Millions of Christians mark Palm Sunday at home

In lieu of traditional processions and
services at church, millions of Christians
around the world are marking Palm Sunday
at home under lockdown due to
coronavirus.
The Church of England has been
encouraging Christians to cut out their own
paper or card ‘palm’ crosses and display
them in their windows to mark the
occasion, which commemorates Jesus’
triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the
start of Holy Week and Easter.
Churches forced to close their doors
because of the lockdown will instead be
broadcasting their sermons online.
The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker,
was leading the Church of England’s
national virtual Palm Sunday service at
9am on the Church of England’s Facebook
page and Church of England website , with
readings from the Archdeacon of
Manchester, Karen Lund and prayers by
Lucy Hargraves from St Peter’s Church in
Bolton.
In his sermon, Bishop Walker recalled the
strength and mutual support shown by the
city of Manchester in the wake of the
terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert
in 2017.
He was reflecting on the importance of
drawing strength from events that bring
people together, like virtual church services
and the #ClapForCarers campaign to thank
NHS workers.
“In this time of social, or more accurately
physical, distancing, the ways in which we
can come together matter even more,” he
said.
“It wasn’t only our health workers who took
strength from that recent evening when so
many emerged from their front doors to
offer a round of applause.
“Each might only have been able to see or
hear at most a handful of others, but
everyone knew that this was something
huge – a mighty crowd.”
Similarly, the Methodist Church has
released a range of resources to help
Christians mark Holy Week at home,
including a downloadable poster to witness
to neighbours and a number of activities
for children.
These include ‘Holy Week in a Box’, which
suggests families make palm leaves from
whatever materials are to hand and place
these along with Scripture or a Jesus
figurine in a box.
Young Church members are also being
encouraged to write a reflective
journal over the course of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday services are being
livestreamed from a number of Methodist
Churches, including Methodist Central
Hall in London.
The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB)
has also released resources for Holy
Week. Its President Elect, Yinka Oyekan,
will be hosting a free online Easter
conference starting on Palm Sunday, with
guest speakers including Bethel Church’s
Bill Johnson, Evangelical Alliance CEO
Gavin Calver and New Wine National
Leader Paul Harcourt.
For further reflection throughout the week,
Launde Abbey in Leicestershire is offering
a free online Holy Week retreat.