Rotation.org Writing Team

PALM SUNDAY

MUSIC & PHOTOGRAPHY

PASSAGES

Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-10
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19

MEMORY VERSES

Mark 11:9 - "Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the LORD!" [NRSV]

Psalm 118:26a - "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the LORD!" [NRSV]

PURPOSE

Children will explore the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Objectives

Children will:

Older students will locate the stories in their Bibles; Younger students will learn that the story is in the New Testament in the Gospels.

Know that Jesus came to Jerusalem along with thousands of others to celebrate the Jewish Passover.

Learn that Palm Sunday remembers Jesus' entry into Jerusalem just a few days before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. This story begins the events of Holy Week.

Consider the different ways people responded to Jesus and the response to his ministry.

Understand the meaning of the word "Hosanna.”

Learn that Jesus told the Pharisees that the stones would cry out if the people did not.

Preparation

Read the Bible Background.

Materials Needed

• Bibles
  
• CD or MP3 player for music
  
• Digital camera & printer OR pictures from art and magazines expressing a variety of emotions
  
• Music selections including “Hosanna” from Jesus Christ Superstar and any of these options:
  

“All Glory Laud and Honor”
“Ain’t No Rock Gonna Cry in My Place”
“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
“If We Were to Keep Quiet” (http://www.familyworship.org.uk/fw1lyrics.htm)
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
“Ride On, Ride On in Majesty”

Ask the church’s music director/ accompanist for other options, particularly music your church is likely to use on Palm Sunday during worship!

Advance Preparation

Acquire a copy of the song “Hosanna” from Jesus Christ Superstar and the means to play it in the classroom, as well as any other music options selected. If a musician will not be available to play some of the hymn selections, or it is not possible to acquire CD or MP3 copies of the music needed, ask the church’s musicians if they would be willing to sing some of the music and make a recording for the class to use.

PROCEDURE

Open – Introduction

Welcome the children and begin with a brief prayer. If this is the first week of the rotation, inform the children that the story they will be working on for this rotation will be the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. If this is the second week or later, invite the children to share what they remember about the story from previous weeks.

For the purposes of this lesson, the Luke version of the story is the one that will be most helpful. Pass out Bibles and help the children find the passage. Older children may be invited to take turns reading the Scripture if they are willing. Invite the children to specifically listen for any emotions they hear expressed in the actions and words of the people.

Dig – Main Content

Discuss with the children what emotions they heard as they listened. Younger children may need specific prompts such as “did anyone hear someone who sounded angry,” or “who sounded most excited about Jesus coming to Jerusalem.”

If there is access to a digital camera and printer from which pictures can immediately be printed, invite the children to make their faces and or bodies show different emotions as you take pictures. If not, these pictures could be used for the following weeks, and magazine or other pre-printed photographs could be used for the activity. Be sure that there are plenty of pictures available for each child.

Invite the children to take a collection of pictures, making sure they express a variety of emotions: happy, sad, excited, angry, surprised, calm. Bring out the music player and inform the children that they will be listening to a musical interpretation of what happened on Palm Sunday. Briefly tell the children about the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, that it was a popular musical in the 1970’s that told the story of Jesus in a new way. Define the word Hosanna for them as meaning “Save Us” or “Rescue Us” which is different from Alleluia, meaning “Praise Be to God.” As they listen to the music, the children should have their pictures in front of them. When they hear an emotion being expressed, whether through the tone of the music or the words of the singers, they should hold up one of their pictures showing what emotion they hear. They should change their picture as the music changes.

Discuss what the children heard, what emotions they heard. Knowing that Hosanna means “Save us” encourage the children to share what they think the people wanted to be saved from, and what they thought about Jesus if they shouted Hosanna to him. Discuss how this was expressed by the song they heard. Most Palm Sunday music is joyful in nature. Talk together about why Palm Sunday music might be so joyful even though it is the beginning of the last week of Jesus’ life. In the Scripture, and in the first song listened to “Hosanna,” Jesus tells the Pharisees that if the people did not cry out, the stones would. Remind the children of this part of the passage as a part of your discussion.

If there is time, listen to some of the other music acquired or sing it together. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is typically thought of as a Christmas song, but certainly addresses the anxiety of the people to be rescued -- “ransomed” -- from their current situation. Several traditional hymns may need to have some of their words explained to the children, but are still very child-friendly, such as “All Glory Laud and Honor” and others.

Reflect – Closure

Close with prayer or sing one of the songs as a final prayer together.

SOURCES

Lyrics Depot: http://www.lyricsdepot.com/jesus-christ-superstar/hosanna.html

Music Notes (downloadable sheet music) www.musicnotes.com

The Presbyterian Hymnal

Text Week Lectionary Resources: http://www.textweek.com/yearc/palmsc.htm

UMC General Board of Discipleship: Worship http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=6677&loc_id=9,32,48

Wikipedia: Jesus Christ Superstar http://www.answers.com/topic/jesus-christ-superstar

CONTRIBUTOR: Kim Trimboli