[Editors' note: Below is a hymn written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to celebrate Palm Sunday. We hope you find it helpful as you prepare your hearts for the coming of our Lord.]
Lord, What a Parade!
LYONS 10.10.11.11 ("O Worship the King, All Glorious Above")
Lord, what a parade! The crowd quickly grew;
What noise they all made in welcoming you.
"Hosanna!" they shouted. "It's David's own son!
Hosanna! Come save us! God's reign has begun!"
They welcomed you in, a conquering king,
Yet what kind of reign would you really bring?
It wasn't a war horse you rode on that day;
A creature of peace carried you on your way.
Did those in that crowd expect something more
Than one who reached out in love to the poor?
Did they think a savior with armies was best,
Or did they remember: the peaceful are blessed?
Lord Jesus, it's true -- we give you glad praise,
Yet living for you will challenge our ways.
So may we be open and welcome your reign.
Hosanna! Come save us! Renew us again!
Biblical reference: Matthew 21:1-11
Tune: attr. Johann Michael Haydn, (1737-1806)
Text: Copyright © 2011 Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Email: bcgillette@comcast.net Website: www.carolynshymns.com
Hymn Use Permission: Churches that support Sojourners have copyright permission to use "Lord, What a Parade!"
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is the author of Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor (Discipleship Resources/Upper Room Books, 2009) and Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship (Geneva Press, 2000) and the co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Sojourners' past postings by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette includes hymns for economic justice, Matthew 25/disaster relief, immigration, the Gulf oil spill, and war in Iraq. A complete list of the 160+ hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, many with peace and justice themes, can be found www.carolynshymns.com.
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