February 27, 2026
Dear church,
During the 40 days of Lent, we follow Jesus as he moves toward hunger, rejection, and death. We follow Jesus as he refuses to give way to the empire, and because of that resistance, is crucified. While we have just begun our Lenten pilgrimage, I wanted to share with you more about what is being planned around the country for Palm Sunday – March 29, 2026.
On the day Christians celebrate as the first “Palm Sunday”, Jesus entered Jerusalem in opposition to the greed, cruelty, and oppression of the Roman Empire. He entered on the other side of town, riding on a donkey, which was a symbol of humility and resistance. Jesus refused to give in, even though he knew it would likely cost him his life. He chose to lead another kind of procession in order to call the public to another way of living. It was a protest, not a parade. It was a public action that pointed to the core of the Jesus way: loving God and loving neighbor.
And so this year, on Palm Sunday, Christians across our country are going to embody this procession of Jesus by meeting together in public spaces and joining together in our shared calling to love God and neighbor. In the Twin Cities, that looks like gathering with thousands of other people of faith at the State Capitol at 2:30p on Sunday, March 29. Together, we will worship, sing, and affirm the core of our faith: care for the poor, shelter for the unhoused, food for the hungry, and welcome to the stranger.
For now, I simply wanted to get this action in your minds and this date on your calendars. The hope of the organizers of this event is for 10,000 people to gather in St. Paul on Palm Sunday afternoon. The goal we have set for Grace is to send at least 50 people. If you already know you’re planning to go, you can register here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/GHX_DmnmQUGseSKbB_pzkg2. Also please send an email to both Pastor Reed and me if you’re planning to come or if you want more information, as we will be tracking Grace registrations and figuring out the best and safest way for our community to get to the Capitol that afternoon.
I hope you’ll prayerfully consider participating in this, church! There’s no question now is the time for us to show up in public spaces and show the world a Christianity that is unwaveringly committed to loving our neighbors and pursuing justice and welcome for all.
In love and hope,
Pastor Sarah
Every Friday, we send an email to the congregation and any others who would like to learn more about the Grace community. The last four Friday emails are posted below.