Passion/Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, in the Christian tradition, is the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter. It’s a time in the church year when we remember how Christ gave his life in love for the world. When the church service begins, the crowd waves palm branches, wanting to crown Jesus as king. But as the story of the passion unfolds through out the week, their shouts of praise turn to demands for his crucifixion; he receives a crown of thorns as he is handed over to be mocked and sentenced to death.

Below is a description of Holy Week from The Presbyterian Outlook

• The Sunday before Easter (Palm/Passion Sunday) offers a synopsis of the week to come and captures the poignant paradox of the gospel. From the exuberant procession with palms the church quickly turns to the events of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, denial, trial and crucifixion.
• The fifth day of Holy Week (Maundy Thursday) celebrates Jesus’ example of humble service and extravagant love with the washing of feet and sharing of communion. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment); at this service we remember Jesus’ new commandment to love one another as he has loved us.
• The sixth day (Good Friday/Tenebrae) proclaims Christ’s death on the cross for the life of the world, calling us to join Jesus’ intercession for the world that God so loves. This service also features the Solemn Reproaches of the Cross — Christ’s anguished lament to the church.
• Traditionally, no services are held on Holy Saturday. But in the evening in many churches, on the seventh day the Great Vigil of Easter is celebrated, a multifaceted, multisensory event that includes services of light, readings, baptism and Eucharist. Like Christmas Eve, the timing reflects the ancient Jewish and early Christian understanding of the new day beginning at sundown.