The Palm Sunday Family Service was equally active and engaging for the young and the not-so-young alike.  A dramatic ‘Praise Parade’ provided a visual reminder of the noisy, triumphal entrance Jesus made into the Holy City of Jerusalem.  The banging of drums, the clashing of cymbals and the joyful waving of flags as the youngsters circled the church brought the narrative of St. Luke to life.  Cloaks were thrown down along the aisle, reminiscent of the actions of the excited crowds who greeted Jesus in deference and honour, and donkey masks reminded the congregation of the lowly beast, bearing a king.

The palm crosses helped to lead a focus on prayer.  They were held upright as reminders of the Cross Jesus died upon, they were held upside down (like swords) to prompt prayer for all conflicts, local, national and international and then they were held close to the hearts of all in the congregation, to encourage prayer full of love and service.

The following monologue closed the service:

I knew the excitement couldn’t last forever but I didn’t expect it to end like this.

Riding into Jerusalem was always going to be risky for Jesus….. You see the Pharisees hated him and were looking for a way to arrest him, but I didn’t expect the people to turn against him so quickly.

One minute they were praising him, singing their hosannas and waving their palm branches, then the next minute they were shouting “Crucify him, crucify him.”

Had they forgotten how he had fed them on the hillside with five loaves and two fish?

Had they forgotten the many people he had healed?

Had they forgotten the amazing things he had taught them?

What I can’t understand is why Pilate listened to the people.  Why couldn’t he see that Jesus wasn’t a common criminal who deserved to die?

I will never forget the sight of Jesus stumbling through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying his heavy cross on his back with a crown of thorns on his head.

We had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah, the One sent to set us all free, but it looks like we were wrong because Messiah’s aren’t crucified…..and yet I do remember something He said to us…..it is coming back now.

Jesus told us that he was coming to Jerusalem to be condemned to death, mocked, flogged and crucified…and on the third day he will be raised to life.

Maybe there is some purpose to it all….. maybe…..