Next Sunday, 13th April, is Palm Sunday. Throughout the Christian world, the Church will be remembering Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. The joyful crowds pulled palms from the trees and welcomed him as they would a king, except that Jesus was riding a donkey and not a proud stallion. The week beginning with Palm Sunday is ‘Holy Week’ and leads us to Good Friday and Easter Day.
Palm Sunday falls on an All Saints’ ‘Songs of Praise’ Sunday this year and so we would like to invite everyone to a service which will be different from ‘Songs of Praise’ but still informal. The service will begin under our village’s ancient yew tree at 11am, where palm crosses will be given to everyone and we will be reminded of that procession long ago and far away. We will then walk into the church singing – joyfully, hopefully. We had thought of getting a donkey but the logistics of getting the poor thing into the churchyard, let alone up the steps and into the church were too complicated. Also, no donkeys volunteered. Maybe next year.
We will then continue the service in the church. There will be some poetry, hymns and a dramatic reading of the Holy Week story. This will involve everyone in the church. There will be a group at the front of the church playing the main characters and the congregation as a whole will be asked to play the parts of the crowd, disciples, a criminal and a centurion. When this is finished there will be coffee and Palm Sunday cake, also known as Victoria sponge. A warm welcome is extended to all.
Amanda
Wootton Courtenay 