Palm Crosses for Passion Sunday

As people entered the sanctuary this Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday), ushers gave each a palm cross. Jesus entered Jerusalem amidst shouts of, "Hosanna," and the laying of palm branches on the road before him. These palm crosses are a reminder of that time. They also have a unique history.

In 1965, Anglican priest Father Alan Talbot encouraged poor people in nine mud villages near Masasi, Tanzania to weave palm crosses as a way to add to their meager farming income. Often, whole families weave these crosses. The African Palms USA organization uses lots of volunteers to reduce costs and let more non-denominational self-help grants reach the people who make these.