Thoughts from The Vicarage with donkey, Holy Week and Taizé
Greetings as we approach Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week.
Sunday’s services begin outside each church with a blessing of Palm crosses before we process into church as we begin the journey to Calvary that we will live out across the coming week.
On Palm Sunday the Crowd shouts “Hosanna to the Son of David”. Soon the Crowd shouts “We have no King but Caesar. Crucify Jesus and release Barabbas”
Please see the attached Pews News for Holy Week services.
Looking ahead:
March 29th Good Friday
- 10.00 Walk of Witness St Michael & all Angels and Stations of the Cross Sacred Heart
- 11.00 Veneration of the Cross
- 12.00 Good Friday Liturgy St James
- 7.30 Good Friday Concert Faure Requiem St Michael & All Angels
March 30th Holy Saturday
- 7.00 Easter Vigil St Michael & All Angels
March 31st Easter Day
- 9.00 Easter Communion East Garston
- 10.30 Easter Sung Eucharist St Michael & All Angels
- 10.30 Easter Communion St James
- 6.30 Festal Evensong St Michael & All Angels
Other bits and pieces
Bishop Olivia is inviting anyone ages 16 to 30 to go to Taize with her in the summer…
Taize 2024: Pilgrimage for young adults Registration, Taizé, | Eventbrite
Bishop Steven gave a very impressive address at Diocesan Synod, explaining exactly why it is so important that we make our work with children and young people an absolute priority across the whole Diocese in 2024 and in every parish… Presidential address March 2024: Amplifying children and young people’s voices (youtube.com)
And talking of young people what a joyful day we had on Tuesday at Lambourn school as the children travelled the stations of the cross and met Norman the donkey.
Palm Sunday sets the scene for the pivotal week in human history. All of the pieces are in place and we are invited, called, required to walk the road with Jesus as it leads from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday, and from there to Holy Saturday and thence to the unexpected and unabated joy of Easter Day. Jesus does all of this for us, for you and we are invited simply to be there, to be with him.
And finally a prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book:
Jesus, when you rode into Jerusalem
the people waved palms with shouts of acclamation.
Grant that when the shouting dies
we may still walk beside you,
even to a cross. Amen.
God bless
Julie