Visual Arts & Drama - Sunday, 2 April 2023 – Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday, Year A

PALM OR OTHER BRANCHES

It is traditional to decorate the church with palm branches on this day. However in some areas, palm branches may be difficult to find. Only John’s gospel explicitly mentions ‘palm’ branches, so branches of other local trees are just as appropriate.

FLOWERS

Arrangements with palm leaves and violet flowers could be used.

Altar Colour: Violet

Images for This Week's Readings and Sermons

You can access excellent examples of church art relevant to each season of the Church year on the Visual Arts website. The image displayed on these service preparation pages was created by Leanne Stahl and Robyn Pfeiffer.

PPT Slides (Widescreen): / Palm Sunday Set 1 / Palm Sunday Set 2 / Palm Sunday Set 3 / Palm Sunday Set 4

PPT Slides (Standard): / Palm Sunday Set 1 / Palm Sunday Set 2 / Palm Sunday Set 3 / Palm Sunday Set 4

Simply download your preferred slides and copy the liturgy and songs into each slide.

Recommended Sources for Images

His Word in Pictures
Heartlight.org
Unsplash.com
Refreshed Art Designs
freebibleimages.org
Agnus Day

Drama

The Passion According to St Matthew is a dramatised reading of the gospel for use on Passion Sunday, Year A, interspersed with verses of ATO 335 ‘And we stood right there’ by Leigh Newton* (Matthew 26:14 – 27:66). It may be used for the Gospel reading in the Passion part of the service.

*Note: Leigh Newton has given his permission for the words of his song ‘And we stood right there’ (All Together OK 335) to be reprinted for this use. Please mark all reproductions as ‘(c) Leigh Newton 1993. Used with permission.’ The first two verses of this song are not reflected in this gospel for Passion Sunday, but verse 1 could be used earlier in the service in connection with the Palm procession.

For the script, click here.

Dramatising the Readings

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer.

For instance, the Palm gospel could be read (or even fully performed) by a number of readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, voice of prophet, crowd.

 

Drama Resources