christ’s presence.
to visually capture the dramatic arc of the service.
during the processional we are invited to worship
The prayers of Palm Sunday focus on Jesus’ suffering.
Jesus in all his glory. We see Jesus for who he truly is:
We are called to imitate Jesus in his humility and to
our King. As we wave our palm branches and walk
walk with him through his suffering and death. We do
with Jesus towards Jerusalem, we experience Jesus’
this so that we might also share in his resurrection and
eternal victory.
victory—a victory that we have had a glimpse of in this service. This invitation is not to be taken lightly. If, by
However, when we arrive with Jesus in Jerusalem
faith, we embrace the call to share in Jesus’ suffering
there is a dramatic shift. In the service, we hear the
and allow the Lord to meet us, we will be changed.
Passion reading—the account of Jesus’ trial and
Whether this is your first or fiftieth journey through
crucifixion. The same crowd that was worshiping
Holy Week, the Lord Jesus is calling you to walk this
Jesus now turns against him, calling for his death.
difficult and holy road with him.
YOUR RESPONSE How is the Lord inviting you to walk with him this
What stands out to you most about this service?
week? What does it mean to walk with Jesus in his suffering?
Purple, a royal color, is used for the processional SHOFAR: The blowing of this horn is a local custom
as we usher in King Jesus. Then, after the Passion
based on the Bible’s description of its use as a herald
reading, purple is changed to red, which is the official
of the coming of a king.
color of Palm Sunday and a symbol of Jesus’ death and crucifixion. The changing colors capture the
THE PASSION READING: This passage from
dramatic juxtaposition that takes place, as the same
John’s Gospel is performed as a dramatic monologue
crowd of people goes from praising Jesus to calling
by a member of the congregation in order to orient
for his murder.
the congregation to the ruling narrative of Holy 8
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