Liturgy of the Palms (or branches)
It is suggested that the people be gathered in a place other than within the church itself for the Liturgy of the Palms/Branches (perhaps some other local greenery is plentiful and less costly than palms: young evergreen, cedar or hedge branches are equally appropriate.
Priest or Deacon begins: What we commemorate today is the spontaneous parade which picked up momentum on the road that led from Bethphage to Jerusalem when Jesus rode into the city on the back of a borrowed 'colt'.
Reader 1: He had asked his followers to go to the next town and procure the animal - saying to questioning bystanders only that 'the Lord has need of it'.
Reader 2: They came back to Bethphage, draped their cloaks on the animal's back and made their way to the heart of Jerusalem. Along the route, the crown grew. They had no red carpet to spread before him so that they took the clothes off their backs and laid them down in the dust to pave the way into the city.
Reader 3:Some climbed into the trees or went to nearby bushes and cut down branches to pave a smooth road for him - treating Him as royalty, calling out:
Everyone gathered together; Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Reader 4: The twelve walked along, with smiling faces, proud to be seen with the man who had the love of the crowd. Everyone had seen or heard of the miracles Jesus had performed and they were honoring him as an important, welcomed prophet.
Priest: Now bless these branches,(making sign of the cross) that we, like them, may welcome our Lord into our presence as we begin the celebration and recollection of the final earthly days of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lived and died for us and lives in us still when we follow in his footsteps of justice, humility and love.
All: Amen.
Priest: We then, take up these branches (palms) to honor the one who came in the name of the Lord as the Lord among us. [the branches/palms are distributed]
Deacon or Priest: Let us welcome Him again into our midst.
When the Liturgy of the Palms/Branches is completed, a Palm Sunday Processional hymn is begun and used during the winding path into the church. Perhaps a strip of red cloth could line the main aisle for dramatic effect - with additional branches/palms (unblessed) being thrown or strewn onto the cloth strip (or even old coats, jackets or sweaters laid down by designated people) before or as the procession makes its way down the aisle. After the church everyone is settled into their places, the ends of the red cloth are picked up in unison by 2 people, walking the 'red carpet' in a dignified and quiet way to the back of the church where it is gathered and inconspicuously taken elsewhere so as to have cleared the aisle for safety reasons.
Copyright © 2007 K.L.Joanna Depue and Deacon J on www.geraniumfarm.org
Priest or Deacon begins: What we commemorate today is the spontaneous parade which picked up momentum on the road that led from Bethphage to Jerusalem when Jesus rode into the city on the back of a borrowed 'colt'.
Reader 1: He had asked his followers to go to the next town and procure the animal - saying to questioning bystanders only that 'the Lord has need of it'.
Reader 2: They came back to Bethphage, draped their cloaks on the animal's back and made their way to the heart of Jerusalem. Along the route, the crown grew. They had no red carpet to spread before him so that they took the clothes off their backs and laid them down in the dust to pave the way into the city.
Reader 3:Some climbed into the trees or went to nearby bushes and cut down branches to pave a smooth road for him - treating Him as royalty, calling out:
Everyone gathered together; Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Reader 4: The twelve walked along, with smiling faces, proud to be seen with the man who had the love of the crowd. Everyone had seen or heard of the miracles Jesus had performed and they were honoring him as an important, welcomed prophet.
Priest: Now bless these branches,(making sign of the cross) that we, like them, may welcome our Lord into our presence as we begin the celebration and recollection of the final earthly days of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lived and died for us and lives in us still when we follow in his footsteps of justice, humility and love.
All: Amen.
Priest: We then, take up these branches (palms) to honor the one who came in the name of the Lord as the Lord among us. [the branches/palms are distributed]
Deacon or Priest: Let us welcome Him again into our midst.
When the Liturgy of the Palms/Branches is completed, a Palm Sunday Processional hymn is begun and used during the winding path into the church. Perhaps a strip of red cloth could line the main aisle for dramatic effect - with additional branches/palms (unblessed) being thrown or strewn onto the cloth strip (or even old coats, jackets or sweaters laid down by designated people) before or as the procession makes its way down the aisle. After the church everyone is settled into their places, the ends of the red cloth are picked up in unison by 2 people, walking the 'red carpet' in a dignified and quiet way to the back of the church where it is gathered and inconspicuously taken elsewhere so as to have cleared the aisle for safety reasons.
Copyright © 2007 K.L.Joanna Depue and Deacon J on www.geraniumfarm.org
posted by Joanna Depue | 1:40 AM
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