Yesterday was Palm Sunday and I have to confess that Palm Sunday is always one of the worship gatherings that I look forward to the most.

It’s not all the praise and celebration of Easter. It’s not the warm fuzzy joy of Christmas. It is the solemn reminder of why Jesus came to Earth. It is the beginning of his trek to his own death. His voluntary death.

We had our Palm branches that we waved while singing Hosannah at the beginning of the service. Then read through Jesus’s final week, starting at the triumphal entry and ending with his committing his spirit into the Father’s hands.

One of the most moving portions of the service was when The Reproaches were read (see below) and the congregation responded by saying the words in bold out loud.

There is something about calling out to God as a whole body of believers that makes chills run across my skin. We are collectively begging for God’s mercy. We, as a whole, are asking for His grace and mercy. That is just so profound and powerful.

At the end of the service was were dismissed in silence…each one filing out of the pews, the room quiet, our hearts pondering the sacrifice of Jesus, our minds trying take in all that it means to give of ourselves fully.

There is much to ponder. There is much to take in. And there is so much to gain from understanding and loving the One and Only who gave of Himself for us.

So what does Palm Sunday mean to you? Does your church do anything special for that day?