Like many around the world, churches in the area celebrated Palm Sunday last week with palms and song. At St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Clearwater, children of the congregation led the procession into church waving their palm branches. They then stood on the steps of the sanctuary and continued waving their palms in welcome as the rest of the congregation entered.

 

At Rejoice Lutheran Church in Clearwater, the congregation joined in waving palm branches and singing Hosanna as Pastor Steve Timm and the children of the congregation entered with their palms and paraded around the sanctuary during both services.

 

In between services the church held their once-a-month cross+generational event, where all generations are brought together for an activity to grow and build intergeneration relationships. During the event, families were invited to make Easter story devotionals, after which an Easter egg hunt was held for the children.

 

South Santiago Church of Clear Lake’s Kingdom Kids started off their Palm Sunday celebration by singing and waving palm branches as they processed into the sanctuary. During the service, the congregational choir performed the cantata Witness, a narrative and musical of the Passion of Christ. 

 

Each year the South Santiago Church choir chooses a cantata to perform on Palm Sunday. Witness tells the story of Christ’s journey to the cross through the eyes of believers, deniers and skeptics. 

 

At Grace Lutheran Church in Becker, the entire congregation waved their palm branches during the reading of the Palm Sunday gospel, as well as reading aloud key parts along with Rev. Julie Anderson.

 

Sunday, often referred to as Passion Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians. The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is celebrated, which took place the week before his death and resurrection. Palm branches were laid down on his path as he rode into the city.