Celebrating the Easter Season at Home: Palm Sunday

Rev. Peter D. Crouch, PCHAS Senior Vice President of Development, shares ways to help your family experience the journey from Palm Sunday’s parade, to the table of Good Friday, to the empty tomb of Easter. 

The disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do. They brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their coats on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Some of the people went ahead of him, and some followed. They all shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 

Matthew 21: 6-9

On Palm Sunday, make palm branches from paper or cardboard. You could also make “coats” out of scraps of cloth around the house or old t-shirts. Spread the “coats” as a road on the floor and invite your children to lead a family parade around the house. The lights should all be on. Embrace the celebration of Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem. Sing an appropriate hymn, if you like. Wave the palm branches with enthusiasm and place them in front of a cross hanging on a wall, perhaps where you normally place your family Christmas tree. Celebrate the day with your family's favorite dessert!

This is part one in a series that continues through Easter. Part two will focus on Good Friday, and part three on Easter Sunday.