Happy Palm Sunday!
Sunday, March 28, 2021
"On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!” (John 12:12,13)
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
info@capitolhillprayer.org
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry which is positioned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., helping members of the Body of Christ to "pray for those in authority over us" in our federal government. Our primary purpose is to offer intercession on site for the members of Congress and their staffs each day that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in session; and our chief prayer focus is that "God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10].
> > > To help sustain our work, please go here. Thank you!
> > > How To Subscribe
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at info@capitolhillprayer.org requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers.
“We the People”
“Standing United Together . . . Under the Cross of Christ”
Introduction to Palm Sunday, 2021
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
Well . . . we have all just been through a huge year of change, challenge and growth. And as we gaze back to the Easter/Resurrection season of one year ago, we can sense that our Lord is truly doing a "new thing" in all of our lives: a work of deep repentance, deep cleansing, and deep renewal. In the end, may we all draw ever more closely to Him as He surely will guide us in the days ahead.
This Special Edition will serve to set the stage for Holy Week, just ahead. We offer you a commentary from the National Day of Prayer Task Force; a clever poem published last year with a message from Dr. Seuss (!), and a hymn for Palm Sunday.
May you each be blessed as you view the articles that follow, and Happy Palm Sunday from all of us here at Capitol Hill Prayer Partners!
In His Amazing Love, Grace and Peace,
Sara Ballenger
CHPP
A Message from the NDP Task Force:
Prophecy, Promise, Prayer, and Praise on Palm Sunday
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” (Matthew 21:4-5)
Zechariah the Prophet looked forward through the corridors of time and saw by the Spirit of God, the triumphal entry of the Messiah, the Savior, the coming King into the city of Jerusalem, the city of David.
Those dwelling in Jerusalem in those days, and under the rule of the Roman Empire, were aware of these words and when they saw Jesus riding in on a foal of a donkey, they remembered the prophecy, recalled the promise, and they responded in both prayer and praise to God! Prayer and praise in the word Hosanna, which literally means, SAVE US! There was so much spontaneous excitement, some took off their outer garments and laid them down on the ground while others cut branches off of the palm trees that were close by and did the same. ‘Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
But, isn’t this pretty much how it always is? There are some that know the Word of God and in great expectation they wait and watch for God’s promises to be fulfilled. When they see Him working, they cry out in praise and press into prayer, asking the Lord to miraculously show up in their lives – SAVE US! They lay down whatever they have of value at His feet and are excited to be a part of the crowd that God is touching. Others are watching and listening to see what’s happening. They may not know the prophecies specifically, but they see what is happening, and because of that, embrace the promises and join in with the others, and are, like the first group, excited to be a part of what God is doing.
Then, there are those on the fringe, who neither know the prophecies, or who aren’t particularly interested in the things of God, but because of the crowds and the excitement they press in wondering what is going on and who is this at the center of all of the commotion. Matthew continues; “And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
This is often how revival looks from the outside. But gathering large crowds for gatherings’ sake still misses the point. Revival is not about the excitement of the crowd, or even the works of God in the midst of the people, it is about JESUS. “So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.””
Mike Pilavachi, who heads up Soul Survivor in the United Kingdom knows a bit about gathering large crowds and seeing God move in their midst. Soul Survivor festivals ran from 1993 to 2019, gathering thousands of young people to worship Jesus each summer. Over 32,500 attended the last Soul Survivor summer with five events in Peterborough, Stafford and Scotland. But on his Facebook post from March 13th, he shared these key words: “Keep talking about revival and you are likely to end up with disappointed and disillusioned people; keep talking about Jesus and you are likely to end up with revival. Our greatest need in the Church is more knowledge and experience of Jesus. Not gimmicks, not hype, not better marketing or a more entertaining show. Just Jesus.” I love that – Just Jesus!
In Jerusalem, all those years ago, the people met the only ONE who was worthy of their praise, and willing and able to answer their prayer – SAVE US! It’s still the same TODAY! As we ponder Palm Sunday, and press forward toward Resurrection Sunday, lets focus our attention on the ONE who came to BE the LOVE, LIFE, and LIBERTY of God in our lives.
Pray with us; Lord, we pray for more knowledge, understanding, and more experience of YOU in our lives right now. We cry out together for YOU to pour out Your Love, Life and Liberty into our lives and into the lives of those we live alongside in our communities. May our family, friends, and neighbors meet YOU this Easter season as we share YOU with them. Just Jesus. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen, and Hosanna!
Rejoicing in Hope,
Dion Elmore, Vice President
National Day of Prayer Task Force
Romans 12:12
Remembering Last Year:
How the Virus Stole Easter
Twas late in '19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.
People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.
As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.
People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.
April approached and churches were closed.
"There won't be an Easter," the world supposed.
"There won't be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can't go about."
Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.
"Easter can't happen this year," it proclaimed.
"Online and at home, it just won't be the same."
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.
The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.
"Pooh pooh to the saints," the world was grumbling.
"They're finding out now that no Easter is coming.
"They're just waking up! We know just what they'll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.
"That noise," said the world, "will be something to hear."
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.
And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise. . .
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn't be so!
But it grew with abundance!
The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!
Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!
It hadn't stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
"Just how can it be?"
"It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money."
Then the world thought of something it hadn't before.
"Maybe Easter," it thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more."
And what happened then?
Well . . . the story's not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
or two or more people
needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight? The churches are empty - but so is the tomb, And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.
So this year at Easter, let this be ourprayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.
May the world see hope when it looks at God's people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus' death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that . . .
Let it start a revival."
(By Kristi Bothur)
A Hymn for Palm Sunday:
HOSANNA, LOUD HOSANNA!
HOSANNA, LOUD HOSANNA!
"On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!”(John 12:12,13)
Words: Jeanette Threlfall, 1873.
Music: Ellacombe Gesangbuch der Herzogl. (Württemberg, Germany: 1784)
Lyrics:
Hosanna, loud hosanna,
The little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple
The lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them
Close folded to His breast,
The children sang their praises,
The simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed
Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving,
And chanting clear and loud;
Bright angels joined the chorus,
Beyond the cloudless sky,
Hosanna in the highest,
Glory to God on high!
Fair leaves of silvery olive
They strewed upon the ground,
While Salem’s circling mountains
Echoed the joyful sound;
The Lord of men and angels
Rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children
Should on His bidding wait.
Hosanna in the highest!
That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer,
The Lord of Heaven our king.
O may we ever praise Him
With heart and life and voice,
And in His blissful presence
Eternally rejoice!
> > > To listen to this hymn, and to SING IT OUT LOUD,go here!
About CHPP
About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
Our Mission Statement
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry which is positioned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., helping members of the Body of Christ to "pray for those in authority over us" in our federal government. Our primary purpose is to offer intercession on site for the members of Congress and their staffs each day that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in session; and our chief prayer focus is that "God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10].
Because Jesus Christ has shed His blood for all, we, too, pray for ALL, in a nonpartisan manner. Also, because the scriptures indicate that "the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 4:17), we are confident that fervent prayer, offered in the halls of the highest chambers of government in our land, can avail much for America. Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes those who feel called to join us, engaging in this strategic work of intercession for our nation: "For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." [Romans 13:1]
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at info@capitolhillprayer.org requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers.
We Welcome Your Gifts
We Welcome Your Gifts
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a 501(c)(3), tax- exempt, faith-based, ministry, dedicated to praying for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). CHPP relies solely on the gifts of our readers to continue this work; thus we greatly appreciate your help in supporting this publication. Offerings may be sent to: Capitol Hill Prayer Partners, P.O. Box 5152, Herndon, VA 20172-1970. Please make checks payable to: CHPP. THANK YOU!
DONATE ONLINE!
Now you can also donate online by going here. Or . . . if you prefer, simply paste this link into your browser to access our secure online donor system:
https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=3B77E058-983E-4415-AA4E-2F82ED1A4DEA#
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (Philippians 4:23)
