Palm Sunday: This Just In!

As I was preparing today's blogs, there was one nagging question, "Where are the Lutherans?"

This is from this morning's service from Bethany Lutheran, Naperville, Illinois.  Notice the use of children in the procession and throughout the hymn!  I like the use of palm branches as percussion.  Listen closely for it at the end of each refrain.  You can hear it better when the kids are in their places after the procession.

Palm Sunday Procession, Bethany Lutheran Church, March 28, 2010 from Cheryl on Vimeo.

Special thanks go out to Cheryl at A Round Unvarnish'd Tale for posting this already today!

Palm Sunday: A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,
The guilt of all men bearing;
And laden with the sins of earth,
None else the burden sharing!
Goes patient on, grow weak and faint,
To slaughter led without complaint,
That spotless life to offer;
Bears shame and stripes, and wounds and death,
Anguish and mockery, and saith,
"Willing all this I suffer."



~~~~~

This Lamb is Christ, the soul's great Friend,
The Lamb of God, our Savior;
Him God the Father chose to send
To gain for us His favor.
"Go forth, My Son," the Father saith,
"And free men from the fear of death,
From guilt and condemnation.
The wrath and stripes are hard to bear,
But by Thy Passion men shall share
The fruit of Thy salvation."

"Yea, Father, yea, most willingly
I'll bear what Thou commandest;
My will conforms to Thy decree,
I do what Thou demandest."
O wondrous Love, what hast Thou done!
The Father offers up His Son!
The Son, content, descendeth!
O Love, how strong Thou art to save!
Thou beddest Him within the grave
Whose word the mountains rendeth.



~~~~~

From morn till eve my theme shall be
Thy mercy's wondrous measure;
To sacrifice myself for Thee
Shall be my aim and pleasure.
My stream of life shall ever be
A current flowing ceaselessly,
Thy constant praise outpouring.
I'll treasure in my memory,
O Lord, all Thou hast done for me,
Thy gracious love adoring.

Of death I am no more afraid,
New life from Thee is flowing;
Thy cross affords me cooling shade
When noonday's sun is glowing.
When by my grief I am opprest,
On Thee my weary soul shall rest
Serenely as on pillows.
Thou art my Anchor when by woe
My bark is driven to and fro
On trouble's surging billows.



~~~~~

And when Thy glory I shall see
And taste Thy kingdom's pleasure,
Thy blood my royal robe shall be,
My joy beyond all measure.
When I appear before Thy throne,
Thy righteousness shall be my crown,-
With these I need not hide me.
And there, in garments richly wrought
As Thine own bride, I shall be brought
To stand in joy beside Thee.

Palm Sunday: Transitioning to the Passion Story

There are two ways to celebrate Palm Sunday. One is to feature the Palm Sunday account as the chief Gospel text for the day. Another is to read the Palm Sunday account prior to the procession and then read the Passion account as the chief Gospel text for the day.

Some hymns are good at bridging this gap. "Ride On, Ride On in Majesty" ends with this text...

Ride on, ride on in majesty,
in lowly pomp ride on to die.
Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain,
Then take, O God, Thy power and reign.



Here is a version for carillon.



Another hymn for this occasion would be A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth. Look for this one in the next post.

Palm Sunday: All Glory, Laud and Honor

The tradition of singing All Glory, Laud and Honor on Palm Sunday dates back to round AD 800. It was written by Theodulf, Bishop of Orleans, France.

Here is the Latin refrain, followed by a word-for-word English translation, and then the metered translation found in Lutheran Service Book.

Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit
Rex Christe, Redemptor,
Cui puerile decus
prompsit hosanna pium

Glory, praise and honor to you,
who is Christ the King [and] Redeemer
In whom childlike dignity
brings forth the godly hosanna

All glory, laud, and honor
To You, Redeemer, King
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet Hosannas ring.

~~~~~

Carillon Setting



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Choir, Handbells, Solo Instrument



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Organ Improvisation



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Michel Chapuis Organ Improvisation



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Schuebler Chorale arranged for Foot, Hand and Coronet



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Contemporary Arrangement (different tune)

Procession of Palms: Rojales, Spain

In the middle of this video, you will see the Palm Sunday procession through the streets of Rojales, Spain, complete with a parade float depicting Jesus riding on a donkey, as well as a drum and bugle corps.

The video then visits a monument to Gulgatha, where there are three crosses.  Following that, pictures of the caves.

Procession of Palms: Antiochian Orthodox in Ottawa, Canada

The Antiochian Orthodox Church is based here in North America. You will hear parts of the liturgy in English. This particular parish has some connection to the Orthodox Diocese of Beruit as well.

It appears from this procession that the service begins in the sanctuary, where the clergy and assistants process to the altar. From there the entire congregation leaves in procession, walking around the building and entering again.

Procession of Palms: Latin Rite in Scotland

Here is the procession of Palms from a Latin Rite church in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The service starts outside the church, with the reading of the gospel account of Palm Sunday and the response of "Hosanna!" by the congregation.

The congregation then processes into the church. In English-speaking congregations, they sing All Glory, Laud, and Honor during the procession.    Perhaps you Latin or liturgical scholars out there can tell us if this Latin chant is a similar text.