Early last Sunday morning, 10th April, members of the Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches gathered at The Trough in The Valley to observe the annual Palm Sunday Service and procession.
The event is accustomed to be held on the Sunday before Easter to commemorate the jubilant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, over two thousand years ago.
The clergy involved in the Palm Sunday service were Methodist Minister, Rev. Wilmoth Hodge, Anglican Priest, Canon Reid Simon, and Fr. Xuan Ho of the Roman Catholic Church.
Rev. Hodge led the congregation in the reciting of a special Palm Sunday worship script: “Honour praise and glory are yours, Almighty God, now and forever. In celebration we join the crowds of old, waving branches, giving honour to the Messiah. Yet, our celebration is bitter-sweet for our story does not end here. We know the pain of what lies ahead. Today anticipates the rest of the story – a story of betrayal and death – a story of hope and resurrection.”
Canon Simon then led the congregants in prayer. He prayed: “As we face your death and recall the week of your suffering, may we do so with the confidence to turn to you in both life and death, Amen.”
After that, cheerful singing filled the air, as “All Glory Laud and Honour” and “Give me Oil in my Lamp” were sung by all. Then, Rev. Hodge delivered a brief sermon which reflected of the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Following the short sermon, palm branches were blessed by Fr. Xuan Ho. They were then distributed to the congregants. Small crosses fashioned from the branches were also distributed.
The members of the three churches then took to the street in a procession that led them to their respective Palm Sunday church services.
