Dear Friends
As Holy week approaches we will be sending you out various resources that we hope will help you mark this important week – even in these most strange of times
For Palm Sunday the usual readings and reflection. Normally we would distribute Palm Crosses but we can’t this year. So included is a sheet on how to make a cross for Holy Week – this is principally for children, but really it is for anyone and everyone, so feel free to adapt, and place it in a prominent room so that it might act as a focus for each day throughout the week.
There is a Holy Week Service which you can use each day and can be used in conjunction with the Christian Aid Daily reflections that Tony sends out each day. It takes about 15 mins, though you can make it as long as you wish. You can use it at any time during the day, but perhaps we could commit to praying at either at 9.00am in the morning or 7.30pm in the evening? – (or both) so that we might share together in a ‘communion of prayer’ during this special week
The Seder meal is a Christian resource based on the Passover – the meal that Jesus shared with the disciples on the Thursday of Holy Week, and which forms the background of the Holy Communion. It is perhaps something you might like to at an evening meal. It is wide ranging and aimed at families, but there is no reason not to do it by yourself if alone. You can also adapt it because the different items may not be available – maybe pitta bread or cracker can take the place of the Matzo etc – and adapt it to your circumstances in terms of length . It really is simply to act as a focus, hopefully be informative, and to remind us of our religious roots within Judaism.
Good Friday. There is a reflection for adults, and also for children which can be used. The customary time would be 3.00pm in the afternoon (the time tradition suggests that Jesus died on the cross), but can again be used whenever is appropriate to yourself
Easter Day readings are provided, along with a short reflection.
Please feel free to use these resources as you find helpful – you may also have other books, readings, prayers, reflections which you already use. Whatever you find useful and assists you to draw closer to the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection.
There are also links to a variety of different services being streamed online and through the radio and television which will be a focus for many at this time
Do be assured of our prayers throughout this Holy Week, pray for each other and pray for us
Tony & Alan
Revd. Tony Murphy & Canon Alan Marley
Psalm 118
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; ♦
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, ♦
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, ♦
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; ♦
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me ♦
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected ♦
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, ♦
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; ♦
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Come, O Lord, and save us we pray. ♦
Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; ♦
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God; he has given us light; ♦
link the pilgrims with cords
right to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God and I will thank you; ♦
you are my God and I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; ♦
his mercy endures for ever.
Matthew 21: 1-11
21When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying 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. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.*’ 4This 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.’
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd* spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The 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!’
10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ 11The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’
Palm Sunday
Liturgy of the Palms :
Mathew 21: 1-11. Psalm 118 :1-2, 19-29
Palm Sunday is one day in the yaer where congregations are encouraged to begin the service outside the Church to celebrate the Liturgy of the Palms.
This is one of the few occasions when all members of the Congregation can dress up for a procession, singing hosannas, waving palms or some branches and in some cases following a donkey .
This is in total contrast to the solemn and sober atmosphere that follows in the Church with a full reading of the Passion of Our Saviour.
Perhaps we should pause and reflect on the significance of this event before moving into the Church for a reading of the Passion.
Jerusalem: Jesus spent most of his Ministry in Galilee a rural area in the North of Israel far removed from Judea where two powerful groups were based
(a) the High Priests and Custodians of the Temple and
(b) the Roman Prefect who directly ruled Judea.
Timing: Jesus timed his arrival to the major Jewish Festival of Passover . Flooded with Jews from all over the Roman World at this time the population of Jerusalem increases from its average 40,000 to 200,000. Obviously a time of great fervour the Jewish people were celebrating their liberation from the Pharaohs and the Egyptians in the past (and wonder when they would be liberated from Roman Tyranny) .
Procession: It is against this background that Jesus enters Jerusalem . Every action of Jesus to this date was designed to remind us again and again that the ways of God are not the ways of Man . He was born in a stable and not a place; he lived as a working man instead of being educated as a Priest; he included women as his followers when they had no standing in society; he mixed with tax collectors etc.
Jesus planned a very specific way of ending his week long journey. The Romans, including the Prefect Pilate had entered the city on their war horses signifying violence and oppression . In total contrast Jesus , as a humble pilgrim, entered in a donkey signifying Peace and Justice .On seeing this man– signifying a new and different order, the people spontaneously cut whatever branches or foliage they could get their hands on, cheering on this person who they saw as a Prophet cheering “Blessed is he who comes in the name of The Lord” (Matthew 21 :11)
Note: Younger Children might like to listen to a poem about the Donkey on Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Liturgy of the Palms :
Mathew 21: 1-11. Psalm 118 :1-2, 19-29
Palm Sunday is one day in the year where congregations are encouraged to begin the service outside the Church to celebrate the Liturgy of the Palms.
This is one of the few occasions when all members of the Congregation can dress up for a procession, singing hosannas, waving palms or some branches and in some cases following a donkey.
This is in total contrast to the solemn and sober atmosphere that follows in the Church with a full reading of the Passion of Our Saviour.
Perhaps we should pause and reflect on the significance of this event before moving into the Church for a reading of the Passion.
Jerusalem: Jesus spent most of his Ministry in Galilee a rural area in the North of Israel far removed from Judea where two powerful groups were based
(a) the High Priests and Custodians of the Temple and
(b) the Roman Prefect who directly ruled Judea.
Timing: Jesus timed his arrival to the major Jewish Festival of Passover. Flooded with Jews from all over the Roman World at this time the population of Jerusalem increases from its average 40,000 to 200,000. Obviously a time of great fervour the Jewish people were celebrating their liberation from the Pharaohs and the Egyptians in the past (and wonder when they would be liberated from Roman Tyranny) .
Procession: It is against this background that Jesus enters Jerusalem . Every action of Jesus to this date was designed to remind us again and again that the ways of God are not the ways of Man . He was born in a stable and not a place; he lived as a working man instead of being educated as a Priest; he included women as his followers when they had no standing in society; he mixed with tax collectors etc.
Jesus planned a very specific way of ending his week long journey. The Romans, including the Prefect Pilate had entered the city on their war horses signifying violence and oppression . In total contrast Jesus , as a humble pilgrim, entered in a donkey signifying Peace and Justice .On seeing this man– signifying a new and different order, the people spontaneously cut whatever branches or foliage they could get their hands on, cheering on this person who they saw as a Prophet cheering “Blessed is he who comes in the name of The Lord” (Matthew 21 :11)
Note: Younger Children might like to listen to a poem about the Donkey on Palm Sunday
The Donkey by G. K. Chesterton
When forests walked and fishes flew
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood,
Then, surely, I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening bray
And ears like errant wings—
The devil’s walking parody
Of all four-footed things:
The battered outlaw of the earth
Of ancient crooked will;
Scourge, beat, 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 around my head
And palms about my feet.
The Donkey by G. K. Chesterton
When forests walked and fishes flew
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood,
Then, surely, I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening bray
And ears like errant wings—
The devil’s walking parody
Of all four-footed things:
The battered outlaw of the earth
Of ancient crooked will;
Scourge, beat, 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 around my head
And palms about my feet.