Valerie and I are blessed to serve the same church twice. We came to Williston as our first appointment together in the North Dakota Conference. It is the town and church where we started our family in the 1990’s.
On Palm Sunday in 1996, my folks came up from Bowman, North Dakota, to worship with us. My mother’s voice is beautiful, and she shared it with our congregation. She sang an old Palm Sunday anthem which built to a crescendo on the words, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosannnnna!” It was beautiful!
As soon as the worship service was over, we quickly packed up and headed out to one of our outer points, a little Methodist church in Bainville, Montana. My mother was in the passenger seat next to me, and my two-year-old daughter, Jayne, was in her car seat behind me. As we traveled along, all the sudden from the car seat we heard, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosannnnna!” sung just like her grandmother.
There have been many Palm Sundays in my time as a minister, but on that car ride, Jesus’ words, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise.” (Matthew 21:16) were made real. Jesus is meant to be celebrated. He is our conquering king, the Savior of the world, and even babes proclaim it!
May this Holy Week and every week be a time of celebration! Let Hosanna ring from our hearts and lips so all will know the Savior! Happy Easter! Christ is alive, we sing his praise!
