Note: During the season of Lent you may want to have the following items available for your gathering space: a candle and matches, a cup of water, a roll or a piece of bread, a cut out of a heart, a cross and a piece of purple cloth.
Welcome
Invite those gathered to bring a designated item and use this liturgy as a way to begin your time of learning together.
One: This is the season of Lent, 40 days to remember and pray, worship and think deeply on the ways we can…
All: Follow in the ways of Jesus.
One: He came as a baby to bring light to the world and how us how to…
(Place a candle on a table in your gathering place and light it.)
All: Follow in the ways of Jesus
One: The Bible tells the story of the way he called disciples when he was on earth and how he still calls disciples today who will…
(Place an open Bible on a table in your gathering place.)
All: Follow in the ways of Jesus.
One: When people were hungry, he gave them food. When people were thirsty, he gave them water. When people needed love, he loved them — even those the world thought were unlovable and called us to do the same as we…
(Place the bread, the cup of water and the heart in your gathering place.)
All: Follow in the ways of Jesus.
One: When it became obvious that we still had trouble being faithful, he made his way to Jerusalem and to the cross so that through his grace we would be able to…
(Place a cross on a table in your gathering place.)
All: Follow in the ways of Jesus.
One: And so, each year, for the 40 days leading to Easter we remember what Christ did for us, pray for forgiveness for our unfaithfulness, worship the God who loved us enough send us the Son and think deeply on how we can…
(Drape the cross with the purple cloth.)
All: Follow in the ways of Jesus.
One: We are here, Holy Spirit, ready for your leading.
God sightings and prayer offerings
Invite each person to share where they saw or experienced God this week. Invite each person to share something — a person, community, experience, event, etc. – for which they want to offer prayer.
Good and gracious God, we thank you for all the ways you were and are present in our lives and in the world. [Invite each person to say aloud the sighting they named earlier.] We bring our prayers to you, prayers for… [invite each person to say aloud the prayer need they named earlier]. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Connecting with Scripture: Mark 11:1-11
Read the Scripture aloud the first time using the New Revised Standard Version or the Common English Bible.
Invite people to go outside and find some sort of leaf, frond or foliage. (If you live near a palm tree, great! If not, use what you can find in your yard.) As the Scripture is read a second time, have each person to imagine they are in the crowd as Jesus rides by. What do you see? What do you do?
Connecting through story
Watch this video depiction of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
- What did you see in this film clip?
- In what ways was it different or the same as you imagined as you listened to the Scripture reading?
Connecting with our lives
Engage in dialogue:
- If you were one of the people living along the road leading to Jerusalem and you heard Jesus – the great prophet, rumored to be the Messiah – was coming by on his way to Jerusalem, what would you think he’d be riding?
- Why do you think Jesus chose to ride a donkey?
- What message did that send to the people who were awaiting the arrival of their king and savior?
- The word Hosanna means “save us.” Why do you think the people shouted “save us” as words of praise at Jesus as he rode by? From what were they being “saved”?
- If this parade of palms and shouts of praise was the beginning of the week, how would you expect the rest of the week to unfold?
- Where would you have been on that day so long ago?
- What would you be doing or saying to Jesus?
- What would you ask Jesus about that day and the week it began, if you had the opportunity, and why?
Teaching points that can be incorporated into your discussion:
- A donkey was a sign of humbleness, but also a sign of poverty.
- Throughout his ministry, Jesus identified with the poor.
- Hosanna is an expression of joy, praise and adoration.
- Today is the beginning of Holy Week.
- Palm Sunday marks the start of a very important week of celebrations.
- The week starts at a high point with large crowds excited about Jesus’ arrival.
- By Thursday, Jesus and his friends are celebrating the Passover Meal that we now know as the Last Supper. Later that night, he was arrested. (An additional session will be available for Maundy Thursday)
- Then on Friday he was tried, found guilty and crucified. Next Sunday is the celebration of his resurrection. (An additional session will be available for Good Friday.)
- It is important not to rush too quickly from the high of this Sunday to the high of next Sunday.
- These are important moments to remember throughout the week as we rehearse the story of God’s self-giving love for us in Jesus.
Last week, your family was invited to think about what each of you personally, or as a family, could “take on” during the season of Lent that would deepen your understanding of what it means to follow in the ways of Jesus. This is our weekly “check in” with one another:
- What Christian practice did you “take on” this week?
- Share a story or describe an experience from this week that invited you to consider how you are following in the ways of Jesus.
Prayer
Close your time together by praying for one another, your neighbor, community and the world
REBECCA DAVIS is the associate professor of Christian education at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. A teaching elder and certified educator, she served congregations for over 20 years before moving into academic teaching. In addition to teaching and mentoring students, her passion is child advocacy and ministry.
