Hosanna! Save us, O God! From hasty palm waving and distracted worship; from the Holy Week panic about to set in; from the onslaught of emails and plastic eggs; from the special music to arrange and the brunch casseroles to bake; from the late nights, the restless sleeps, the too-early mornings. Save us, O God,… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Palms & Passion Edition
Holy Week is about to begin! Are you ready? Which pieces of the story will you share on each day? Does this Sunday bring you to Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem, or the story of his passion? Both? Will folks return to hear more of the story on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday? Will you… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Palm / Passion Sunday (John 12:12-27; 19:16b-22)
“Sir, we would see Jesus,” the plaque on the pulpit proclaimed, visible only to the preacher. In a former congregation, like many places, the words of people seeking Jesus greeted every preacher who stepped into the pulpit. Mysteriously, thankfully, in that particular church, the plaque was lost in a sanctuary renovation. The people who come… Read More
Palm Sunday Prayer
“I love you,” I shout, because I don’t know if I can be faithful. “Here’s my coat,” I offer, because I’m not certain that I would give my life. “Hosanna in the highest,” I sing, because I doubt there will be good news worth singing tomorrow. “Blessed is the one who comes,” I cheer, because I… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Palm/Passion Sunday Edition
Preachers, lace up those running shoes! The liturgical world moves quickly this week, and this Sunday starts the marathon. What is on your schedule? Palms? Passion? Some of both? Our discussions of the Revised Common Lectionary texts and the Narrative Lectionary texts may be helpful. If you’re working ahead, don’t miss this post about Maundy Thursday,… Read More
Thursday Prayer: Counting
Dear God, We are counting: counting palm crosses (will there be enough for all the people who like to take one for a neighbour, and for the rest home services next week, and some to dry for next year’s ashes); counting how many liturgies are written and services prepared (Holy Week is busy); and counting… Read More
RCL: Everyone Loves a Parade
Everyone loves a parade and Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary readings offer you two. The first parade has Jesus entering into Jerusalem amid joyous celebration and the other a more macabre march to the cross. You can find the Palms here and the Passion here. Our congregation holds several special services during Holy Week so we will… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: ‘Liberate’ a Colt, Start a Celebration Edition (Luke 19:29-44)
Finally! We made it!!! Several chapters after being told the Jesus had set his face toward the city this week’s reading finds us on the very outskirts of Jerusalem — though we still seem to stop just short of actually walking through the gate. You can read the passage (Luke 19:29-44) here. The folks at… Read More
Palm/Passion Sunday Prayer
Come in, O God our Savior! Come in, come in, we long to greet you! You are the Triumph and the Glory, the Opened Gate and the Rejected Cornerstone. We are thrilled to be near you; we sing your praises with wild emotion and waving palms. With great eagerness and joyful shouts, we welcome you among… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary – In My Place
Palms and Passion, these are your themes for the coming week. Sunday begins a very busy week for the church, with some of you focusing on the events of Palm Sunday, and others are focusing on the Passion narrative in addition to or in place of Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem. Some of you will not have… Read More
