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I guess I get to go first:

I am working on a service where, in addition to celebrating Palm Sunday, we begin the walk through Holy Week (though I don't want to go too far with this- we have a service for Thursday and Friday). Does anyone have an interesting/innovative way of demonstrating this transition. I was thinking that we might 'redecorate' the sanctuary on the closing hymn shifting the colors from purple to red, take out the palms and banner symbols and raise the banners for the coming celebrations, bring in our communion symbols and Good Friday visuals.

I'd love to hear your thoughts,

TB in MN


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TB in MN, i am in similar need...i need to write a sermon based around the writings of this passage. i need to know what was going on in history and for the people of that time...any ideas of what i could do?


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I do not end the service with a hymn or benedition but with scripture and the words "to be continued" I like the idea of changing things. pondering Nancy-Wi


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As to the historic background:

The events of Palm Sunday are shaped dramatically by the politics of the day. The Romans are in power, ruling with an iron hand. The Jewish community is divided into various factions, each trying to hold on or claim power. For some, such as some of the Pharasee's, maintaining the delicate balance of peace with Rome and tempering the rising Jewish nationalism is critical. Others are in full scale cooperation with Rome, some are in various degrees of rebellion against Rome. The Romans are crucifying anyone who upsets, rebels, or breaks a major law in order to 'maintain order' (according to Crossin, there are days when 100's of executions take place). Things are tense and none of the leaders, Jewish or Roman, are interested in lighting the match that will explode the powder keg Jerusalem has become.

Enter Jesus, leading a growing band of cast-offs from the country and whipping a crowd into a celebratory frenzy (think about it- how do the Roman's hear those cheers of "Here comes the king"?). Being Passover, the Jewish national pride is soaring frighteningly high and the city is crowded with outsiders- some of whom are spoiling for a fight with anything Roman. Order is hard to maintain. Then Jesus goes after the powerful temple tradespeople and,in case that isn't enough, the very banking interests of the Temple (bankers usually are not pleased when their tables are overturned, store owners are none too thrilled with their displays being tossed about).

Sooooooo..... many, many leaders are not pleased. Most would like to see trouble kept to a minimum and Jesus is not behaving himself. The leaders do not want a revolution from the Jewish side or a Roman crackdown. The solution? Kill off the troublemaker Jesus and be done with him.

To 'celebrate' all of this we have turned Palm Sunday into a day of parading about and having fun. While I am all for fun in church and at worship, there is a disturbing undercurent in this story that needs to be brought out. How many great leaders can we name that are assasinated in order to be silenced? How often is killing presented as a solution to a percieved problem- personal, national or global?

In my worship service, we will be having parading about by the children, waving palm branches, joyful music and even stringing up balloons for that festive part of the day but, as the service moves on, these more sinister layers will slowly be revealed. In the sermon, we will make clear mention of the 'rest of the story', we will have two anthems- one a joyful march the other a more 'sober' number and, at the final hymn, we will shift our paraments and banners from the celebratory and kingly purple to reds and blacks pointing to the coming days. The lighting will dim as we end worship (as dim as one can get in the morning!) and we end singing 'Were You There'.

Just a few ideas-

TB in MN


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I agree with the historical data that TB in MN offers, but I would offer this mino (?) expansion on the Israeli side of the equation.

The Sunday we celebrate as Palm Sunday was for the Jews "Lamb Selection Day." To keep passover they were instructed to select a the choicest lamb to care for for a week as they prepared their hearts for Passover celebration. The Chief Priest would also select a lamb and lead it in procession into town. Jesus and his band crashed their parade and this is one of the sources of their anger.

Interesting and preachable - Lamb Selection Day and Declaring Jesus as the One the will Save.

We celebrate a full blow PAssover meal on Thursday evening. Complete with canting and song led by a Messianic Jew that attends our fellowship.

Exciting times to preach.

Binny


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Binny

Can you give us a published source for "Lamb Selection Day"? I've not heard of that before but, as you say, it will preach!

Thanks and blessings, Eric in KS

==========

TB in Mn

We begin our Holy Week with red for Palm Sunday -- and decorate with lots and lots of palm fronds and potted palms. Our cross is completely veiled in natural homsespun-colored fabric on which the Crown of Thorns and the three nails are painted. Then we change to white for Maundy (Holy) Thursday, then almost nothing, just a black veil for Good Friday. (On Maundy Thursday, following the Eucharist, the choir sings a specially chosen piece of music while the clergy and sacristans completely strip the chancel of all worship paraphernalia. On Friday we offer communion from the Reserved Sacrament, the ciborium for which is veiled in black.)

On Palm Sunday, we do the long, participative reading of the Passion Narrative with members of the congregation taking the various parts and the whole congregation taking the part of the crowds. I usually don't preach at all on this day; during the time for the homily we simply sit in silence and contemplate the drama we have just taken part in.

Blessings,


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Oops...

that last ending only with "Blessings,"

was from me.

Eric in KS


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I am having trouble visualizing verse 7's "and he sat on them", them being both the donkey and her colt. How does one do that? Was he riding side-saddle on the mama, using the colt for a footstool? Changing up every few blocks? I suspect there may be some fiddling with the language between the original prophecy and the proposed fulfillment. Any of you original languge or history mavens out there have some helpful words? tom in TN(USA)


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My children's ministry group is doing something interesting and different to me this year for Palm Sunday, thought I'd share it. I think they got the idea out of a magazine (I can find and share the source later, if anyone needs it). This past Sunday the children handed out notecards and asked each member of the congregation to write down a prayer request. (This doesn't necessarily have to be done from the whole congregation, but in our case it was). The congregation turned in the requests and the children's leaders have purchased colored cut-outs of little hands (like for a bulletin board). They will write a child's name in the Palm of each hand, and a prayer request on each of the fingers and the thumb. Then to start out our service Sunday instead of Palm Branchs, the children will come in carrying the hands attached to donated paint-stirrer sticks... and present their "Palms" at the altar where the bouquets of hands will be placed in vases on our altar. After the service the kids will all find "their hands" and take them home to be praying for those requests... and to work with their parents and with our leaders on the power of intercessory prayer.


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Yikes! Sorry, I hit the submit button when I was going to apologize for taking up space talking about programming type stuff in the Bible Study section... it is worship related, but not exactly on topic. Hope it was worth it to somebody out there -- either for this year or in the future. (oh, btw, thanks so much for last week! I got so much out of our discussion.) RevAmy


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To Tom in Tennessee: Perhaps the "them" in verse 7 refers to the cloaks, not the donkeys? JD in TN


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to Tom in TN -- the reference to two animals in v. 7 is probably because of a misunderstanding of Hebrew poetic form. This is a kind of "parallelism" found in many of the psalms when a line is repeated for emphasis or poetic value. See Zechariah 9:9 for the most plausible explanation. Revmar in KS


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Tom in TN

REvMar is correct. My professor at Wake Forest used this passage to illustrate Matthew's misunderstanding of Hebrew. Some scholars believ the Matthew was a Greek Jew who had only a reading knowledge of Hebrew. At other points in the gospel you can read where Matthew may have missed the point of the dualism/parallelisms.

Nancy in WI - I am intrigued by your suggested ending. I've titled this weeks service as "the Beginning", noting that this story marks the start of the holiest week in our faith. (I serve a baptist church in rural NC that is just awakening to the lectionary, and liturgical calendar.) So, do you have any other suggests about how to carry out this "to be continued" idea? ... (Next week i will use as high a spoken liturgy as possible, with antiphonal readings, songs, etc.)

Thanks for all the help

Steve in NC


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Since I'm not preaching this Sunday. I have time to work on our Holy week services. I'm planning to tell the stories from the eye's of one of the disciples and dress the part. I like to play Peter for the communion and footwashing on Maunday Thursday and I may do the tenebrae through the eyes of Judas.

Harold in Alabama


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Our anthem is "In the shadow of the palms" speaks of the sneaky! Nancy-WI


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Steve, I end with the reading matthew 26:14-19. Just as the disciples go to prepare. I may recruit two disciples and actually send them. We too have a meal with communion in our basement then I give out candles and move them to the sanctuary (last years church I sent them outside and around to the front door) I have a cd with sound effect and will play that, then soloist will sing in the garden.

Oh, Easter morning starts with a medely combination of "ten thousand angels and were you there when they crucifiec the Lord." then we open the tomb!


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Revmar in KC - your explanation of the dualism missed by Matthew is possible with reference to the donkey and a colt. However another possible explanation presented by other scholars is that it was easier for the disciples to bring the colt by bringing its mother also. Who knows? The point we need to agree on is that this Jesus came as a king - but a very different type of king than folks expected. Isn't that just like God who turns our world upside down?

Pastor John in CT


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I read recently in James Kelso's "An Archaeologist Looks at the Gospels" about some OT references to the Mount of Olives, from which Jesus is riding on Palm Sunday. Among these were David's penitent walk up the Mount (II Samuel 15: 30-31), Solomon's building of pagan shrines on the Mount (I Kings 11: 7-8) and Ezekiel's vision of God's departure from Jerusalem by way of the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:22-25).

I had not previously connected the Mount of Olives with these dark moments in Israel's history.

Now here's Jesus riding down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem, coming as a humble king. We focus on the goal of the ride--Jerusalem--but is Jesus not also forgiving and redeeming the rejection of God that took place on the Mount--and also our rejection of God?

Just thoughts, with acknoweldgments to the late Dr. Kelso.

Jim in Nebraska


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I read recently in James Kelso's "An Archaeologist Looks at the Gospels" about some OT references to the Mount of Olives, from which Jesus is riding on Palm Sunday. Among these were David's penitent walk up the Mount (II Samuel 15: 30-31), Solomon's building of pagan shrines on the Mount (I Kings 11: 7-8) and Ezekiel's vision of God's departure from Jerusalem by way of the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:22-25).

I had not previously connected the Mount of Olives with these dark moments in Israel's history.

Now here's Jesus riding down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem, coming as a humble king. We focus on the goal of the ride--Jerusalem--but is Jesus not also forgiving and redeeming the rejection of God that took place on the Mount--and also our rejection of God?

Just thoughts, with acknoweldgments to the late Dr. Kelso.

Jim in Nebraska


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I'm sorry, my post was unsigned and not too clear. I should have just gone to bed!

Palm sunday ends with the 19th verse where the Disciples go to prepare the place. On Maundy Thursday we pick the story up again at that point, We start with scripture and foot washing and then a community dinner which ends with communion. From there we move as a group to the sanctuary, with candles as if we were walking out side. (which if it is possible is very good) then I move though the reading and scriptures in the BOW (UMC) to reading 10. This year I am ending with a man carrying in a large cross. ( We sing remember me after each reading.) Good friday picks up at reading 11 and goes through 16. I have a reading done by Mary mother of Jesus, several solos and use Were you there when we crucified the Lord. Finally, on Easter, we are starting out with Christ in the tomb and in the opening of worship the tomb is openned, but we do start with the same where you there... and another song. Hope this helps someone.

I too would like to know more about the Lamb selection. Nancy-Wi


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How about this connection: We will be preaching on the morning of Oscar night. The night where all the celebrities come out and dazzel us with their costumes and popularity. I am thinking of contrasting our celebrities of today with Jesus. They show up in strech limos, Jesus showed up in a beat up 1986 Ford Pinto (the modern day version of a donkey. They show up to accept an award, Jesus showed up to accept a cross. We will forget the celebrities of today because they contribute little, we will never forget Jesus because he accomplished so much.

The question for my congregation this weekend is will we follow the celebrity superstars of today because they give us what we want, or are we williing to follow Jesus because He gives us what we need?

Some early thoughts from a desperate preacher. Pastor John in CT


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Hi ho Silver, away!

It was Palm Sunday and Jesus was coming into Jerusalem. He was riding on a blazing white stallion and kicking up a cloud of dust as he rode along. He was looking for trouble. The people that he passed on his way were in awe of such a beautiful animal but they were even more awestruck by the man who was riding it. As Jesus passed by, you could hear the people say, "Who was that masked man?"

There were bad guys on the loose and Jesus had a job to do. As he rode into Jerusalem he quickly sized up the situation and formed a plan to capture the ring leader of the trouble makers. His name was Diablo or Satan. There was a short scuffle and Jesus won handily over Diablo. He hog-tied the devil and threw him in jail.

As a large crowd of people gathered to see what the commotion was all about, Jesus mounted his horse and pulled on the reigns. The stallion stood on its hind legs, neighed loudly, and pawed the air with its front legs. When it stood as tall as it could stand, Jesus leaned forward in the saddle. Holding the reigns with one hand while lifting his white hat in the air with the other, He shouted with a loud voice, "" As Jesus road off into the sunset, you could hear the William Tell Overture in the background. Du du dunt. Du du dunt. Du du dunt dunt dunt.

Isn't that how you would have done it if you were Jesus? It's how I would have.

Adapted from "Not the Lone Ranger, But the Lone Savior," by Roger Griffith


Date: 19 March, 2002
Time: 10:58 AM

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testing for date/time stamp


Date: 19 March, 2002
Time: 11:13 AM

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John in Ct. That just might be my whole sermon for that lectionary. Greatttt....Nancy-Wi


Date: 19 March, 2002
Time: 11:16 AM

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Pastor John -

With the Oscars around the corner, and the traditional walking on the red carpet, I, too, have been thinking about celebrity. The movie stars will be rewarded either with an award, or with "air time." They'll be rewarded with publicity about how nicely or badly they dressed (let's face it NO ONE will forget that swan dress).

Liken the red carpet to a pathway of palms, and know that Jesus' reward will be a crown of thorns, jeers, and a cross. It puts in a different perspective what we think we want out of life.

We want a celebrity, someone we can look up to, and who'll give us exactly what we think we need. We THINK we need to destroy "Rome," whatever our Rome may be. And we project onto our leaders the task of destroying our own personal Romes. They are to be highly visible, perfect people, offending only the people who need to be offended (but never ourselves) with the truth.

Sally in GA


Date: 19 March, 2002
Time: 03:41 PM

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Hi all, I have just recently (January 2002) made a trek to the Holy Land and it was fantastic! I HIGHLY recommend it. We were perfectly safe. The only harmful people over there are the militant news reporters. :) Anyway, The guide was an Arab Christian and was extremely knowledgable about his stuff. He told us that Jesus rode on the donkey to represent that he was a king coming in peace. The colt that was with him was to represent everyone who was wanting to go with Jesus. He was hailed as King by the people the he ministered to and advocated (the lower class, the unrepresented, the blind, the lepers, the lame, widows and orphans, the outcast of society). Also, he came from Bethphage, near Bethany which is on the opposite side of the Mt. of Olives from Jerusalem. Jesus never stayed in Jerusalem overnight until he was under arrest. He usually would stay in Bethany at Lazaras' house. Bethany is only about a hour walk around or over the Mt of Olives to Jerusalem. That's interesting. Blessings on you as you minister this next week. jeff in co


Date: 19 March, 2002
Time: 03:45 PM

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Thanx, JB in TN. The 2nd "them" in the verse would indeed be the cloaks that Jesus sat on, but the 1st "them" is what the disciples spread their cloaks on, i.e., the donkey and colt. Nice try though, my statemate.

Thanx too, Revmar in KS, I thought it might be something like that. That leaves Matthew knowing the prophecy better than the handed down Jesus account. Not reassuring to those who want the Gospels to be accurate reports. Such is life. tom in TN

P.S., Pastor John in CT, Wow! That's good. Very timely. Compare the celebrities entering on the red carpet to the carpenter/rabbi/prophet on the green carpet. I can't remember a single winner from last year's Oscars. Hmmm...


Date: 19 March, 2002
Time: 04:48 PM

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I am intrigued with what Jesus says, in Luke, after he was told by the Pharisees to make the people be quiet; "I tell you that if they kept quiet, the very stones alone the road would burst into cheers." Is he saying that oppressiive regimes can not stop creation from being free and celebrating life. Humour, laughter, music and rejoicing is a sign of wellness and freedom. I know when I am well, I laugh and I am lighter. When I try to, falsely, be in control, or when I am not well, my sense of humour goes away, and I don't sing. The rocks and stones cheering, or singing, was a sign that people were free and well in Jesus' presence. Do we point people to times when they have a good sense of humour and when they want to laugh and rejoice? Is that when they are spiritually well? Brent.


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 04:01 AM

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Yesterday we were at our district clergy worship and our D.S. had somthing to say that I pass on. I had not thought of it in this fashion. He said, "too many of us go from the joy of Palm Sunday and the parade to the joy of Easter and the rising of Christ, with out Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. He said we go with just the good feelings without the sorrow and pain, and agony." and when I got to thinking aobut I thought how true it is. And with out going through the whole week we can not know the whole Christ. MR in NY


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 07:03 AM

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RevAmy: Where did you purchase your pre cut hands? Incidently, I think everything in worship is important, not just the sermons. Thanks for taking up space. We are doing an open hands intercessory prayer ministry and you have helped it. God works, let give her room. Nancy-Wi


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 07:23 AM

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Nancy asked, "Where did you purchase your pre cut hands?"

Nancy, I can't answer for Amy, but if you have a good teachers' supply store in your town you can get them there. If not, you can order them from U.S. Toy in Kansas City, MO.

Blessings, Eric in KS


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 08:44 AM

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POOH on the pre-cut hands! Get the kids to trace around their own hands with crayons on construction paper and cut them out. they are not as neat and uniform, nor as easy and quick as getting a bunch of die-cut clone hands from the resource center, but they are a lot more personal and charming. A long roll of red carpet is nicer and neater than a hodge-podge of branches and clothes, but I bet if anyone had asked Jesus, he would have chosen the latter over the former, hands down.;} If you don't have enough kids, get the grown-ups to trace their hands too. I bet it's been a long time since most of them have, and it might bring back some good memories. tom in TN(USA)


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 11:21 AM

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Wow lots of rich information on the Palm Sunday narrative. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. I also like the Academy Awards reference. If I use that, may I use your name as a source?

In Christ, Rev Dwight in WV


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 12:11 PM

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Hi All - we are starting out joyful on Palm Sunday and ending somber. on the 17th (raising Lazarus) I told the cong. not to take a short cut to Easter, but to walk with Jesus from the parade to the garden to the cross to the tomb to the resurrection. Thanks for the academy awards analogy. Never crossed my mind, and I'm 20 minutes from Hollywood! Our opening hymn this sunday is All Glory, Laud and Honor - and we end with Go To Dark Gesthemene. The congregation will all process in en masse to the opening hymn and leave in silence, no postlude. My benediction will include an invitation to meet Jesus in the garden on Maunday Thurs. A great resource is David Steele's Book "The Next Voice You Hear - Sermons We Preach Together." blessings all, sue in CA


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 12:16 PM

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We did indeed buy the pre-cut hands from a school-supply store. As to the tracing and cutting... I agree, in theory. However, in practically following thru, we didn't have enough time to get enough hands copied and cut out. My children's ministry leader is doing all of the copying of prayer requests onto the hands... and said her hands just wouldn't allow her to cut out that many little hands. I'm just thankful that she was willing to do it anyway. (I think she suggested it for next year...) :-) RevAmy


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 12:55 PM

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Lots of good ideas already and (for me at least) it's early in the week! I am planning on working with the title "Entering Jerusalem" -- What did it mean for Jesus to enter Jerusalem? What does it mean for us to be part of that crowd following him into Jerusalem.

Also -- am I right that the Mount of Olives is EAST of Jerusalem? Is it just coincidence that the Magi came from the east to honor the infant King Jesus and that the adult King Jesus enters Jerusalem from the east?

StudentPastor in KS


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 02:16 PM

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Rev. Dwight -

You can if you want; I'm honored that you'd think of it at all! But, go ahead and use it as your own because it's yours now!

I've thought of another contrast: Jesus isn't voted best/worst dressed; he's stripped altogether.

I'm sticking with my original title, "A crown and a Cross," We want to give Jesus a crown, to destroy our Rome, and he gets/gives us a cross instead.

With all that's going on this week, I'm going to give a ONE-POINT sermon! :o)

Sally in GA


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 02:19 PM

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My apologies;

Pastor John was the one who came up with the celebrity idea first - I just re-read the posts and realized I'd internalized it more than I'd thought.

With a red face ...

Sally in GA


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 05:20 PM

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I will be extending the reading thru the turning of tables in the Temple. The reversal of celebrity status is a helpful perspective, but I will also look further at the entry in to Jerusalem this way... Take a look at where people stand - or how they respond to Jesus in this scene. Some come to be healed and cleansed. The children are giddy and noisy. Some folks are like fans at the entry to the oscars. Some are angered at the huge disruption of the status quo. Its like all heck starts to break loose - and amid it all Jesus single-mindedly treks onward. Only he knows what he is really doing, what the mission and purpose is. My thought is that this is also how Jesus enters into our own lives - Jesus knows what is to be done, and at various times in our faith journeys we are like everyone around him in the scene - pleading, befriending, a fan, angered, hopeful, clueless. WHen has Jesus overturned the money tables in my life? When have I come to him for healing? WHen have I missed his entry completely? This week - Holy week - is a chance to stay with Jesus for once. Can I do it? Am I any more loyal than the first disciples? I'll ask the congregation to go thru the trials and of this week staying as close in heart to Jesus as possible. That way we may feel and see more deeply the profound joy of love poured out next Sunday - Easter, of course. Jim in CT.


Date: 20 March, 2002
Time: 09:10 PM

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For those wanting to know a place to find out about selecting the lamb and caring for it, here is a tidbit from a jewish web site

"Shabbat Hagadol: Finally, it is the Shabbat before Passover. This is called Shabbat Hagadol, the Great Sabbath. The haftorah read at the synagogue this Shabbat refers to the great day of the final redemption (Mal. 3:23).

Even before we retell the history of our exodus from Egypt, we also look to the future and our final exodus from our current exile which will be heralded by the prophet Elijah.

Before the Jews left Egypt, they were commanded to take a lamb and sacrifice it four days later. This took place on Shabbat and it is this Shabbat that we honor by remembering the Jews faith in G-d.

Shabbat Hagadol is similar to Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Repentance before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Before Yom Kippur we are afraid of what Hashem will decree. Most repent out of fear. But on Shabbat Hagadol, we remember the great miracles Hashem performed in bringing about our exodus from Egypt, and in appreciation our hearts want forgiveness out of love of G-d.

Like the Jews of Egypt, our heart are open and receptive to G-d’s greatness. In communities throughout Eastern Europe, rabbis would give a special sermon twice a year. Once on the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and once on Shabbat Hagadol. The custom continues to this day."

The web site is http://www.everythingjewish.com/Pesach/Pesach_laws.htm

Herschel


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 02:02 AM

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Title: The Radical Kingdom Theme: The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem signals the arrival of a new and radical kingdom. The question, "Who is this?" is a central question to this passage. A. Who is this. . . 1. that commands obedience (disciples go and get donkey and colt)? 2. that evokes jubilation (in the form of a royal welcome)? 3. that shakes a city? B. Who is this? 1. The promised king (Zech. 9:9 and Is.62:11) 2. The humble/gentle king (St. Augustine: "For those who would learn God's ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second, humility is the third). 3. The prophet king (v. 11 - in line with references to king David as prophet in Acts 2:30 and the expectation of a prophet in Deut.18:18-19. Conclusion: Jesus, the radical king, ascends a cross and not a throne (see Douglas Hare, Interpretation Commentary). *J. H. Jowett said, "Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing." *If Jesus arrived in our world today, would it not be in a tank or fighter jet - bombing the enemy into submission? Instead, he arrives unarmed on a peace mission that will cost him his life. A Canadian in Scotland.


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 10:31 AM

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I have enjoyed reading your contributions today - I haven't in sometime - I've missed a lot.

In the past our church has always gone from Palms to Passion during this service. We are a fairly large church and see a lot of CPE's on this Sunday - therefore we thought they needed the entire message. But we also have services during the week. This year we decided to only do the Palms hoping that those who miss the passion will be more likely to return during the week. As I have been preparing for sermon I began to think about what was happening surrounding the triumphant entry - other than the frankly obvious underpinnings of the Roman occupation. Take a moment and read the scriptures before and immediately after. I beg to differ with MR in NY's DS. This is a time when Joy is found in the middle of all the yuck that is happening in Jesus life. He is surrounded by it, immersed in it up to his neck, but yet he can find joy. As ordinary people we have a much harder time doing that - there are whole denominations that only look at Christ's suffering and forget that in spite of all that he suffered he was still able to create joy in people's lives. That is the message of Christ - through God's love he relieves other people's pain and suffering to bring about a joyful spirit through praising God through Christ. In our world today - even before 9/11 - we have not been able to find enough joy to bring about world peace - I think we need to make an exerted effort to seek out and find His Joy in the Journey The other PH in Ohio


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 11:02 AM

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I like this connection to the Oscars. Two thoughts-- riding the colt was a sign of kingship in ancient Israel, and the last year for the Pinto was 1980! Andy >How about this connection: We will be preaching on >the morning of Oscar night. The night where all >the celebrities come out and dazzel us with their >costumes and popularity. I am thinking of >contrasting our celebrities of today with Jesus. >They show up in strech limos, Jesus showed up in a >beat up 1986 Ford Pinto (the modern day version of >a donkey. They show up to accept an award, Jesus >showed up to accept a cross. We will forget the >celebrities of today because they contribute >little, we will never forget Jesus because he >accomplished so much.


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 12:18 PM

Comments

Homilectics Magaine 3/28/1999 has some wonderful sermon ideas on The Celebrity Christ. They can be found online. www.homilecticsonline.com Thanks for the heads up with the Oscars. I had no idea they we're being handed out this time of year.

SunCityRev


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 12:36 PM

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Jim in CT Yes! How is it that we receive Jesus on our own journey? Using your thoughts and some others posted here, how meaningful it becomes then to begin the service with music and processions and joy, addressing that feeling in the sermon. But...then, as some have suggested, to bring the sermon and the worship to a close in somberness, with lights dimmed--referring to the times our journey takes us through the darkness. How do we receive Jesus in those times? I am thinking of preaching my sermon as the very last thing in the service...walking out in quiet with the lights dimmed. Boy...some great suggestions on this site this week. lp in CO


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 05:29 PM

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To Jim in CT I too am moving through to the cleansing of the temple. It is only after the money focused and purity focused (pure sacrifices) are thrown out that the blind and the lame come to the temple to Jesus to be healed (in contrast to David's capture of Jeruslem when he killed them.) Children also join in the praise. Sounds like a prescription for a revitalised church. Blessings Petereo.


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 05:31 PM

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To Jim in CT I too am moving through to the cleansing of the temple. It is only after the money focused and purity focused (pure sacrifices) are thrown out that the blind and the lame come to the temple to Jesus to be healed (in contrast to David's capture of Jeruslem when he killed them.) Children also join in the praise. Sounds like a prescription for a revitalised church. Blessings Petereo.


Date: 21 March, 2002
Time: 05:32 PM

Comments

To Jim in CT I too am moving through to the cleansing of the temple. It is only after the money focused and purity focused (pure sacrifices) are thrown out that the blind and the lame come to the temple to Jesus to be healed (in contrast to David's capture of Jeruslem when he killed them.) Children also join in the praise. Sounds like a prescription for a revitalised church. Blessings Petereo.


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 07:22 AM

Comments

Matthew Henry in his bit on Matthew 21:1 tells us about this lamb selectionday too.. draws it from Exodus 12.3 - now there's one cross ref. i might have missed! Glad someone else has been thinking on those lines, but i got a bit shot down by my minister when i asked because it's not really taken from the text...still - sounds useful contrast... ta! Richard Bradford England


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 12:32 PM

Comments

I'm working on a sermon called "No turning back," and just this afternoon was inspired by some scholarship on this passage...the "turmoil" cited in the story is the Greek for "earthquake." I'm going to draw that out to the fact that Jesus upsets everything in our lives, turns everything upside down, just as he does the tables in the temple. Both his crucifixion and resurrection were heralded by earthquakes as well, so I may pick that up later in the week.

TR in MN


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 01:53 PM

Comments

A very minor thought. The economist Kelvin Lancaster draws a distinction between primitive and sophisticated consumption economies. In a primitive economy, there are more kinds of needs than kinds of goods to buy; in a sophisticated one, there are more kinds of goods than kinds of needs.

We live in a sophisticated consumption economy; first century Palestine was a (relatively) primitive one. So one kind of good - a donkey - had to fulfil many needs. We tend to think of it in its commonest use - all purpose delivery vehicle - pick-up truck or what we call in the UK a "white van" (implies a terrible driver). But it could also do duty as a ceremonial limousine. A king coming on a donkey wasn't being particularly humble: just coming in peace not in war, coming in the Mercedes not riding in the turret of a tank.

But of course that isn't the whole of it, because if one commodity has to fulfil many needs, it also carries many meanings: the Mercedes comes with overtones of white van.

Just musing really, I've got my sermon sorted out already!

Stephen in Exeter UK


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 02:02 PM

Comments

How many years do you have to be in ministry before you stop getting that feeling in the pit of your stomach as you anticipate holy week ?

Must be more than 17....

I found something in the Whole People of God materials. The theme is "Growing Convictions"

"As the passion story gathers momentum, we can see the growing conviction of Jesus'opponents that his life must be sacrificed for the good of the nation...we also see the growing convictions of the first century Christians that Jesus is indeed the Messiah,,,,and we see Jesus' own growing conviction about his call to walk a path of obedience which would lead to a horrible and untimely death (Phil 2/epistle reading)

I am thinking about my own growing convictions...and those of my church....especially in the light of 9/11

VMRT in CT


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 03:44 PM

Comments

HELP!!

Hi folks...sorry this is not about the weekly text...used to visit here every week, but it's been a while. Can ANYONE email me a sermon of ideas for a FUNERAL for a man who died after a short, very painful bout with cancer, and who was probably NOT a believer? Haven't dealt with this, and I need HELP.

revbarryb@aol.com


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 08:06 PM

Comments

Many thanks to TB in MN for the historical perspective. Sometimes we Christians have the idea that the Romans dreamed up the cross just for Jesus. Many were scourged and crucified before Christ and many after Christ.

I have always had a problem with the picture of Jesus leading the parade, as it were, on Palm Sunday. He had to declare himself as a fulfillment of the prophesy in Zechariah but the prophesy says "your king is coming to you, humble (or lowly), and mounted on a donkey." That doesn't sound like a man inciting a crowd to frenzy. Of course, the crowd knew who he was and the imagery of the donkey was obvious, so Jesus wouldn't have had to do much of anything to stir them up. I believe that Jesus could hear "crucify him" in the "hosannas." He knew that he was going to disappoint the people and he knew that they would turn on him. He knew what he had come to Jerusalem to do. I just can't see Jesus smiling and waving and accepting the homage of the people.

I'm thinking of telling the story from the perspective of a man on the sidelines: a shopkeeper maybe. He had seen enough "messiahs" in his life, swaggering as they came into town and then stumbling under the load of a crossbeam on their way out of town to be crucified. Maybe he had even lost a son to the cross because his youthful naiveté had led him to join the Zealots. It was common enough. This man would have had no trust for the adoration of the mob because he knew how fickle it was. You know the type. Most of your congregations have a few men like him, made cynical by life, worried about their kids, and wanting to believe in something but they don't know what. This is a man that might be reached by a "humble" king who knew what he was facing and still came on, as unimpressed by the mob on Sunday as he was unshaken by them on Friday, a king that could weep over a lost city like a father over a lost child. He might be able to believe in such a king.

Mike in Soddy Daisy, TN


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 08:06 PM

Comments

Many thanks to TB in MN for the historical perspective. Sometimes we Christians have the idea that the Romans dreamed up the cross just for Jesus. Many were scourged and crucified before Christ and many after Christ.

I have always had a problem with the picture of Jesus leading the parade, as it were, on Palm Sunday. He had to declare himself as a fulfillment of the prophesy in Zechariah but the prophesy says "your king is coming to you, humble (or lowly), and mounted on a donkey." That doesn't sound like a man inciting a crowd to frenzy. Of course, the crowd knew who he was and the imagery of the donkey was obvious, so Jesus wouldn't have had to do much of anything to stir them up. I believe that Jesus could hear "crucify him" in the "hosannas." He knew that he was going to disappoint the people and he knew that they would turn on him. He knew what he had come to Jerusalem to do. I just can't see Jesus smiling and waving and accepting the homage of the people.

I'm thinking of telling the story from the perspective of a man on the sidelines: a shopkeeper maybe. He had seen enough "messiahs" in his life, swaggering as they came into town and then stumbling under the load of a crossbeam on their way out of town to be crucified. Maybe he had even lost a son to the cross because his youthful naiveté had led him to join the Zealots. It was common enough. This man would have had no trust for the adoration of the mob because he knew how fickle it was. You know the type. Most of your congregations have a few men like him, made cynical by life, worried about their kids, and wanting to believe in something but they don't know what. This is a man that might be reached by a "humble" king who knew what he was facing and still came on, as unimpressed by the mob on Sunday as he was unshaken by them on Friday, a king that could weep over a lost city like a father over a lost child. He might be able to believe in such a king.

Mike in Soddy Daisy, TN


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 08:07 PM

Comments

Sorry about the duplicate entry.

Mike


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 08:19 PM

Comments

Ah, Barry, you ask:

Can ANYONE email me a sermon of ideas for a FUNERAL for a man who died after a short, very painful bout with cancer, and who was probably NOT a believer? Haven't dealt with this, and I need HELP. revbarryb@aol.com

I guess we're off topic here, unless you can preach about the Savior who comes doing the unexpected, whose holy week is short and painful. You can throw in "Nothing can separate us from the love of God" - what, even unbelief cannot separate us? Sounds good to me.

Let us know how it goes.

kbc in sc


Date: 22 March, 2002
Time: 09:08 PM

Comments

I'm really enjoying everybody's posts, and am going to use the Oscar night parallel as a sermon introduction. Thanks!

Thought I'd share with you my children's sermon.

CHILDREN'S SERMON: "A Gift of Palms" - 2 Corinthians 9:12 - "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." Tell the children the story of Palm Sunday. Then tell them that they have palms that they can use to please God, too. Show them their hands. How can they use their palms to please God? They can please God by praising the Lord (clapping). They can please God by helping others. They can please God by folding hands in prayer.

Best wishes for everybody's sermon preparation

-Greg in VA


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 07:04 AM

Comments

Gregg, good children's sermon I am going to save it for a dry day.

Funeral. In the United Methodist Book of Worship there is a funeral for those not of a Christian faith. Nancy-Wi

Ps. Thank you all. I would love to read the shopkeepers comments.


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 07:44 AM

Comments

This is a bit radical, but when I was writting about the analogy of a non-descript van to the donkey it occurred to me that it is often that kind of van that is a terrorist's bomb. In some respects Jesus was a bomb, Exploding love and grace rather that death and destruction. Not sure if I will use it but.... Nancy-Wi


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 07:52 AM

Comments

The Shopkeeper's Story

“He’s coming! Clear the way! He’s coming!” The who wasn’t very plain but the what was frighteningly clear. People were dancing around, waving branches that they had stripped off of palm trees or they were laying branches and coats down into the dust of the street. I felt sick to my stomach. So the mob had found another “savior” to throw out the Romans and re-establish David’s throne in power, not in the weak politics of the Herods. Oh please, King of Heaven. Can’t Your people hold on a little longer until You send the true Messiah? Have they already forgotten the last “mighty warrior of God?” Have they forgotten the hundreds of broken bodies on the hills outside town where the Roman legions marched off and left them hanging on the crosses, the bodies of so many young men, including my son, who tried to stand with the Zealots. I wanted to stand up and scream “You fools! How many more must die,” but my shout died without a sound. At that moment, the object of the mob’s adoration appeared. This was no king on a prancing white horse or a fierce and determined warrior at the head of a huge rebel army. All I saw was a man on a donkey, a man who looked like he was carrying the cares of the entire world on his shoulders but continuing on with a determined and resolute yet gentle look that was awesome to see. Around him were twelve men who were trying to keep the mob from pressing in too closely about him. They were not resolute. They were frightened. Oh, it wasn't that they feared immediate harm to themselves or their friend but it was more of a fear grown from the unexpectedness of the demonstration and their own uncertainty and powerlessness to control it. However, I think some of them might have been moved to join the mob’s celebration if it weren’t for the look on the face of the man on the donkey. Almost in spite of his plain appearance, my attention kept being pulled back to him. He was a contradiction. Proclaimed king by the crowd, he was not kingly, at least, not as the world defines it. Watching him, I couldn’t say a word but my heart was screaming out to him, trying to warn him as I had tried to warn my son. “Turn and run away,” I thought. “Don’t you know that the authorities will be waiting for you? You shake things up too much. The ‘holy men,’ the priests and the Pharisees, they don’t want a Messiah, not yet. They will hurt you or maybe even try to kill you. At the very least, they will not believe you. And this crowd, cheering and shouting praises to you, where will they be? Hiding behind their doors or, even more likely, lining the streets again, calling for your blood.” Even as those thoughts passed through my mind, he slowed down and his eyes met mine, as though he had heard every word that I had thought. “Yes, I know,” they seem to say, “but this is why I was sent.” Then I realized that the mob was right even as I knew that they were also so very wrong. This was not a man come to throw out the Romans and the Herods. Soon he would be gone and the others would remain. Yet, there was a kind of kingliness about this man. It was not in the way he was dressed or how he carried himself or anything that obvious. It was more the look of pity in his eyes as he looked at the crowd lining the street. It was the authority that was in his voice as he rebuked the Pharisees who tried to get him to silence the crowd. It was the tears that he shed when he looked upon the city. Like the tears of a father for a lost child or maybe those of a king for a lost, yet beloved, people. I watched as the man moved away, the crowd pushing and shoving around me. I watched, though my sight blurred because of my own tears. Why was I crying about this man? I didn’t even know him! I watched and I prayed, “O mighty King of Heaven, couldn’t this man be the One you have promised? Couldn’t this man who is a king in his heart be the King of kings? Couldn’t he be the Messiah who will lead your people back to you?” I walked back into my shop and shut the door. The fire for the kiln was forgotten. Nothing else seemed important … except one thing: something was missing. There had been an ache in my heart ever since the death of my son. It had been replaced by a feeling of hope, a feeling that God had not abandoned His people as I had come to believe. I closed my eyes and whispered, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Mike from Soddy Daisy


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 08:59 AM

Comments

TR in MN. IF you are using the hymn, No Turning Back, it has a great story about the natives in India who wrote the song. They are a hill people, who really face 'no turning back' if they convert to Christianity over Hinduism. They are scorned and rejected by their villages and even their own family. This small tight knit Christian community wrote No Turning Back as a reminder to themselves and others of the cost of Christianity, especially as we look at the cost of the events of the week to come. Jen in PA


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 09:53 AM

Comments

Mike great story and wonderful emotion. I hope you will let us borrow it with credit. Nancy-Wi


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 12:16 PM

Comments

Nancy-WI, if anyone can use the Shopkeeper's Story, I'm glad to share it. I'm new to preaching lectionary and to the DPS and was worried that it might have been too long or too radical.

Thanks for the good words. Mike in SD, TN


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 02:14 PM

Comments

I haven't read the posts very thoroughly (a week that gives new meaning to the word "hectic"), so I apologize if this is off-base.

I'm going to adapt the "palm" ideas for the children's message - thanks to the folks who made the suggestions.

But, I'm going to carry it over into the adult sermon, based on a joke my own pastor reminds me of from time to time:

He asked me, "have you ever done any palm reading?" I looked at him, like, "What?" He said, "look at your palms." I looked at the palms of my hands. He said, "see any holes?"

I'm going to blend the celebrity/palm,"palm" theme. My church is very discouraged, seeing so much decline, and losing so many members to death. Yet, as human beings, we keep looking for someone to solve our problems, AS WE SEE THEM (won't go into details THERE) for us. I keep trying to be as positive as I can be - and this may be a good reminder that the celebrity Messiah we keep looking for is not the real heart-changer.

We waved our palms/palms when we were still looking for the Messiah, but the Messiah we looked for took holes in his palms. And only He can save.

De Colores! Sally in GA


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 02:25 PM

Comments

Just a word of thanks to all the contributors this week: I couldn't have sorted my thoughts without you all. You're always a blessing to me!

Sally in GA


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 04:42 PM

Comments

It might be too late for everyone but here is a final thought: Everyone in the story (and in our pews and in our own mind) has an image of 'king' that drives their actions as this week unfolds... from the Romans, to the religious leaders, to the shopkeepers, to the disciples, to the children running about in the street. Jesus' image, hinted at in his commandment, "Love others as I have loved you," is perhaps the most unkinglike image of them all. For the sermon, bring in the footwashing from John, the communion of friends, the 'Trial', the horrific death, and we have, in Palm Sunday, the opening movement of a rather interesting contemplation on what it means to be a king.

The answer will be revealed next week.

TB in MN


Date: 23 March, 2002
Time: 05:40 PM

Comments

TB,

With all of the images we brought this week, what an incredible collage of pictures that would make on what it means to be king, to be Messiah. Thanks.

Mike in SD,TN


Date: 24 March, 2002
Time: 05:40 AM

Comments

Mike welcome to the forum. It is a great place. Like Sally says. It is a blessing to all. nancy-Wi ps. I am using your shopkeeper. I've been doing viewpoints all lent and this is very different. Blessings.


Date: 24 March, 2002
Time: 01:09 PM

Comments

Greg, Thanks for the children's sermon. I have 4 little ones in my church, ages 3 - 7, and they loved it. It was one of the few times that I knew we were on the same wavelength. It was a real blessing!

Mike in SD,TN


Date: 29 January, 2004
Time: 12:40 PM

Comments

Hi I think you sould give me what I ask for.