Palm Sunday A (April 02): What is My Donkey?/God on a Donkey? You're Joking!

Bible Readings: Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a

About the images:
Upper Left: This is a photo of an Australian tree fern - it is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Upper Right:  I photographed this dear little donkey waiting for his rider in Nablus, Palestine - it is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Middle Left: This is an Imagebank free image - see my link to their site at left - with text from the Philippians reading.

Middle Right: This is a free image from www.turnershillfreechurch.org.uk
Lower Left and Right: These are free images from the Hermano Leon site - see my link at left. 

Listening Song: The Chorus of Faith

By Michael Card on his album, Joy in the Journey (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading.

Listening Song: Carmen Christi

By Michael Card on his album, The Final Word (pictured at right). It is a sung version of the Philippians reading.

Kid's Story: The Donkey's Tale

By Margaret Gray, Scripture Union, 1984, ISBN 0862012414 (pictured at left). This is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: Look He's Coming

Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910915, page 71 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: Not Quite What I Expected

Found in Let's Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 56 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Poem: Psalm 118:22

Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Summer section under Psalm 118:22.

Response Activity: What is my donkey?
The following is a response to a reflection/sermon which concentrates on the gift of the donkey owner and what sort of gifts we have which we have the option of using to further God's work in the world.  Give everyone a small business card with a Palm Sunday illustration on it together with the words: What is my donkey?  Give people time to think about their gifts and talents and how they use them to further God's kingdom. 

Response Activity: Towards the Cross

Found in  Multi-Sensory Seasons by Wendy Rayner and Annie Slade, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271757, page 78 (pictured at right).  Heaps of great stuff based on the gospel reading.  I will be using this book a fair bit this year as I prepare DIY services for people stuck at home.

Prayer for Others: Ride on, Ride on.

From Stages on the Way by the Wild Goose Worship Group, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 78 (pictured at left).  This prayer is linked with the gospel reading.

Also:

Story Plus Other Stuff: Roxsanne Makes Good   

Found in Wally and the Dodgy Trolley and Other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 37 (pictured at right).  This story is based on a verse in the Psalm.

Resources for Psalm/Passion Sunday
By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, ISBN 1901557871, pages 124-135 (pictured at left).

Complete at Home Service written for those in Covid19  lock down using some of the above resources:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!ArWFF7A3pipHqXNusxO0gfb45zAd?e=i8rlR3

Sermon ideas: Making Room For the Little People

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 204 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Gospel reading. 

Service Starter: Coming as a Servant

Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 40 (pictured at left).

Also

Passion Sunday:

Drama: This Signal

Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 27 (pictured above). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: Dangerous Donkey

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 76ff.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Discussion: Justice and True worship

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 151. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

Words for Lent: A Time to Die

By Maria I. Tirrabassi and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 53. Based on the Matthew reading.

Have You Ever?

Found in Welcome Mat:  A Resource for Opening the Bible with Children, Families and Teens by Beth Barnett, Scripture Union, Victoria, 2010, pages 42 (small group resources), 42 (preschool resources), 126 (adult resources), 48 and 151 (dramas).

Based on the Matthew reading.