Palm Sunday Celebrations

 

Palm Sunday is such a festive day here in the Lawra churches! It was quite obvious even as I drove my motorcycle to Kalsagri. Plenty of people were walking to their place of worship. The all had palm branches or other types of leaves and flowers in their hands. They were dressed in their best. There was a sense of celebration in the air, almost as if everyone was going to a party! 

 



 

Almost everyone wove their palm leaves into something. Each one was different, there were so many beautiful designs. And, when giving the sermon, audience participation was encouraged with the waving of the palms, shouting, " “Hozaana! A soba na naŋ Waana a Daana yuori eŋɛ nyɛ la maaloo; A Izerayɛl Naa!” After the sermon, we sang, "Hozanna!" and walked down the road and back as we sang and waved our palm branches. People love this day.

 

Later on in the day, I celebrated Kataali's 9th birthday with her parents, Dora and Razak. We went to a local spot (a place to buy drinks and sometimes even food), Matron's, to drink Malta (a Ghanaian non-alcoholic malt beverage) and eat chicken. Kataali loved being able to eat out, something that is only done a few times a year. I gave Kataali her gift, which she was very happy to receive. After the chicken was eaten, Razak asked for a sachet of water. (Drinking water is sold in plastic sachets.) He bit off the corner and then proceeded to squirt his daughter - to "pond" her. It is something that Ghanaians do on your birthday, you get ponded, in other words, people throw water on you!

 

Palm Sunday was a very festive day this year. People celebrated. People enjoyed the day. They loved those who were with them. Happiness could be felt. It is all because of what Jesus did for us!  “Hozaana! A soba na naŋ Waana a Daana yuori eŋɛ nyɛ la maaloo; A Izerayɛl Naa!”

 

 

Celebrations

 

The people of Lawra Methodist Church can teach us all something about celebration and praising God! Last Sunday was Palm Sunday. Most everyone came to church with palm leaves or other types of leaves to wave during the "official" Palm Sunday type of song. Palm branches were in a variety of shapes and sizes, some branches came "as is," others were woven into numerous intricate designs. At the end of the service, when the "Hosanna" song was sung, the church really came alive with singing, dancing, jumping and praising King Jesus.It was definitely a "party" type atmosphere. Yes, Friday was coming, but this day, celebrating our King was in order.





 

Today is Easter Sunday. We remember that Jesus conquered sin and death and that "up from the grave He arose." As part of remembering the first Easter, our church went "looking for Jesus," just as the three women did so many years ago. The good news is that the tomb is empty! We met at 5 am at the community center and began a trek of singing praises (complete with drums) and preaching. Along our 1 1/2 hour route, we stopped five times for the word of God to be proclaimed to the nearby residents. The final sermon was at the center of town, at the traffic circle. There was preaching, singing, dancing, drumming, praying and proclaiming that our God is ALIVE. Three and a half hours later, we met for our regular Easter morning service. It has been a day of celebration and gratefulness to our Heavenly Father for His great love and mercy.

 

1 Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! Praise him in his Temple and in the heavens he made with mighty power. 2 Praise him for his mighty works. Praise his unequaled greatness. 3 Praise him with the trumpet and with lute and harp. 4 Praise him with the drums and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and horns. 5 Praise him with the cymbals, yes, loud clanging cymbals. 6 Let everything alive give praises to the Lord! You praise him! Hallelujah!

Psalms 150:1-6 (TLB)