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What is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday Services
Palm/Passion Sunday is April 2nd; we hope you'll plan to worship with PCPC! All morning services will include festive processions of palms.
We want to prepare you for a different pattern in the regarding options for your children depending on their age. You will notice in the draft bulletin; the Children's Message appears earlier in the service. You will also note there are a good bit of heavy readings and solemn music to follow the Children's Message for the remainder of the service.
Worship Bags are available in the Narthex. The bags contain visuals that go along with some of the scripture content. We even suggest reading the scripture as a family ahead of time or sharing with them the tone they can expect will help prepare everyone to experience this service. Your family may also need help processing what they heard and felt following the service. I'm grateful to Anna Shuford for choosing appropriate books in the Fellowship Hall you can check out regarding the Easter Story. She also created content on the webpage for Holy Week, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Worship options available:
Following the Children's Message in the 8:30 & 11:00 am Traditional Service, all children will return to their families and explore visual elements of Easter in the worship bags located in the Narthex. Or Godly Play is available for children in Pre-K 3 - 1st Grade.
Following the Children's Message in the 9:00 am Contemporary Service, the Prayground will be open. Or Godly Play is open for children in Pre-K 3 - 1st Grade. There will be ample bulletins and children's materials available if children remain with their families during the service.
Nursery is available at any time during the 8:30 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am services for infants and preschoolers (and truly any child that needs it). The Nursery is minimally utilized during the morning and there is ample space should you desire that option.
Signs will be up to show you the way to the Nursery and Godly Play
Worship Bags are available in the Narthex. The bags contain visuals that go along with some of the scripture content. We even suggest reading the scripture as a family ahead of time or sharing with them the tone they can expect will help prepare everyone to experience this service. Your family may also need help processing what they heard and felt following the service. I'm grateful to Anna Shuford for choosing appropriate books in the Fellowship Hall you can check out regarding the Easter Story. She also created content on the webpage for Holy Week, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Worship options available:
Following the Children's Message in the 8:30 & 11:00 am Traditional Service, all children will return to their families and explore visual elements of Easter in the worship bags located in the Narthex. Or Godly Play is available for children in Pre-K 3 - 1st Grade.
Following the Children's Message in the 9:00 am Contemporary Service, the Prayground will be open. Or Godly Play is open for children in Pre-K 3 - 1st Grade. There will be ample bulletins and children's materials available if children remain with their families during the service.
Nursery is available at any time during the 8:30 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am services for infants and preschoolers (and truly any child that needs it). The Nursery is minimally utilized during the morning and there is ample space should you desire that option.
Signs will be up to show you the way to the Nursery and Godly Play
Bible Reading
Jesus Visits Jerusalem (Luke 19:29-40)
What kind of trips do you like to take with your family or friends? Have you gone on trips in your city or town or farther away? Did you go on a plane, on a train, in a bus, or by car?
Jesus traveled to cities and small towns to teach the people about God's love. One of the most important trips he took was to Jerusalem, the special Holy City.
While he was there, Jesus gave two of the disciples a special task. He said to them, "Go into the village. There you will find a young donkey that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. I want to ride it into Jerusalem."
The disciples were surprised Jesus wanted a donkey to ride, because he always walked everywhere he went. But they loved Jesus and knew he was an important teacher, so they did what he asked. Jesus told them if anyone asked why they were taking the donkey, they should tell them that he needed it.
They went into the village and found the donkey, just like Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey back to Jesus. The disciples laid cloths on its back so that Jesus could rid it.
Now Jesus was ready to ride into Jerusalem. The people following him began to cheer. Crowds lined the streets. Some people joined the disciples and spread their cloaks on the road to welcome Jesus. Others wondered why everyone was so excited about a man entering the city on a donkey. Powerful rulers rode big war horses.
The disciples praised Jesus, singing and shouting for joy because of God's love for them. The people welcomed Jesus with blessings, saying "Peace!" The people who knew Jesus and his teachings about love and peace were excited that he was in Jerusalem. They expected great things from this teacher from Galilee.
Some teachers of the law (called the Pharisees) were in the crowd. They did not like Jesus being praised so much when he was not a king. They also worried that Jesus would upset the Roman officials. They thought he didn't deserve all this celebration because he was only a teacher riding a donkey. They said to Jesus, "Teacher Jesus, tell your disciples to stop praising you like a king! It's not the right thing to do because you're not our king!"
Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if they were silent and did not sing praises the very stones on this earth beneath us would shout out."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Jesus traveled to cities and small towns to teach the people about God's love. One of the most important trips he took was to Jerusalem, the special Holy City.
While he was there, Jesus gave two of the disciples a special task. He said to them, "Go into the village. There you will find a young donkey that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. I want to ride it into Jerusalem."
The disciples were surprised Jesus wanted a donkey to ride, because he always walked everywhere he went. But they loved Jesus and knew he was an important teacher, so they did what he asked. Jesus told them if anyone asked why they were taking the donkey, they should tell them that he needed it.
They went into the village and found the donkey, just like Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey back to Jesus. The disciples laid cloths on its back so that Jesus could rid it.
Now Jesus was ready to ride into Jerusalem. The people following him began to cheer. Crowds lined the streets. Some people joined the disciples and spread their cloaks on the road to welcome Jesus. Others wondered why everyone was so excited about a man entering the city on a donkey. Powerful rulers rode big war horses.
The disciples praised Jesus, singing and shouting for joy because of God's love for them. The people welcomed Jesus with blessings, saying "Peace!" The people who knew Jesus and his teachings about love and peace were excited that he was in Jerusalem. They expected great things from this teacher from Galilee.
Some teachers of the law (called the Pharisees) were in the crowd. They did not like Jesus being praised so much when he was not a king. They also worried that Jesus would upset the Roman officials. They thought he didn't deserve all this celebration because he was only a teacher riding a donkey. They said to Jesus, "Teacher Jesus, tell your disciples to stop praising you like a king! It's not the right thing to do because you're not our king!"
Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if they were silent and did not sing praises the very stones on this earth beneath us would shout out."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Palm Sunday Spoken Word by WeatherStone Church
This video is 1:51 minutes long
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think people lined up to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem?
- How do you think they knew about Jesus and that he was coming into town?
- Why were they shouting hosanna?
- What do you think made them think Jesus was deserving of their praise and adoration?
- Why did they believe that Jesus could save them?
- Why did the Pharisees want Jesus to stop them from shouting hosanna?
- What do you think it means that even the stones would shout out?
- If Jesus came to your town, where would you be?
- How would you know to show up to welcome Jesus?
- What would you be shouting and why?
- Who would want to stop the outward praise of Jesus today?
- What do you think is the meaning of Palm Sunday?
I Wonder....
- What the people waving palm branches might have seen, heard, or thought when Jesus rode by on the donkey?
- How Jesus felt when he was riding through Jerusalem?
- What Jesus was thinking as he rode on the donkey into Jerusalem?
- How people knew to lay and wave palm branches?
- If you remember a time that was very exciting.
- Why palm branches?
- How his disciples felt when they were walking with Jesus into Jerusalem?
- Why did Jesus ride in on a donkey?
Reflect
As Jesus came into Jerusalem, a celebration parade formed. People waved palm branches in the air and laid their coats down like a red carpet for Jesus. Jesus was riding on a peaceful donkey, not a war horse. The way Jesus came through the city was another reminder that following Jesus os a choice to do things differently. The shouted "Hosanna!" as they waved their branches, which means "Save us!" I wonder what it means to ask Jesus to save us.
Practice
Make a palm branch. An easy way to make a palm branch is by using green construction paper. Draw or trace a design of green palm fronds and attach them to something sturdy such as a pope cleaner, popsicle stick, or a real tree branch. Another way to make the leaves is by tracing and cutting out your own handprints. As you wave your branch, think about how you might celebrate Jesus and everything Jesus taught us while he was here on Earth.
Poem
Hosanna: Palm Sunday Spoken Word by Church Media Drop
This video is 1:21 minutes long
Questions from the Spoken Word Poem
- How did each speaker interpret the meaning of Palm Sunday?
- Why does each person think Jesus should be praised (hosanna)?
Prayer
Today we shout "Hosanna!"
It means "Save us!"
Sometimes we need your help, God.
We turn to you when we need guidance or wisdom.
Help us when we don't know which way to go.
Guide us throughout this Holy Week as we learn and grow in faith. Amen
It means "Save us!"
Sometimes we need your help, God.
We turn to you when we need guidance or wisdom.
Help us when we don't know which way to go.
Guide us throughout this Holy Week as we learn and grow in faith. Amen
Videos
Godly Play
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This video is 7:13 minutes long
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This video is 5:11 minutes long
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Crossroad Kids' Club
This video is 2:47 minutes long
Saddleback Kids
This video is 3:07 minutes long
Holy Moly
This video is 5:21 minutes long
Songs
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All Glory Laud and Honor (Processional) at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church
This video is 1:35 minutes long
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All Glory Laud and Honor sung by Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir
This video is 2:55 minutes long
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O Sacred Head played by Jim Connors on Cello and Nancy Callahan on Piano
This video is 1:16 minutes long
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Were You There? sung by Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir
This video is 3:26 minutes long
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Hosanna by Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church Praise Band
This video is 5:41 minutes long
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Hosanna (Gregor) sung by Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir
This video is 1:09 minutes long
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Reflect, Practice, Poem Questions and Prayer Source
Materials are taken from excerpts of :
- Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection by Traci Smith (Chalice Press; 2021, All Reserved Rights)
- Palm Sunday — Family faith formation for April 10, 2022 by Rebecca Davis (© Copyright 2022 The Presbyterian Outlook. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement. Website Design by Poka Yoke Design)
Author of Palm Sunday - Family faith formation from Presbyterian Outlook for April 10, 2022
Rebecca Davis is the associate professor of Christian education at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. A teaching elder and certified educator, she served congregations for over 20 years before moving into academic teaching. In addition to teaching and mentoring students, her passion is child advocacy and ministry.
Author of Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection
Traci Smith is an ordained minister, mother of three, and author. Traci's passion is helping families find times for connection and spiritual nourishment amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. What began as a quest to help her own family has provided valuable insight for thousands of others. Traci believes faith practices should be fun, easy to fit into daily life, and accessible to all.