Blessing of the Palms


Here’s a prayer of blessing on the palm branches from Rev. Caela Simmons Wood, Pastor at First Congregational United Church in Manhattan, Kansas. 

She writes: This was used after a children's sermon about how the Palm Sunday parade can be interpreted as a parade, protest, funeral procession (idea borrowed from Fred Craddock). Then we blessed our palms before our procession.”

Blessing of the Palms

Bless these parade palms, O God of Celebration.
May they remind us of the simple joys of living.
May we remember the excitement that comes with following Christ.

Bless these protest palms, O God of Justice.
May they remind us that Empire is not a thing of the past.
May they make us bold and brave to stand up against injustice.

Bless these funeral palms, O God of Comfort.
May they remind us of the road that lies ahead.
May they encourage us in times of grief and pain.

We give you thanks for the parade, the protest, the processional.
Guide our steps through this holiest of weeks
as we cry out together "Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna!" Amen. 

~ written by Rev. Caela Simmons Wood, Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ in Manhattan, Kansas.