Palm fronds, music usher in Holy Week
By Soumitro Sen, soumitros@theunion.com
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12:01 a.m. PT Mar 15, 2008
With Palm Sunday this weekend, many churches in Nevada County are set to usher in the Holy Week - the seven days leading to Easter - with special services, palm branches, music and stories about the last days of Jesus.
Palm Sunday commemorates the Biblical event of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion. It's an occasion celebrated today by most traditional Christian denominations, local pastors said.
"In ancient times, palms were a symbol of mortality as well as victory," said the Rev. Sylvester Kwiatkowski of St. Patrick's Church in Grass Valley. "People in Jerusalem were holding palms to welcome Jesus as their king.
"For us, 2,000 years later on Palm Sunday, we emphasize the kingship of Jesus, as the king of our hearts, as the one who's able to free us from sins."
"On Palm Sunday, Lutherans take the opportunity to do an overview of the entire (Holy) week," said Rev. Richard Johnson, of Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley. "We hear the story of Christ's entry into Jerusalem, but we also hear the passion narrative from one of the gospels. This year, it's going to be from the Gospel of Matthew."
During the Palm Sunday service, "we do a procession with people holding little crosses of palm fronds. Then we have some bigger palm fronds which are a part of the church decorations," Johnson said.
Peace Lutheran is expecting 250 to 300 people this Sunday at its two morning services, Johnson said.
At Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Grass Valley, the clergy will dress in red during the Palm Sunday service, said interim rector Father Phil Reinheimer. Palm frond crosses will be distributed to the congregation and lectors will read about the passion of Christ, Reinheimer said.
In addition, the congregation will receive Holy Communion at the end of the service, Reinheimer added.
Reinheimer estimated that the two services this Sunday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church would be attended by 200 to 250 people.
Palm fronds also will be used at St. Patrick's Church during Palm Sunday services - one Mass this evening and three Masses on Sunday morning, Kwiatkowski said. At least 300 to 400 people will attend each service, he added.
Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem, however, "isn't the heart of the story" that's celebrated on Palm Sunday, Johnson said.
"The real heart of the story is what happened later in the week with the Last Supper, the crucifixion and the resurrection," Johnson said.
To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail ssen@theunion.com or call 477-4229.
