Calendar

Palm Sunday

This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Come, O Lord, and save us we pray. Come, Lord, send us now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 

On Palm Sunday, the faithful gather to remember and relive the welcome Jesus received, often involving the distribution and waving of palm branches. Amid these observances, prayer plays a pivotal role, reflecting on this day's profound meaning and preparing the heart and mind for the journey through Holy Week. 

Palm Sunday prayers typically include the themes of humility, sacrifice, and salvation, offering believers words to express their adoration, gratitude, and petitions to God. These prayers are a way to connect with the path that Jesus embarked upon and reflect on His love, suffering, and victory over death. Whether used in personal devotion, family gatherings, or church services, Palm Sunday prayers deepen our spiritual experience, drawing us closer to the heart of Easter's meaning.

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (John 12:13 ESV)

Prayer is our lifeline to the Father in heaven, the One True God. Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to earth to fulfill the will of His Father. Our Triune God remains with us through the incarnation of the Holy Spirit in every believer, made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross! The death and resurrection of Jesus was triumphant, indeed! Jesus was not the military conqueror king God’s people expected. Let us pray on Palm Sunday to rejoice in our Savior's kingship and victory!

Taken from the Crosswalk website.

Lent

Father, I confess my sins before you. May the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice shine in my life today. Bring me to a new place of obedience and service in your kingdom. Amen. 

Oil of Repentance by Pete Byma 

Two weeks ago was Ash Wednesday. Many Christians mark this as the first day of Lent, a season of reflection and repentance leading up to Resurrection Sunday (Easter). In some church traditions a mark of ashes is placed on a person’s forehead, as a reminder of sin and of Christ’s sacrifice to save us. 

In the Old Testament, people put on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of mourning—often because of their sins. They recognized that their sins grieved their Lord and God. 

Similarly, people would be anointed with oil as a sign—but not of mourning. Being anointed with oil was a sign of favor and holiness, a calling that God had in mind for you. This was an outward sign of an inner reality. If you or your children have been baptized, the symbolism is similar. Baptism marks us as God’s covenant children, called to be part of his family. The water symbolizes the washing away of sin and the rising to new life we receive in Christ. 

Today is a day to confess our sins and to strive toward holiness as we reflect on the journey of Christ to the cross. It is a time to mourn our shaky obedience. But it is also a time to dance. We take comfort and joy in the fact that Christ’s sacrifice for us paid the penalty for our sin. We can go forward in calm, delightful assurance that Jesus’ anointing becomes ours, with the promise of new life with God forever!