Letter to the Editor, Palm Sunday Path Participants

Submitted by Sara Companik on Fri, 03/27/2026 - 8:16pm

Posted in

A Letter to the Fox Cities Community from
Some of the Palm Sunday Path Participants

(This letter was sent to the Appleton Post Crescent in hopes it could be published as a letter to the editor. It was, however, rejected by the Post-Crescent due to their policy of not publishing group letters. So we are sharing it here in order that the Fox Cities [and wider] community may become aware of it.)

March 25, 2026

When clergy and people of faith from across the Fox Cities gather at Houdini Plaza on March 29 (1 pm), we will continue what began at our respective congregations’ Palm Sunday celebrations. A day when Christians remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, not on a warhorse, not a conquering king, but humbly riding a donkey and filled with compassion. Together, we will lament the harms done to our immigrant neighbors, shine Christ’s light of truth and justice, and proclaim faith in Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

This Palm Sunday is different because our neighbors have been threatened, abused, dehumanized, disappeared, and even killed by agents of our own government. Together, on the Palm Sunday Path, throughout Wisconsin and across fifteen other states, we stand in solidarity with people of faith across traditions and those who aren’t part of a faith community to support the vulnerable among us, because Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.”

The goal of violence is to spread fear, making people afraid to question authority, speak out, or stand in opposition, even when something is morally wrong. On Palm Sunday, we pray that our neighbors feel less afraid, knowing they are not alone. We pray that those who reveal their weakness through violence and intimidation know we are not afraid and we won’t be silent, because after Good Friday comes Easter morning.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Michael Goodwin, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Appleton
Bishop Anne Edison-Albright, East Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA
Rev. Dr. Katherine Willis Pershey, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Appleton
Rev. Jason Poole-Xiong, Zion Lutheran Church, Appleton
Rev. Tauna Roth, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fremont
Rev. Jane Anderson, United Church of Christ Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Mary Bauer, First English Lutheran Church, Appleton
Rev. Brian Bankert, Trinity Lutheran Church, Appleton
Rev. Jeff Tengesdal, First English Lutheran Church, Appleton
Rev. Dr. David Colby, Winnebago Presbytery
Rev. Gary Noklebert, Retired ELCA
Rev. Chris and Cheryl Quello, First English Lutheran Church, Appleton
Benjamin Burgess, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Appleton
Ann Cattau, Our Savior’s Lutheran, Neenah
Sara Companik, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Appleton