YOUNG WESLEYANS TAKE OVER STREETS OF ACCRA TO CELEBRATE PALM SUNDAY

Story: Sarah Naa Merley Mensah & Emmanuel Ashong, Accra

Methodists in Accra have joined Christians across the world to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 10, 2022.

The day which marks the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem prior to His arrest, death and resurrection, is observed as an important activity on the Christian calendar annually.

In Ghana, the day is characterized by Church Services, musical programmes and street processions by mostly children. The situation was no different this year as children took to the streets to express joy over what many describe as the resolute ride of the Founder of Christianity.

Methodist Societies in the Accra Diocese held special Church Services to mark the day. In the New Aplaku Circuit, the Superintendent Minister, the Very Rev Emmanuel Evans Essien told congregants at the Bethel Society, New Aplaku the essence of suffering in the Lord noting, “When you go through pain, what it does is that it brings you closer to the Lord”. Speaking on the theme “Suffering for Purpose”, Very Rev Essien explained that “the pain we sometimes go through makes us appreciate the sufferings of Jesus Christ”.

At the Wesley Cathedral in the Accra Circuit, members of the Children’s Service congregated in the Chapel during Church Service after a street procession amidst singing and dancing. The Circuit Minister of the Accra Circuit, the Rev John G. Bortey Jnr, who is also the Accra Diocesan Coordinator for the Children’s Ministry, prayed for the children and asked for God’s blessings upon them.

The story was no different at the Korle Gonno Circuit, where children from the Mt Zion and the newly planted Korle Gonno West Societies took to the principal streets of Korle Gonno with their palm fronds to celebrate Palm Sunday. They were received at the Mt Zion Methodist Chapel by the Superintendent Minister of the Korle Gonno Circuit, the Very Rev Godfrey Quaye, who prayed for them.

It was all joy at the Gethsemane Society in the Mamprobi South Circuit as members of the Singing Band held their annual Festival of Ten Lessons and Passion Songs. Clad in their colourful kente cloth, children from the Society performed choreographed dances and read the scriptures. Deserving members of the Singing Band were recognised for their service to the Band and the Church at large.

The Nungua Circuit had a joint Church Service at the Ebenezer Methodist Park, Nungua to mark the day, which coincided with the climax of the 5^th Wesleyan Revival Outreach held from April 06 - 08, 2022 at the same venue. The Methodist Bishop of Accra, the Rt Rev Emmanuel Borlabi Bortey who preached the sermon, explained that ‘Hosanna’, a chant which has become synonymous with the celebration of Palm Sunday means “save us now” - reechoing the call of the Israelites at the time on Jesus to secure political freedom for them. He noted that contrary to Israel’s expectation of political freedom, Jesus came to secure for every man, salvation unto eternity.

Various activities were held at all Societies in the 24 Circuits within the Accra Diocese to mark the day.