A very warm welcome to all
The Sixth Sunday in Lent (Palm Sunday)
Gospel: Mark 11: 1-11
In our Gospel today
Palm Sunday is the day that marks the beginning of Holy Week. This is the most significant time of the church year as we journey with Jesus through his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion, to the darkness of the tomb and on into the light of the resurrection. Palm Sunday sets the scene for the services that are to come through Holy Week. After recalling the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we hear the full account of the Passion of Christ.
The Passion Narrative is not only about who Jesus was. It is also about the way of Jesus and how those who follow Jesus are to live their lives in the light of Jesus’ example. This is conveyed through the narrative structure. It is thought that there is a careful symmetry in the structure of the Passion Narrative. Almost every scene is balanced by another scene.
There are five scenes. The 1st (14:1-31 The meals at Bethany and Jerusalem) and 5th (15:42-16:8 The burial of Jesus and the empty tomb) mirror each other. In each case, Jesus is attended by his faithful followers, both men and women. The 2nd (14:32-52 Jesus in Gethsemane) and the 4th (15:21-41 Jesus at Golgotha) also balance each other. The great distress and trouble of Jesus as he prays in Gethsemane are echoed by the loud voice and great cry of Jesus as he dies at Golgotha.
The balancing of scenes continues within the central 3rd section – 14:53-15:20. Here we have the two trials before the High Priest and then Pilate. At the core of both trials is the central issue of the identity of Jesus. ‘Are you the Christ?’ ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’
In between these two trial scenes there is the account of Peter’s denial. This is the only scene that is not balanced by another. Or is it?! The contrast here is between Peter and the way that Jesus has been throughout the Narrative. What Peter did, in denying Jesus, is what other followers of Jesus are not to do. Instead, we are invited to walk the way of Jesus who faithfully endures suffering. (Drawn from Marking the Gospel: an exploration of the Gospel of Mark).
Holy Week Services
For your diaries the services for Holy Week are as follows:
Wednesday 27th 10am Holy Communion & 6pm Stations of the Cross: Revd Roger Dyer
Maundy Thursday 28th 6pm Holy Communion: Revd Roger Dyer
Friday 29th 2pm An Hour at the Cross – the Liturgy of Good Friday: Revd Roger Dyer
Easter Sunday 31st 6am Dawn Service of Light; 8am Holy Communion; Easter Breakfast; 10am Sung Eucharist with Baptism: Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Diocesan Library Books Sale
The St Mary’s Vestry has decided that it is best to disperse the remainder of the Diocesan Library books and reference documents. By the time we are reading the newsletter this week we will we have had two books sale, one for interested clergy Friday 22nd March (clergy only) and one open to everyone on Saturday 23rd March. Opening times will be 10am to 4pm on each day. All monies raised will go to the Diocesan Office and a decision on the use of the raised funds will be made at a later date. Any books left over from these two open days will be presented for sale at the local book sale organised by Fountainhall at the Cross. We are keen to have many hands helping on a rota basis on the open days and to have traybakes available with teas and coffees.
The Bishop’s Lent Appeal
Donations to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal 2024 will be given to Al Ahli hospital in Gaza via the Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association. The Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza, owned and sacrificially supported over many years by the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Jerusalem, continues to serve the whole ‘family’ of human beings in Gaza. It provides a vital service in an increasingly desperate situation. If you would like to contribute, please give any cheques or cash to Lydia Ross, our Treasurer, or to any member of the Vestry.
Church Magazine
The Communications Group would like to canvas the congregations thoughts about our Magazine, which is currently published on a quarterly basis. Is this the best frequency for everyone? Is there anything else that you would like to see in it? Please provide your feedback to the editor, Nicola Mills, or anyone on the Vestry. Please note that the closing date for articles for the Easter Magazine is 25th March.
Easter Egg Appeal
Our Easter Egg Collection is very well underway, and we will carry on collecting until Palm Sunday. Thank you very much to everyone who has already made donations. Donations will be given to our regular charity partners Barnardo’s and Aberdeen Cyrenians.
Photograph Competition 2024
Our Photograph Competition for 2024 begins on Monday 1st April and runs to August 30th. Entries in the last few years have been really fantastic and many have made it into the St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral calendars. Please think about dusting off your 35 mm single lens reflex camera or just think about using your mobile ‘phone more artistically!
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 24th March 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 24th March 10am Service of the Word: Dr Nicola Mills and Passion Narrative
Tuesday 26th March No Morning Prayer
Wednesday 27th March 10am Holy Communion: Revd Roger Dyer
Wednesday 27th March 6pm Stations of the Cross: Revd Roger Dyer
Thursday 28th March 6pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion: Revd Roger Dyer
Friday 29th March 2pm Good Friday: An Hour at the Cross – the Liturgy of Good Friday: Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 31st March 6am Easter Sunday Dawn Service of Light: Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Sunday 31st March 8am Easter Sunday Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Sunday 31st March 8:30am Easter Breakfast
Sunday 31st March 10am Easter Sunday Sung Eucharist with Baptism: Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Easter Sunday’s readings: Isaiah 25: 6-9; Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24: Colossians 3: 1-4
Gospel: John 20: 1-8
“Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified.”
(John of the Cross)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com