Introduction To Palm Sunday Worship

The Palm Sunday services rehearse the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Contemporary renewalists draw on the drama and pageantry of the ancient customs as described below. In contemporary worship, the ancient tradition of worship described by Egeria has been adapted to the use and style of the modern situation. Consequently some of the features described by Egeria such as meeting outside the church, the Gospel reading of the Triumphant Entry, the progession into the church, and the distribution of the palms have been retained. If possible the service begins outside of the church (or, in the basement or vestibule) to symbolize the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem through the procession. In the preparation to worship, the people gather around the worship leaders and the choir. The service begins with an appropriate greeting followed by an anthem such as "Blessed Is the King Who Comes in the Name of the Lord" (or another appropriate anthem or song). The minister then offers …