PALM SUNDAY:

Meet today's cast...
BAAARTLY: A sheep who just follows the ideas of the other animals.	BOO: A "sheepish" sheep who is very nervous, easily worried, and bashful.	HOWIE: A "Cool/Hip" Cow
CAMILLE: Female camel who is like Clyde and rather snobby acting.	CLYDE: Male camel who thinks he is self-important and superior to the other animals.	POKEY: A peaceful donkey, very slow-talking, non-judgmental.

FR. JOE: Good Morning! I’m happy to be with you again. Do you remember the last time we were here and what the PUPPET PULPIT PASSWORD was?

KIDS: Prayer!

FR. JOE: Now, who knows what today is called?

KIDS: Palm Sunday!

FR. JOE: Yes! The opening song was about the “Children of Jerusalem” welcoming Jesus. Children were so special to Jesus. Remember the song we learned in sign language a couple of weeks ago called Jesus Loves Me…….

CLYDE: WAIT!! WAIT!!! WAIT!!! Wait a minute….Children, children, children! Camille, did you hear that song?

CAMILLE: Yes, I did, Clyde. What about the animals?

BAAARTLEY: Jesus is our friend too, isn’t he, BOO.

BOO: (jumps back like he is surprised) Yes, He’s our friend and…and….and I hope He loves us!

HOWIE: Yo, Fr. Joe….was’ up? It’s like… we feel like…left out! (Looks out at all the boys and girls) WOAH! Look at all those faces? Like…are there any animal dudes or dudettes out there?

FR. JOE: No, there aren’t, but let me introduce all of you—Clyde and Camille, BAAAARTLEY and BOO (Boo jumps)—you can see why they call him BOO--and Howie..Now, Jesus loves children and He loves all of you. On Palm Sunday, didn’t He ride into Jerusalem on an ANIMAL?

CLYDE: Yes, ….but WHO ON EARTH would have chosen a dumb ole donkey to carry Jesus on that special day? A camel should have carried him. After all, my camel cousins carried the Wise Men.

CAMILLE: Yes, the Wise Men were kings and Jesus was like a King to the people. A camel could have carried Jesus high in the air so people could look up at him.

HOWIE: Yo, big bumpy ones! People’s necks would hurt if Jesus was ridin on one of you! Besides, if a palm leaf hit ya in the head, you animals have been known to spit! YUCK! You may have carried the Wise Men but Jesus was born in MY crib, I mean my house—you know, the stable! So, a cow should have been chosen.

FR. JOE: WOAH!! Aren’t you missing the point of Palm Sunday? The people cheered Jesus as their King. He was like a shepherd and they followed him…..

BAAARTLEY: There ya go!—He was like a shepherd…..A shepherd has sheep. BOO (Boo jumps) and I are sheep, therefore, Jesus should have ridden on a sheep.

FR. JOE: No, no, no! Jesus wanted to show people that He loved them, that He was coming in peace, and…..He also knew something terrible was going to happen to him, but he kept riding through the crowds on the donkey.

HOWIE: Yo, dude, I mean Fr. Joe—That’s ANOTHER reason a donkey should NOT have been chosen……like…How could He escape on pokey ole’ long ears!

CLYDE: That’s ANOTHER reason A CAMEL should have been chosen. I just don’t understand WHO could have chosen THAT animal?

CAMILLE: Yes, we camels can run fast, run for days, walk on sand without sinking in, can cross rocky deserts, and can survive for many days without drinking water!

HOWIE: WOAH….tall girl....How could Jesus survive without water? ..No Poland Spring water bottles in those days. Now, us cows don’t run fast but we can kick forward and out to the sides, and swat people on the heads with our tails! WE could have kept the enemies away from Jesus!

FR. JOE: No, no, no! That wouldn’t work!

BAARTLEY: Thaaat’s right! A FLOCK of sheep would come to the rescue. When danger comes our way SHEEP flock together in a big pack, right BOO?

BOO: (jumps) Yeah, we could SURROUND Jesus from his enemies. The person who chose that donkey should have thought about that!

FR. JOE: Oh, my goodness! LISTEN UP, my 4-footed friends!

HOWIE: Woah, Fr. Joe…CHILL! I guess there’s too much rappin’ and not enough thinkin’ goin’ on! Where’s Long-Ears, anyway—and I don’t mean the Easter bunny.

FR. JOE: He’s out back and I think we need to give Pokey a chance to speak. Pokey—that’s his REAL name—can you come here, please

Pokey s..l..o..w..l..y enters.

POKEY: (talks slowly—in a Southern accent) Hi there! I heard y’all arguin’ about what animal shoulda’carried Jesus and then wonderin’ who chose a donkey. Well, this is what happened……On Palm Sunday everyone heard a king was comin’…Jesus was His name. He was special. One of my kin-folk and his mama were chompin’ on some hay. 2 men came & started untying the rope around him! The owner ran up and said, “What do ya think y’all doin with my donkey?” One of the men said, “Sir, the LORD needs him”….so, you see, my friends, …JESUS was the one who chose the donkey.

(the other animals gasp!)

BAAARTLY: JESUS chose the donkey! But why?

POKEY: Well, one of Jesus’ friends whispered in that donkey’s ear and said, “Little one, some of these people think Jesus should ride into Jerusalem on a big white horse..but He chose you.”

FR. JOE: Even though Jesus didn’t choose a camel, a sheep, or a cow doesn’t mean you are not special. You just have your own gifts! A donkey was thought to be peaceful, gentle, and was called a “beast of burden”. Wasn’t Jesus like that?

BOO: Well, He was peaceful and gentle but—what’s a burden?

FR. JOE: Well, a donkey is able to carry heavy loads on his back.

CAMILLE: Oh, I get it! Jesus chose the donkey to show everyone that He was the one who would carry their burdens…like their troubles, mistakes, or problems on His back.

CLYDE: Well, that certainly shows a lot of love.

FR. JOE: Yes, That’s called UNCONDITIONAL LOVE—Jesus loves you just the way you are! Think about it…don’t animals show unconditional love to their owners? They never look at their faults or mistakes, so you shouldn’t be doing it to each other.

HOWIE: Yo, Fr. Joe! Jesus wanted to show his peace and love to everyone. Like…he knew somethin’ was gonna’ happen but He didn’t need me, or the big bumpy ones, or the wooly ones because..like….He wasn’t gonna run, was He?

BOO: Bu…bu….bu. butttt, where was Jesus going?

FR. JOE: (While Fr. Joe is talking, he will be folding a piece of paper and cutting it) Hmmmm…Boo, (Boo jumps) let’s start from the beginning. There once was a man who could teach and do many wonderful things. His name was Jesus. The people thought he was like a king and they waved branches of palm trees to celebrate their joy when he was on his way to Jerusalem. Jesus entered their town on a donkey, a small animal, a symbol of peace, and “beast of burden”. He loved all the people and was willing to take all their troubles, faults, mistakes to ………(opens up the paper and it is a cross) THE CROSS!

(Animals gasp and say, “Oh, no! Oh, no!)

BOO: Buuuu…..buuuu…buuut wasn’t He afraid?

(All the animals shake their heads agreeing with Boo)

FR. JOE: He probably was, but He knew He had an important job to do and He trusted God.

HOWIE: Like….WOW!….if you’re nervous about doin’ something but ya know you gotta do it….well, like….DO IT AFRAID and trust God. That Jesus was like…..a cool dude lovin us the way He did and showin’ us a good example by using ole Long Ears
(looks at Pokey) We’re sorry, Dude, that we were makin’ fun of ya!

POKEY: Oh, that’s ok….Say, Fr. Joe, can you be so kind as to hold up that Cross a minute? (Fr. Joe holds up the cross)
I was thinkin’…..When y’all get afraid….just look up at the Cross. See how it looks like arms stretchin’ way out to the sides? Just picture Jesus lovin us SO MUCH…… unconditionally…that He’s spreadin’ His arms way out, then brings ‘em in, and gives us a hug!

FR. JOE: Hmmmm…That reminds me…..Remember the “sign” we learned for LOVE?
(Fr. Joe shows everyone by stretching out his arms and then bringing them in)

Fr. Joe will then summarize

PUPPET PULPIT PASSWORD: LOVE

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