Looking into the lectionary - Expanded support for congregations and pastors

Matthew 21:1-11 Palm Sunday March 29, 2026 Like many children of the 1990s (and, I suspect, of many generations before), I found Palm Sunday to be one of the most fun days of the church. The children’s choir would gather on the porch, where we were handed long palm branches. The goal was always a sweet, melodic procession of children waving palms to the beat of “Hosanna, Sweet Hosanna.” The result was always palm sword-fights, broken stems, and mass chaos. But no matter what mayhem we caused, the congregation always beamed at our arrival, happy to see the tradition continue. Which, I think, is where I got the idea that everyone was happy to see Jesus. Our Palm Sunday liturgical practices were so steeped in praise that I missed entirely that the crowds in Jerusalem were not united in their acclaim. After all, I reasoned as a child, who wouldn’t be happy to see Jesus? Especially on a cute little donkey? But the Gospel of Matthew makes clear that not everyone was happy to see Jesus. In fact, the crowds that sing his praises seem to be the ones that have been gathering all along his ministry, or at least this latest leg of it. But inside Jerusalem, the emotional response is very different. “When he entered Jerusalem,” the gospel tells us, “the whole city was in turmoil.” In this year in particular, with new wars and new worries, old wounds and old evils, continuing division and intensifying distrust in our communal life, I find myself caught up in the word “turmoil.” The triumphal parade – with a humble leader and the cloaks strewn joyfully upon the road – seems like the fairytale, while a city, or church, or family, or world in turmoil is all too easy to imagine. This word itself, it turns out, is a key piece of vocabulary. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Carol Prickett Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for March 22, 2026? You can find them here. Order of worship — March 29, 2026 by Carol Prickett What do we do with the Bible’s most troubling texts? by Brandon Grafius Board of Pensions expands support for congregations and pastoral leaders by Board of Pensions March Madness reminds us what belonging feels like by Brittany Porch IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Why we grieve losses that haven’t happened yet Even joyful transitions can stir grief. During Lent, Christians learn how to face the losses we know are coming and walk toward the cross with hope, writes Vern Farnum. Tending to ever-present needs: A conversation about teaching and learning grief Mindy McGarrah Sharp and Leanna Fuller discuss why grief is more visible today — and how congregations can learn to listen, lament and support one another without rushing past the pain. Board of Pensions announces additional support for pastors and families A new grant can help families with their childcare costs. — Board of Pensions Austin Seminary student James Talarico wins Democratic U.S. Senate primary The Texas Presbyterian and state representative has spoken publicly about how his Christian faith shapes his challenge to Christian nationalism.— Harriet Riley Still born Aaron Pratt Shephard writes that even when a child’s life seems to end before it begins, faith in Christ’s resurrection offers hope that every life will yet be born into eternal fullness. Writing your lament and loss, discovering God’s grace Julie Hester offers writing prompts for you to try during this season of Lent. Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America Beth Macy’s return to Urbana, Ohio, reveals a community shaped by fear, resilience, deep roots and limited opportunity. Amy Pagliarella's review explores how Macy's reporting helps readers see neighbors more clearly. A new four-session Fresh Outlook Bible Studies In a moment when empathy is often misunderstood — and sometimes dismissed as weakness — “On the Road to Empathy” invites churches to return to Scripture and rediscover empathy as a deeply Christian practice.