Palm Sunday

Monday, March 30, 2026

A few months ago, Lisa decided to join the stake choir. At the time she thought they were just practicing for an upcoming stake conference which is always low key. About a month ago things started getting intense and she realized this wasn’t going to be singing a few songs in stake conference; this was going to be a big production for a music performance on Palm Sunday. That was yesterday. Even when Lisa told me what it was going to be big, I didn’t get the full magnitude of it until I walked into the Chapel Sunday morning to get ready for conducting the meeting.

They were still setting up the final details but there were lights and microphones all over the place. They had risers forming a little stage in from of the rostrum and flowers everywhere. They also had a bunch of crates behind the little wall. I never did figure their purpose, but I knew right away that they would interfere with the primary kids singing so I suggested to Lisa that she have her primary kids stand on the risers when they sing.

It was fun to watch that. In our sacrament meeting we had three wonderful speakers and three beautiful songs. The first song was the primary kids and then the choir sang two songs. I don’t know if I mentioned it but just a few weeks ago Lisa was called to be the primary chorister. This was also her very first calling when we were newlyweds and it terrified her then and it terrified her this time as well. The only reason she can do this is because she is gifted when it comes to music. She had a beautiful voice, and she can memorize a melody after hearing it once. She can’t read music and does everything by ear.

When she was asked to have the kids sing in Sacrament meeting, she could have taken the easy route and picked a song the kids all knew but Lisa has never taken the easy way. She picked a song she’d never heard before and she put together a string quartet to go with it.

To make a long story short, she was so nervous Sunday morning that she was almost in tears, but it went perfectly. They sang loud and on key and Lisa brought the string quartet in at just the right moment. The choir sang “That Easter Morn” and “Behold the Wounds”.

We had no second hour classes and from Sacrament meeting we went straight into a Linger Longer. It is always fun when the ward gets together just to visit. I always try and get to know new people. As things were wrapping up I heard a bunch of plastic cups making a horrible noise. I looked around to see which of my Deacons were smashing plastic cups only to find Mandy and a bunch of girls sitting at a table playing some game where they are passing cups to each other. She has turned out to be an amazing young woman’s president, and she has obviously formed a great relationship with those young women.

I don’t know what I can say about the concert last night. It was amazing and so good I didn’t want it to end. I rarely feel that way at any musical event. At some point I’m checking my watch to see how much longer.

I never checked my watch once and I have no idea when it ended. They had hand bells, a little orchestra, a children’s choir, a few amazing solo’s and they kicked the whole performance off with a couple of buglers accompanied with a small brass band, including a tuba. For me the highlight may have been when a piper walked in with the entire room backing her up laying “Amazing Grace”.

They also had a slide show going the entire time that just gave the evening an added touch. What a show.

--------------------trivia--------------------

Sunday - Jesus enters Jerusalem in glory

Monday - Jesus cleanses the temple and evicts the money changers

Tuesday - Love they neighbour

Wednesday - A woman (probably Mary) annoints Jesus with costly spikenard

Thursday - The Last Supper & Gethsemane

Friday - Our Lord is crucified

Saturday - A troubled Sabbath

Sunday - He is Risen!

----------------------------------------------