Welcome to another week! Last Friday was the first day of spring. Whoo-hoo! Have you enjoyed the sunshine? Blue skies and sunshine lift my spirits. They probably lift yours, too. I’m sure gardeners anticipate feeling dirt running through their fingers and seeing flowers push through yellowed grass and decaying leaves. The resilience of daffodils, peonies, and hyacinths in my yard always amazes me.
Pastor Dave Bell’s final Lenten service is this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Fallowfield United Methodist Church.
Calvary United Methodist Church in Greenville is hosting its last Lenten luncheon on Wednesday, March 25, at 11:30 a.m. Expect a speaker, lunch, and entertainment.
Fallowfield United Methodist’s Palm Sunday service will be at 9 a.m. on March 29. The children will parade around the church waving palm branches, just as they did when Jesus rode into Jerusalem two thousand years ago. Watching this palm parade always stirs me.
Palm Sunday hymns, such as “All Glory, Laud and Honor” and “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” make my spirit sour. Another good Palm Sunday song is “Hosanna” by Michael W. Smith. It’s an older song, published in 1993. Its chorus is a direct quote from Matthew 21:9 when the crowd shouted, “’Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (NKJV).
Palm Sunday is a little bittersweet. If we could skip from Palm Sunday to Easter, this event would seem happier. But knowing that Jesus rode a lowly donkey colt into the city where he would be murdered a few days later makes me a little queasy. We know now what he knew then: some of these same worshipping people would shout “Crucify him!” a few days later.
Pastor Dave will offer Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. Easter Sunrise service is at 7 a.m., with breakfast at 8 a.m. Sunday worship starts at 9 a.m. We would love to have you join us on Easter. Pastor Dave is retiring in June, so this will be his final Easter service. I’m sure it will be beautiful.
Blessings!