Sermon on the Sidewalk

Baptized Lutheran, confirmed Catholic and serving in the church for over 20 years, I’ve folded my share of crosses on Palm Sunday.

Over the years I’ve also collected many different palm folding activity sheets for kids and families to follow, but none of them showed the way I was originally taught. So when I found a YouTube video that demonstrated what I think has always been the easiest and best way to fold palm crosses, I wanted to share it.

We have a Palm Sunday Fair coming up next weekend. Together with the YouTube video and a bowl filled with sample crosses, the pictures will make it easier for everyone to participate in this fun and long-held tradition. Folding palms is a meaningful way to participate in the Easter story and Jesus’ welcome into Jerusalem.

There’s a blizzard outside today, so the “green grass” smell of fresh palm leaves has been both a blessing and a joy.

Let me know if you think you have an easier or better way, or if you find this post helpful in your own ministry at church or at home.

7 Easy-Step Instructions:

Step 1. Trim a single palm at both ends

Step 2. Fold the palm in half and cut into two pieces

Step 3. Fold one piece over the other 3 times

Step 4. Fold the piece you just folded over once

Step 5. Insert the wider of your two pieces through the center and pull tight to form a 90 degree angle

Step 6. To make the horizontal length of the cross, insert one side at a time through the center and adjust

Step 7. To make the vertical length of the cross, insert the remaining piece through the center and adjust

One way to remember the 7 steps is:

cut, cut / fold in half / cut the half

fold 3 / fold 1 / lock

horizontal 1, 2

vertical

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