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A King Like No Other
Have you ever been part of something exciting where everyone was cheering and celebrating together? That is what it felt like this week when we waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna!” as we remembered Jesus coming into Jerusalem.
As we hear in Matthew 21:1–10, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to bring him a donkey, and he rode into the city while crowds gathered all around him. People placed their coats on the road and waved branches, shouting, “Hosanna!” which means “Save us!” Most kings would ride big, strong horses to show power, but Jesus chose a donkey on purpose. He was showing everyone that he came as a peaceful and humble king.
This story reminds us that Jesus leads differently. He shows us that love is stronger than power and that serving others matters more than being the most important. As we move through this Holy Week, we remember that Jesus comes to bring peace, hope, and love to everyone.
What We Learned:
- The people welcomed Jesus with joy and praise
- “Hosanna” means asking God to save us
- Jesus is a King who brings peace, not power
- We can follow Jesus by loving and serving others
Easter Celebration for Kids
This Sunday is a big day for our kids! Please have your kids, grandkids, and neighbors at the church before 10:00 AM. The Easter Bunny has been busy filling eggs with all kinds of goodies for our St. Matthew kids to hunt on Easter morning.
After the egg hunt, we will gather in our classroom for a movie, popcorn, fruit punch, and a special surprise as we continue to celebrate the resurrection story together. We have even heard there will be a couple of golden eggs hidden this year. Who will find them?
We hope to see you there as we celebrate the joy of Easter together. Blessings!
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I am still taking in all that is happening in the life of our church. This is a meaningful and tender time for all of us, and I find myself holding it with both humility and gratitude. Being named your senior pastor is a blessing I do not take lightly. Over the past year, God has been at work in my life in a deeply transformative way, and you have been an important part of that journey. Your faithfulness and commitment to Saint Matthew have given me strength and encouragement along the way.
I am also deeply grateful for Rev. Mike Love and Susan Love. Their presence among us is a gift, and I trust that God has brought them here to walk with us during this season. As we continue forward, we do so while honoring the many years of faithful service that have shaped this church, and we give thanks for the life and ministry that have brought us to where we are today.
This is a time to move gently and faithfully. We will take our time, honoring what has been and preparing for what is to come. We trust that God is guiding us, even now, and that we are being led where we need to be.
As we look ahead to Easter, we will have Easter lily order forms available on Thursday and Friday for those who would like to honor or remember loved ones during this holy season.
When I think about being in ministry together, my heart is filled with joy. I am thankful to be walking this path with you, and I trust that God is not finished with us yet.
With love,
Mary
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As we gathered on Palm Sunday, we were invited into a familiar story, yet one that still asks something new of us each time we hear it. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowd asks a simple but powerful question: “Who is this?” It is a question that echoes beyond the streets of that city and into our own lives today. In moments of uncertainty and change, we find ourselves asking the same thing, seeking to understand who Jesus truly is for us.
In the midst of a world that often feels unsettled, we are reminded that Jesus does not come with power as we expect it. He comes in humility, riding on a donkey, offering not domination but peace, not force but presence. Through the story of a father’s love and sacrifice, we are given a glimpse of what it means to say that Christ comes for us. His life, his journey, and even this moment in Jerusalem are not distant events, but expressions of God’s care for each of us.
This is a time to move through life with honesty about the turmoil around us, while also holding onto the hope that Christ is present within it. As we continue toward Easter, we are invited to reflect on who Jesus is in our own lives and how we are called to respond. We may not have every answer, but we are not without guidance. Christ is with us, leading us forward with grace and purpose.
✨ Take Time to Reflect
- Where do you see Christ present in the midst of uncertainty or change in your life?
- When you ask, “Who is this?” what answer is beginning to take shape for you?
- How might you respond to Christ’s presence with trust and openness this week?
Matthew 21:1-11 (New International Version)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]
“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Zechariah 9:9 New International Version
The Coming of Zion’s King
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.