Newsletter – 5th April 2020
How strange it is to be apart from you all, especially at this time of the year. In normal times I would be busy making preparations for all the services from Palm Sunday through Holy Week up to Easter Day. I am still very busy, trying to make as much of this time as accessible to you all as I can (as well as the many other tasks which come my way!). This should be the time when our churches are full of worshippers following Jesus through the events of his last week – but instead we are doing this alone. Literally alone yes, but not spiritually. Christians throughout the world are following the same path, and many never have the privilege of doing this publically. Perhaps we should remember them as we struggle through what we hope is a ‘one off’. With the help of the internet and television you can follow services and other forms of worship from a wide variety of places. Churches, local and further afield, have a variety of different events you can try out via your computer! Why not make a virtue out of necessity and seek out what is on offer? I am not live streaming services – I don’t feel that is the best use of my time – but you can access Neil’s offering on Thursdays. I will write something each day this week to remind you of the events of Holy Week, and we plan to share Compline each evening at 9pm as we did last year. Most importantly, we must remember to pray for each other. Edith
Sunday April 5th 2020 Palm Sunday
Matthew 21 1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2. saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.]” 4. This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5. “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6. The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7. they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10. When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11. The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
I have never, in 19 years of ordained ministry, preached on Palm Sunday! That is because we have the long reading, the Liturgy of the Passion, instead of a sermon.
We are very familiar with the story, Jesus goes with his disciples to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. There is the odd story of the donkey being found for Jesus to ride on. He rides on the donkey and the crowds gather to welcome him. Cloaks were spread on the ground, palm branches were waved and the people cheered and shouted. They shouted “Hosanna to David’s son!” King David of course. They were welcoming Jesus as king, and the Jews had waited for so long for a king to free them from oppression. But Jesus knows that he has come to Jerusalem not to be enthroned but to be killed. The people wanted a Messiah, but this one was going to be enthroned on a pagan cross. They wanted to be rescued from evil and oppression, but Jesus was going to rescue them from evil in its full depths. The story of Jesus’ grand entry into Jerusalem is an object lesson in the mismatch between our expectations and God’s answer. The bad news is the crowds are going to be disappointed, the good news is that this disappointment is at the surface level. Deep down, Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem really is the moment salvation is dawning. The Hosannas were justified, though not for the reasons they had supposed. Somewhere deep in this story is a message for us to hold on to – with God things are not always as they at first seem. Maybe something in this for us at this challenging time?
Edith
Prayers
True and humble king, hailed by the crowd as Messiah:
grant us the faith to know you and love you,
that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross,
which is the path of glory Amen
We pray for your world.
For all affected by the pandemic.
For those who are anxious and distressed
For those who fear for their livelihoods
For those who fear for their lives
For those who are ill
For all those who care for them
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer
We thank you for the goodness of people
For those selflessly helping others
For those coping cheerfully with extra tasks
For those who put others before themselves
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer
Remember in your prayers those you know to be ill, including those from our parish.
