PALM SUNDAY – Cross and Two Branches
The cover design for Palm Sunday incorporates overlapping palm branches, a symbol of victory, and is used to depict Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The palm branches are intertwined to form a fish, used to symbolize Christ, and remind us of the essential role of our Lord within the theological procession towards Easter. The four corner symbols have been arranged so that the negative space between them creates the fifth image of a cross. Here the cross, as symbol of our faith, is found at the center of this season. The Roman Numerals “XL” which denote the numeric value of “forty,” are the number of days observed for the season of Lent. Liturgically the church embraces the colors of green and black to celebrate this day.
Eric Palmquist is an ordained Covenant minister and the director of ministry operations for Newport Covenant Church in Bellevue, Washington. He also edits the Expressions column for the Covenant Companion.