METHODISTS CELEBRATE PALM SUNDAY AMIDST EVANGELISM DRIVE

Story: Emmanuel Ashong, Accra

Methodists in Accra joined the rest of the Christian community to celebrate this year's Palm Sunday, on April 02, 2023.

The day, which commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem for His eventual crucifixion, is considered a landmark activity on the Christian calendar.

Globally, Palm Sunday is marked with special church services and street processions, among others.

Such was the situation in Accra, when Methodists in the Accra Diocese of the Church took to their respective chapels wielding and waving palm fronds with shouts of 'hosanna'. Children were not left out of the celebrations as they embarked on the traditional street processions with singing and dancing.

At the Nazareth Methodist Chapel in the Mamprobi Circuit where the Methodist Bishop of Accra Diocese, the Rt Rev Emmanuel Borlabi Bortey worshipped, Nii Hansen Mettle reports that, members of the Children's Service used the occasion to evangelise to the community with placards that had salvation messages written on them.

A similar activity took place in neighbouring Gethsemane Society in the Mamprobi South Circuit where the young Christian lads in the Church embarked on an evangelism-laden street procession, reports Eric Mensah and Solomon Donkoh. The Singing Band hosted a Festival of Ten Lessons and Passion Songs.

From Adabraka, Abigail De-Souza reports that the celebrations were more eventful at the Rev Ernest Bruce Memorial Society where children re-enacted the biblical story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, with a child seated on a donkey during a procession in the Adabraka community. The Society was joined by the Tudu Nursery Society in Adabraka Circuit for the celebrations.

At the Accra Circuit, children entered the Wesley Cathedral during Palm Sunday Service with their palm fronds and placards after their procession in the Ga Mashie area, reports Joseph Abbey. Circuit Superintendent, the Very Rev Victor B. B. Boyetey prayed for them and exhorted them to never turn their backs on God as "those who shouted 'hosanna' did when asked later whether Jesus should be crucified."

Derrick Ankamah and Lovelace Allotey-Pappoe report that Kaneshie Circuit Superintendent, the Very Rev Dr Nana Kwesi Bart-Plange joined the Children's Service of the Rev Joseph Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church for their Palm Sunday procession. Congregants were not left out of the frenzy on what was for many, a day filled with joy and thanksgiving.

Palm Sunday commences what is commonly known among Christians as Passion Week or Holy Week, the week Jesus got arrested, crucified, and later resurrected from death.