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Dear Friends,
Part of the excitement of summer in my growing up years was the weekend of Shrine Barbeque. The north side of the town square was closed off to accommodate the tent where the barbeque was prepared and served. The whole town smelled so good!
The Shriners sponsored a parade on that weekend which featured a bunch of good-sized men riding motor scooters small enough for a five-year-old in complex formations. (What could possibly go wrong?)
There were clowns in the parade too. I remember how excited I was at one parade when a clown offered me a silk flower as a gift. As I grasped the flower stem, the clown walked away carrying the flower and left me holding the straw that the stem had been inside. Hey, you Clown! This wasn’t what I expected! (It’s a good thing we weren’t dealing with chocolate. I might have chased that clown down!)
The parade we will remember this Sunday in worship is far more significant than the Shrine parades in Paris, Illinois. There was also something unexpected that might have felt a little like a trick to the crowds. During the first “Palm Sunday” parade the crowds who lined the roadside shouting “Hosanna!” (which means “Save us.”) were expecting to see a savior sent from God who would finally rescue them from Roman rule and re-establish the throne of Israel.
As they craned their necks to get that first glimpse of this savior, a rabbi named Jesus, imagine their surprise when they saw that he was riding on a donkey?!? What?!? A conquering general or governor would ride a horse. But Jesus, the one they hoped would save them from Roman oppression, was riding a donkey—an animal of peace. How do you come to save your people riding on an animal of peace?! How could God work through this man who acted in a most unexpected way?
This Sunday we will reflect on how “Lookin’ for Love” in the life of Jesus leads us to unexpected places. Our children will have a mostly impromptu Palm Parade. We will all wave palms and welcome the King, who comes to save us, riding on an animal of peace.
God’s grace and peace be with you,
Pastor Kim
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