what does mary have to do with palm sunday?

We decided to try the week 3 church again this week. The first time we visited there was a guest preacher. We also went to the traditional service. This time we went to the contemporary service – which we were told would have more kids, and indeed it did. It was Palm Sunday so you never know what to expect. Will the church have a normal service or does the church do something extra special that day? From what I could tell this church had a little of each.

We got to see the interim pastor on Sunday, who was not there the first time we visited. He looks like Barney Frank, a House Democrat in Massachusetts, and if we heard him the first week we may not have come back. His sermon - certainly nothing to write home about. Even his closing words left us unsure if the service was really over besides the fact that the congregation got up and began conversing with the people around them.

There were a few odd things to note. First, the church is having a dramatic reading for their Good Friday service. Nothing unusual there, except that it was noted in the bulletin and by the pastor that Mary of Magdala - one of the dramatic people being betrayed - is believed by some to have been the wife of Jesus. A common misconception by Christian skeptics and Da Vinci Code enthusiasts at best, it was no place to bring up such an idea. Also odd was the fact that the pastor kept saying “common era” (C.E.), also a phrase used by people who can’t stand the phrase A.D., a Christian calendar that the Western world still uses today.

There was still some liturgy, which Jess and I both like. A common prayer was said aloud by everyone. There was also a good skit that was put on by the kids at the church, and a song by the praise band. All-in-all we still like the church, but some concerns were raised at this service. If the concerns are common practice we will probably move on, if not we do really like the church.