Palm Sunday Joy
Lent is drawing to a close. Holy Week is up ahead. Palm Sunday begins the final week of Jesus’ ministry with his odd and surprising parade into the city of Jerusalem. The healing, redeeming, inclusive love Jesus lived and preached brought out an expectant and joy-filled crowd. Palm branches waved, cloaks were strewn on the ground, and people shouted “Alleluia!” While Roman rulers often road into conquered cities on mighty steeds with heavily armed soldiers to declare their dominance; Jesus came riding humbly on a donkey, followed by fishermen, tax collectors, peasants, and a rag-tag entourage of men, women, and children.
This wasn’t a declaration of power and control with the threat of death. This was a declaration of life and joy with the strength of a healing hope.
Following in the way of Jesus can and does include the bright smile of hope and the wondrous songs of joy. I look forward to getting inside that joy and hope with you in worship.
This Sunday, as we sing together, children and youth will parade into the worship service waving palm branches (all children and youth are invited to gather at the back of the worship area as the service begins to get a branch and line up for the parade). There will likely be a branch for you to wave, too. Rev. Dr. Don Gillett II will bring a soul-stirring message. And following worship shouts and screams of excitement will likely punctuate the Easter Egg hunt.
The ministry and message of Jesus is meant to bring us joy–the kind of joy that turned out a crowd of people to welcome Jesus into the city. Even as the events that were to follow hang over the story like a distant thunder rumbling on the horizon, Palm Sunday draws us into the enduring joy of Jesus’ message and ministry.
Joy and hope begin Holy Week and invite us to remain open to what will come next. Joy and hope are sustained by a love big enough to be misunderstood and mistaken, betrayed and arrested, denied and crucified; a love big enough to include all that death might destroy, and then surprise us yet again with healing we didn’t expect and new life we didn’t anticipate.
See you Sunday,
PS – Experience the beauty of Maundy Thursday in a personal and contemplative worship service. You are invited to the Historic Sanctuary for communion, song, prayer, stillness, and a blessing of hands. You can help us prepare for Maundy Thursday and Easter by making an RSVP below.
Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett, II, Regional Minister and President for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky (CCK), began his ministry leadership with the Region on August 1, 2021. Dr. Gillett served as the senior pastor of East Second Street Christian Church in Lexington for 22 years prior to being called as the CCK Regional Minister. Additionally, he has served on the Division of Overseas Ministries Board, General Board of the Christian Church, National Convocation Board and more recently as an adjunct faculty member at LTS and as Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches. Dr. Gillett believes in a table where all God’s children have a place. Dr. Gillett’s email: don @ccinky.net
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