April 11, 2025
Popes, Passion, and Palms
This Sunday begins Holy Week, From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday we spend a week praying through what is the largest section that all four gospels have in common: Jesus’s last week in Jerusalem. We call this story Christ’s “passion” which comes from a Latin word meaning to suffer, bear, or endure. Recently, Palm Sunday has become “Passion Sunday” which opens with a procession with palms. This is because if people come to church on Palm Sunday and then return on Easter, you have two celebrations and no Passion, no Cross.
We choose not to do this. Instead, we have an old-school Palm Sunday celebration to begin the week, but have no benediction as a closing to the service. Instead, our service continues on Maundy Thursday and again on Good Friday, only to be completed on Easter Sunday. It is one service spread out over a week. Because we have the technology, even those who cannot attend Thursday and Friday, can either watch those services live online or watch recordings of the services when it is more convenient.
The central message and climax of each of the four gospels is the dying and rising of Christ. This is why the gospels spend from a third to a half of their text on just that week. Holy Week gives us the time and opportunity to prayerfully reflect on the mystery of the gospel in light of our lives today. I pray you will be able to give this central and foundational story of our faith your time and attention this week.
If you are interested in more details about this week, and the reason for this title, please read the “footnotes” here.
A blessed Holy Week to us all,
~ Pastor Todd
P.S. I have two unrelated items for your attention. First is, another “pastor scam” in my name has recently been received via email. I am guessing there are more. Please look at the address from which it was sent. If it was not mine, please ignore it.
Second, Pastor Lauren and I would like to thank all who contributed to David Ramirez’s memorial service this past Sunday, from those who added their voices and presence to that service to those who has specific roles. Thank you. A special word of thanks to those who planned and organized, including Paul Hoffman, Karl Nelson, and Andrew Payne for our music and Donna Larson for the reception. Thank you as well for those who contributed their gifts as soloists: Carl Anderson, Stephanie Blomgren, and Linda Carlson. A special thanks goes to Sandy Nelson for providing a picture for David for the altar table. The sum total of all of our efforts made last Sunday a very memorable day.