April 5, 2020: Palm Sunday worship

This is the Sunday morning worship service from Wilshire for Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020. Due to coronavirus containment measures, the church meets today remotely, gathered by video. We long for the day we will be reunited in one place.
Preparing for Worship
I should be in New Orleans this morning preparing to watch my Baylor Lady Bears win their second consecutive national championship. Every year, I take a pilgrimage with my mom to the NCAA Women’s Final Four and National Championship. Last year, I got to watch the Lady Bears grind out wins over Oregon and Notre Dame to win their third national championship and my first one to watch in person. I spent the last four minutes of the game on my feet, holding my breath for long periods of time, until Chloe Jackson clinched the natty with a lay-up in the last seconds followed by a missed Notre Dame free throw. It was beautiful. I shed tears. I high-fived strangers. I sang That Good Ol’ Baylor Line at the top of my lungs.
None of this will happen this year. The Lady Bears’ season is over. My flight to New Orleans is canceled. I won’t spend a fun and special weekend with my mom exploring a city she’s never visited.
I have had to cancel three trips and indefinitely postpone my ordination service because of the coronavirus. I am sure you have had to cancel long-awaited trips and events too. This pandemic is catastrophic in so many ways, but it’s worth naming that it also has caused massive amounts of disappointment and grief over the things we have been planning for, working toward and excited about. We all have had to let go of our conceptions of “normal.” We’re living in a world of uncertainty, and it’s really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The grief and disappointment you have felt and will continue to feel in these days is OK. It’s also OK to feel joy and happiness. If you’re like me, you have felt the full spectrum of emotions in these weeks multiple times over. It’s good to have all of these feelings and to let yourself feel them. The good news is, you don’t have to carry these feelings alone. We’re all in this together. Share your feelings with one another, lament together, grieve together, but share the joy together too.
This morning as you gather around your computers, televisions and tablets for worship, know that you are not alone. We are all gathering for worship together and we are all in this together.
-Leigh Curl

[@kerrycole6583]

Thankyou, worship leaders. Peace to all.

[@lindagarrett822]

So miss singing hymns corporately

[@Leah_F.]

I found you on the news! Thanks for accommodating your services for people across the world! May God bless you and yours! Happy Holy Week! 🙏🏼😊