Visual Arts & Drama - Sunday, 24 March 2024 – Palm/Passion Sunday, Year B

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.

For Visual Arts, Drama and Service Ideas for Lent, click here.

Additional images for Lent can be found here.

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.

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

PPT Slides (Standard): / Lent Set 1 / Lent Set 2 / Lent Set 3 / Lent 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
Illustrated Ministries - offering free Bible colouring pages during coronavirus outbreak

Drama

Passion According to St Mark

The passion narrative may be read by three or more readers. Three readers could take the parts of Narrator, Jesus, and others. It is probably preferable if the whole narrative is not printed out for the congregation. The relevant pages of whatever Bible version is chosen (or copies of them) could be marked for the readers beforehand, and their parts rehearsed. The following headings and verses of the song* could be reproduced for the congregation, perhaps as part of the service order.

*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 second verse of this song is not reflected in this gospel for Passion Sunday.

Script for The Passion According to St Mark

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 from Mark could be read (or even fully performed) by a number of readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, bystander, crowd. The Passion gospel could be read by various readers (see the separate document ‘Passion according to St Mark’

Drama Resources