Next Sunday (Passion Sunday in Protestant calendars) I am not working but instead will be joining the other 'old girls' from the Girls' Brigade company I attended in my youth for its 75th anniversary parade.  This is scary.  As my little sister noted 'it really can't be 25 years since the 50th anniversary' yet both of us have lived more years since it than we did before it.

My next working Sunday is Palm Sunday, which I love preparing for and gives me a great excuse to be a bit 'whacky' and creative as well as being an occasion where I usually try to move people on into Holy Week on the basis that most of them won't be in worship again until the following Sunday.  Maundy Thursday we'll get about a dozen; Good Friday many people will sniffily not come to the muti-sensory outreach event because 'it's not a proper service you know'. Grrrr.

Anyway, the creative juices were flowing this morning and I have put together what I think is a great service with loads of dramatised Bible readings and no sermon.

We begin with Palm Sunday and I found the basis of a wonderful 'chant' in A Procession of Prayers compiled by John Carden, published Cassell 1998 page 152

Jesus is passing this way!

This way, this way.

Jesus is passing this way -

He's passing this way today.

I intend to start this chant going myself, nudge someone (a plant) and say 'pass it on' in the hope that we can get the whole congregation chanting together.

We will also use a 'football chant' style version of the gospel record...

Hosanna!  (clap clap clap)

Hosanna! (clap clap clap)

Blessed is the

One who comes

In the name

Of the Lord!

Hosanna! (clap clap clap)

Hosanna! (clap clap clap)

Hosanna in the highest!

Finding suitable hymns/songs was also a challenge - and we will be using a selection of verses culled from various hymns and songs (after five years my folk are accustomed to this odd habit of mine).  There are very few Holy Week songs/hymns but I did find these two which I thought were helpful and so might others...

This one is good for adults, thoughtful words and a solid metre (6684D) and we're using verses 1, 2 and 3 as part of our service on Palm Sunday

What kind of reign is this,
provoking such a scene?
These crowds, the palms, the cloaks, the songs:
what can they mean?
God's Chosen One arrives,
and loud hosannas ring
as on a donkey's foal he rides,
the humble King.

But with a heavy heart
this Prince of Peace has come,
his eyes awash with tears for lost
Jerusalem-
and in the temple courts
his holy anger burns:
the greedy money-changers' stalls
he overturns.

This promised, rightful Heir,
by prophets long foretold,
brings teaching and authority
both clear and bold;
the leaders whom he chides
respond with rage and fear-
they plot his fate; the crisis grows;
the cross looms near.

They want his blood, he knows,
and he will be betrayed-
there in the darkened olive-grove
his choice is made:
he takes the bitter cup
with all it will entail,
resolved to face the agonies
of thorn and nail.

What kind of reign is this,
fulfilled at such a price:
a King who freely gives himself
in sacrifice!
With wonder we recall
the path our Saviour trod,
acknowledging the risen Christ
our Lord and God.

Martin E Leckebusch (born 1962)
© 2000 Kevin Mayhew Ltd
6 6 8 4 D  (Suggested tune Leoni)

This one is more all-agey in feel and I have idea what it is sung to. The metre is roughly 15 15 13 15 and I don't know any tunes that do that!  It does a few bits of rationalising the four gospel accounts and I'd want to inclusivise the language in places (but that's just me) but it gets my vote simply for doing an overview of Holy Week in one song.

On Sunday he rode on a donkey into Jerusalem

The people shouted: Hosanna! The King of the Jews, Amen!

They threw down coats and branches as on the donkey came

On Sunday he rode on a donkey into Jerusalem.

On Monday he entered the Temple, casting the traders out

He overturned all the tables and raised up a mighty shout

How dare you cheat my people and cause good men to doubt!

On Monday he entered the Temple, casting the traders out

On Tuesday he spoke with the wise men, words both strong and true

They tried to trip and trap him, but the master knew.

He told them of a king's son who came to collect his due

On Tuesday he spoke with the wise men, words both strong and true.

On Wednesday in Bethany's village, Mary's love was told

A precious perfume was given that might have been kept or sold

And Judas sold his master just for a bag of gold

On Wednesday in Bethany's village, Mary's love was told

On Thursday he shared in the supper - it was to be his last

Then out he went to the garden and prayed that the cup would pass

And Judas with the soldiers betrayed him with a kiss

On Thursday he shared in the supper - it was to be his last

On Friday they took him to Pilate, asking him to decide:

A traitor and a blasphemer;  he must be crucified!

Then to the cross they nailed him, and watched him as he died

On Friday they took him to Pilate, asking him to decide.

On Saturday he was a-lying, bound up in Joseph's tomb

A massive stone at the entrance, securing his final doom

His friends who loved him dearly were filled with fear and gloom

On Saturday he was a-lying, bound up in Joseph's tomb.

On Sunday he rose in triumph, leaving an empty grave

He stood before his disciples and told them they must believe

Now go into the world, tell all men I'm alive!

On Sunday he rose in triumph, leaving an empty grave

Chick Yuill (c) Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd