Palms – Hands, Branches and Donkeys
Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end (or so some say). This week, Palm Sunday arguably marks all three. It is an ending of Lent. A beginning of Holy Week. And it marks an interjection in the midst between the two. A day of remembering, retelling, taking part in the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. A day which marks the beginning but also draws us to the ending . A week which sees processions, fickle crowds, rowdy temples, unjust trials, eating, sleeping, praying, dying and rising. It is the story which for Christians holds profound truth about who God is and how God acts. May we all be invited into this Holiest of weeks together.
This Sunday our worship allows us to open the palms of our own hands to receive God with the palm branches as we re discover again this life giving story.
PALM SUNDAY – Sunday 13th April
8am – Holy Communion – All Saints
10am – Sung Palm Sunday Holy Communion Service- St Marys
10.30 – Palm Procession Service – All Saints
7.15 – Generations Youth Group – All Saints
The week ahead
Tuesday 15th
11am – Pat Jones Funeral – All Saints
6.30pm – Holy Communion – All Saints
Wednesday 16th
9am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints
6.30pm – Taize – All Saints
Thursday 17th
10.30 – Chrism Mass – Bristol Cathedral
6.30pm – Agape – All Saints
7.30pm – Maundy Thursday Holy Communion – St Marys
Friday 18th
10.30 – Good Friday Children’s Activities – All Saints
1.30pm – Liturgy of Good Friday – St Marys
2pm – Last Hour – All Saints
Saturday 19th
12-1.30pm – Sat Lunches
7.30pm – Easter Eve Holy Fire, Vigil and First Communion of Easter – St Marys
Sunday 20th
10am – Easter Sunday Holy Communion – St Marys
10.30am – Easter Sunday Holy Communion – All Saints
6.30pm – Easter Choral Evensong – St Marys.
Oh….and a interesting poem I discovered this week to ponder about a Donkey by GK Chesterton ( because…why not on Palm Sunday)
When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.
God Bless
Revd Lizzie
St Mary's, Fishponds 