Parade of believers takes to Geneva streets

Carrying palm leaves and their faith in God, parishioners from two Geneva churches marched down South Third Street on Sunday morning to proclaim the start of Holy Week.

Members of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Geneva Lutheran Church gathered in front of the old Kane County Courthouse for the Palm Sunday event, which commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

The people of Jerusalem strew the Savior's path with palm branches as he rode into the city astride a donkey.

The two churches have come together for the observance for about a decade now.

"It's a proclamation in the community of our faith," St. Mark's parishioner Mike Gutfeldt said. "To be able to join together like this is symbolic of the universal church that's even more important than our own denominations," he said.

Father Mark Tusken of St. Mark's and Pastor Doug Opp of Geneva Lutheran presided over a brief service on the courthouse steps. Opp was appointed pastor of the Geneva church just last fall.

Led by a bagpiper playing "Scotland the Brave," families marched down Third Street to Franklin Street, where they split up to attend services at their historic downtown church buildings.

"It's a tradition. I think people look forward to it," said Geneva Lutheran parishioner Robin Perrone, resplendent in her dark red choir robe.

John Anderson has been singing in the Lutheran church's choir for 60 years. He likes the idea of the two churches getting together for all to see.

"It's a public display of Palm Sunday," Anderson said. "It's great to hear the Gospel in a public setting."

The Gospel reading was Matthew 21:1-11, which describes the hope Jesus inspired among the people.

The passage concludes: "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'"

But the story of Jesus' triumph soon turns to one of plotting and betrayal. Holy Week marks those events, including Christ's Last Supper with the Apostles on Maundy Thursday and his crucifixion and death on Good Friday.

The story culminates with Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, considered the most important date on the Christian calendar.

Easter, and therefore Palm Sunday, fall early this year. The members of the two Geneva churches found themselves observing Palm Sunday outdoors on a sunny but cold morning.

"We're thankful to the Lord for the good weather," Tusken told the crowd. "And this is good weather!" he added, to laughter from the faithful.

There were roughly 300 participants in Sunday's event.

"Every year it gets a little bigger," Tusken said. "I think the boys and girls like to march in a parade of believers."