It was a triumphal entry:
the whole city was in turmoil.
There was a donkey.
And a colt.
There were crowds, cheering;
that would soon change.
Cloaks were spread on the road.
Blood would be spilt later.
There were branches from trees.
He was travelling toward a wooden cross. 

The crowd cried out: “Son of David!”
Later, they’s cry: “Barabbas!”
“Who was this man?” some asked.
“Jesus, from Nazareth, in Galilee,” said others. 

Amid memories of cloaks and branches, 
below the fading noise,
some still ask, then turn away;
some see him and think they know.
Hope and expectation soars
but who are we really seeking?

Our King comes humbly,
upsetting the usual protocols of power.
It is always a triumphal entry,
and always causes turmoil.

By Craig Mitchell, 2020

We hope for a leader
who will make our world right-
no simple solutions,
no spin statements
no branch stacking,
no secret donors,

but a voice
that offers wisdom, not slogans

a vision
that offers hope, not handouts

a character
which embodies integrity,
not inconsistency –

a purpose
that serves humanity,
not hubris.

Jesus breaks the hope
of those who want easy answers.

He denies the dreams
of those who build empires

He abandons the vision .
of those who would win by force.

No victory procession,
rather, one who advances slowly
to his own requiem.

Hosanna!

Blessed is the one

who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!

Creative Prayer Ideas:

Palm Sunday is usually a day where we all pray for peace, it’s also a day where millions of people from all parts of the world gather to pray and march for peace.

Mould Your Prayers:

This week find some time to draw, write, mould, sculpt or paint your prayers for peace, take a photo of your prayer, email it to minister@gungahlinuniting.org and we will share our prayers together on Facebook and on our website.

OzPalmSunday:

The #OzPalmSunday campaign is inviting everyone to use some chalk, draw palm branches and write prayers of peace on your driveway, or on the footpath around your neighbourhood. If you do consider sharing your prayers for peace on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags #OzPalmSunday and #PalmSundayUnity2020

Creative Bible Ideas:

Lego Bible:

A creative activity for Palm Sunday. Can you create the scene of the entry into Jerusalem with Lego? Who do you think was celebrating Jesus’ arrival? Can you build a donkey? Can you build a path towards Jerusalem? How do you imagine this story taking place? 

If you don’t have Lego, can you paint or draw the scene? What grabs your attention? What mood does this story have, what colours do you want to use and why?

Whats All That Noise?!

A family activity for Palm Sunday. This activity is taken from Spill The Beans Issue 34.

Everyone is invited to practice making the sound of a donkey. Once you’ve warmed up your voices, hold a competition to see who makes the loudest noise, the best noise, the funniest noise! 

There would have been lots of noise that day in Jerusalem some cheering and others jeering. We all know how stubborn donkeys can be so you can imagine the donkey must have been making a lot of noise too.

By Pauline Loughhead

Lord Jesus, we tank you that we can come to you with our prayers for others.

We pray for all who feel cut off from you, from family and friends, and from their community at this time of social distancing.

Be with us in our isolation and aloneness, and give us reassurances that we are loved and welcomed by you and our families and many friends.

Help us to reach out regularly with a phone call, a video call, a listening ear, an open heart, or a text message so we don’t feel that isolation pressing down upon us, and help us to seek help when we feel depression or loneliness overcoming us.

We pray for all who are living without hope. For the young and older people living on our streets, who feel deserted, for the unemployed who fear they may never work again or find meaningful employment, for those whose work has closed down due to the corona virus, leaving them without an income for the foreseeable future.

And for the elderly who feel forgotten and lonely.

We ask that each may have hope that life can again be meaningful and satisfying.

Loving God, we bring before you all who are in need of your healing touch today. We pray for the terminally ill, that they may experience the fullness of your grace. 

We pray for the chronically ill, that your healing touch may be upon them.

We pray for all who despair of ever regaining health- grant them your peace.

And we pray for those known personally to us, who are in need of your loving touch. And we name them in our hearts.  May your love and compassion surround them, giving them comfort and strength

Loving God, you call us to pray and work for peace. We ask that your will might be done in every land by all people. We pray for those who direct the course of nations, that they might act with justice and concern for all.

And in this time of the Corona virus pandemic, may we each nation, reach out with care and concern for their safety.

We pray for ourselves, that by the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we might see you more clearly, and that our understanding of you might be broadened and deepened.

Help us not to box you into our limited understanding, but always allow you to surprise us with new glimpses of your nature and character

May we grow in grace that our lives might reflect more adequately your life in us .    

Amen