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Palm Sunday Blessings

Today is Palm Sunday.  In churches across the world, the story is read of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem at Passover … and songs of Hosanna are sung.

 

The great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
John 12:12-13

 

 
This is one of my favorite Sundays because it’s Part One of several transformations.  In our church, the children walk down the aisle waving palm branches as the choir and congregation sing.  When the first child arrives, the cross is bare … but as each child’s palm branch is added, it is transformed into a palm-laden cross… and a black drape hung as a symbol of the days of darkness and mourning in the week ahead.

 

This is the back side — so you can see how it’s made.
Late in the week, the palm branches will be removed and left to dry.  Then they’ll be burned and used for next year’s Ash Wednesday service.

 

On Easter morning, this cross will be transformed once again.  But we must not rush through the uncomfortable, the agony, the heartache.  We must embrace them.

 

For now … we must wait.
 
Blessings on each of you during this Holy Week.  May the passion of Christ weigh heavy on your heart, and may you live in the hope of his resurrection.
 

I’m joining Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch.  Meet me there?

Related posts:

Facing the week ahead . . . Because … BREAKING THE SILENCE: On the third day . . . Sunday Challenge
24 Mar 2013
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Inspiration, My Place
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Comments

  1. Marilyn says
    March 24, 2013 at 10:52 PM

    Thank you for the beautiful pictures. This Sunday is also one of my favorites, but was stuck at home. A kind neighbor stopped by with his loader and cleared my driveway for me after our wind and snow yesterday. May you have a blessed Holy week.♥♫

  2. Barbara F. says
    March 24, 2013 at 11:10 PM

    This is a beautiful post. That palm cross is breathtaking to me. xo

  3. Carol Z says
    March 24, 2013 at 11:15 PM

    Wishing you a blessed week!

  4. Nellie says
    March 25, 2013 at 1:54 AM

    Wonderful pictures, Susan! Our children carried palm branches as well as they sang “Hosanna!” Wishing you a blessed Holy Week ahead. xo Nellie

  5. Tricia says
    March 25, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    What a lovely tradition — and one new to me. We worshiped with our daughter and her family yesterday in Houston. Singing All Glory, Laud, and Honor as the children march in waving their palm branches is definitely a highlight of the church year!