Every year before Holy Week I like to update my resources for the season. The list continues to grow so this year I thought I would divide it into several lists: Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
Palm Sunday, this coming Sunday marks, the beginning of Holy week. It celebrates Jesus procession into Jerusalem where people threw down palm fronds to celebrate his entry into the holy city. Many churches process around their churches waving palm fronds and crosses as a symbol of this triumphal event.
Last year I wrote this reflection which contrasts Jesus entry into Jerusalem with the very different entry of Pilot on the other side of the city:
Palm Sunday 2012 – Which Procession Will We Join?
There however a huge number of resources for this season.
As usual Textweek.com has a very comprehensive and excellent list of resources from all over the world to help prepare for this celebration.
Faith at home has some good suggestions on activities to participate in with children.
And Little Takas has a variety of colouring pages available for children of all ages.
What we often don’t realize is that this was a very subversive event, symbolizing the in breaking of God’s kingdom with its upside down values and countercultural ways. Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem may have begun with crowds shouting Hosanna but it ends with Good Friday and the apparent triumph of the powers of the Roman Empire and of Satan. It does not end with a gold crown but with a crown of thorns. Jesus triumphal entry ends with his willingness to take into himself all the pain and suffering of our world so that together we can celebrate the beginning of a new procession on Easter Sunday – a procession that leads us into God’s banquet feast and the wonder of God’s eternal world.
I really enjoyed watching this short video on how to make a palm cross for Palm Sunday.
You might also enjoy watching this rendition of All Glory Laud and Honour which is the traditional hymn sung on this day.
The traditional hymn sung on this day is All Glory Laud and Honor