Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and it reminds us of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, days before he was crucified.

Why palms?

We call it Palm Sunday because we get to wave palm fronds during worship. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey to the cheers of the townspeople who threw clothes, or palms or small branches, in front of him to show how happy they were that he came. This was a typical practice to show respect for important people.

What happens during this service?

Usually, at the beginning of the service, we begin with a blessing and waving our palm branches. The word people shouted when Jesus rode by was “hosanna,” so it is said or sung often on this day. The Episcopal tradition combines Palm Sunday with a reading of the passion story (story of Jesus’ death). Yet, coming to all of the Holy Week services will help congregants to hear the full story.