Palm Sunday 2003

Palm Sunday 2003 dawned clear and beautiful in Northwest Connecticut.
The rubrics for Palm Sunday specify "When circumstances permit, the congregation may gather at a place apart from the church, so that all may go into the church in procession." (BCP, page 270)	At Trinity, we certainly have a place where we can comply with the direction to "gather at a place apart from the church". And the weather cooperated fully, as the photo above shows. However, there are logistical challenges inherent in the Liturgy of the Palms, even for a small, rural parish like Trinity Lime Rock.
For the people leading the procession, rehearsal helps. Here are some pictures of the process for Palm Sunday 2003. The perennial problem of music for the Palm Sunday procession was ably solved this year, thanks to a member of our current Confirmation Class -- and her saxophone!! (We all learned something! While clearly a sax is non-traditional in this role, the tone of the instrument works perfectly here! It's certainly superior to our efforts at "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" a capella!)
But a run-through still was needed to make sure that all went smoothly during the actual procession. The pictures on the right (click on any of them to see a larger view) show the Rector, Crucifer, acolytes, choir -- and sax player -- getting ready, and ensuring that at the end of the procession all would be where they were expected to be.
Now it was time for participants to vest, for the Sunday Schoolers who would actually distribute the palms to make sure they knew their role, and for a prayer. (Click on any of the photos to the right for a larger view).
The rubrics say "The branches of palm or of other trees or shrubs to be carried in the procession may be distributed to the people before the service, or after the prayer of blessing." (BCP page 270). At Trinity, the Celebrant usually blesses the palms before distribution. Then, Sunday Schoolers distributed the palms to the congregation.
"Let us go forth in peace; In the name of Christ. Amen" The rubrics say: "During the procession, all hold branches in their hands, and appropriate hynms, psalms, or anthems are sung, such as the hymn "All Glory, laud, and honor" and Psalm 118: 19-20" (BCP page 271)