Sunday, April 17 was the Sunday next before Easter, or Palm Sunday, which commemorates Christ’s enty into Jerusalem to be crucified accompanied by crowds waving palms, a symbol of victory in Roman times. At St. Francis we begin the Palm Sunday service with the blessing of the palms in which each congregant kneels at the altar to receive a palm frond blessed by the priest, then the entire congregation processes around the have singing the hymn “All Glory Laud and Honor.”
In his sermon Bishop Hartley discussed both the history and spiritual significance of the day, which began to be celebrated in medeviel Italy and has spread to the entire Christian community. It’s spiritual significance lies in the fact that by participating in this ritual we symbolically join with the crowds who welcome Jesus into Jerusalem and we welcome Him and receive Him into our lives.
We are thrilled to have our pipe organ back in operation since organist Kip Smith has installed the new blower which provides the air for the pipes. We are also happy to have Kip’s mother, Peggy, visiting us from New York.
After the service we enjoyed a birthday cake celebrating birthdays for Bishop Hartley and Rudy Sasko.
We will have a Maunday Thursday Communion service at 7 p.m. Thursday and a stations of the Cross Service at 7 p.m. on good Friday. Visit our website at stfrancisavamo.org.
