Palm/Passion Sunday

Pastor Amanda's Palm/Passion Sunday reflection moved from joyful celebration to the stark reality of Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion, highlighting how quickly devotion can turn to rejection and inviting worshippers to walk fully through the highs and lows of Holy Week, trusting the resurrection that is to come.

You can read the manuscript my clicking the link above.

Reflection Questions:

1. The sermon emphasizes how quickly the crowd’s mood shifts from praise to condemnation—where do we see similar quick reversals of loyalty or conviction in our own lives today?

2. How does imagining ourselves as townspeople in Jerusalem help us understand the confusion, hope, fear, and anger surrounding Jesus’ final week?

3. The sermon notes that Palm/Passion services highlight emotional whiplash—how does holding joy and grief together shape our faith experience? 

4. We are reminded that we know the ending of the story—how does knowing about the resurrection change the way we walk through suffering and uncertainty now?

5. What does it mean for you personally to “continue on the journey to the cross” during Holy Week this year? 

Prayer: 

Gracious God, as we journey through this holy week, carry us from shouts of joy to the silence of the cross, teaching us to trust your mercy when hope feels fragile. Meet us in the upheaval, the doubt, and the suffering, and remind us that your love is not shaken by our fear or failure. Keep us close to Jesus in humility and truth, until we arrive at the promise that death does not have the final word. Through Christ Jesus, who walks with us to the cross and beyond. Amen.