Dear friends
Palm Sunday is this Sunday! It is the festival that sets us off into Holy Week, and is really the Easter story condensed into the one celebration. Palm Sunday is so called because it highlights Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, where we are told that he was welcomed by the crowds waving palm fronds in joy. The service on Palm Sunday starts with a retelling of that story, and a procession, to echo this event. We then enter into the story of the days to come, including a retelling of the Passion itself. It is a service that is full of symbolism, joy, sorrow, and mystery; and this year we are celebrating it together as a Benefice at St Stephen's, Winsham - details below. You will also find below the details of all the Holy Week and Easter Services in the Benefice.
Here is a poem from R S Thomas that reflects the mystery of Holy Week:
Suddenly
As I had always known
he would come, unannounced,
remarkable merely for the absence
of clamour. So truth must appear
to the thinker; so, at a stage
of the experiment, the answer
must quietly emerge. I looked
at him, not with the eye
only, but with the whole
of my being, overflowing with
him as a chalice would
with the sea. Yet was he
no more there than before,
his area occupied
by the unhaloed presences.
You could put your hand
in him without consciousness
of his wounds. The gamblers
at the foot of the unnoticed
cross went on with
their dicing; yet the invisible
garment for which they played
was no longer at stake, but worn
by him in this risen existence.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER
Palm Sunday – 2 April, 1030am - St Stephen's, Winsham
Family Communion with Palm Sunday donkey procession at St Stephen’s, Winsham. The procession will leave from outside the cemetery entrance at 1030am and make its way round to the church entrance via the Lych Gate. The service itself will start with the opening hymn as the procession reaches the church. ALL are welcome to join the procession, or if you prefer not to walk, to wait in the church. The cemetery is located at the end of the track that leads from the west end churchyard gateway.
Maundy Thursday – 6 April, 6pm - St John's, Tatworth
A 'bring and share' Agape Meal at St John’s, Tatworth. ALL WELCOME. A relaxed gathering over food, during which we will have readings and prayers for Maundy Thursday. Following the meal the church will remain open until 10pm for people to spend time in silent prayer and meditation for The Watch. It would be helpful to have an idea of numbers for this, so please do let either myself, Michelle or a churchwarden know if you are intending to come.
Good Friday – 7 April:
10am – Messy Good Friday, St John’s, Tatworth. A particularly family friendly gathering to explore Good Friday and Easter in a fun and active way.
3 hours at the cross – St Mary’s, Thorncombe. 3 hours of guided and individual space for prayer and meditation for Good Friday. Times for the led elements are below, each of which is about 30-40mins in length.
12pm Stations of the Cross
1pm At the foot of the cross
2pm Meditation at the tomb
Holy Saturday – 8 April, 8pm
Easter Vigil and first Eucharist of Easter – St Mary Magdalene, Cricket Malherbie. A service to bring the light of Christ into the church that starts with the Easter Fire and builds up into a celebration of Holy Communion.
Easter Day – 9 April:
8am: BCP Holy Communion; Forde Abbey
10am: Family Easter Holy Communion; Thorncombe
10am: Easter Day Holy Communion; Winsham
10:30am: Easter Day Holy Communion; Chaffcombe
11am: Family Easter Holy Communion; Tatworth
Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer (Celtic) will continue on Tuesday's in St John's, Tatworth, at 9:30am every week. All Welcome.
Lent Walks
Thank you to Chaffcombe for hosting us last week! Another excellent turnout and wonderful refreshments afterwards!
THIS WEEK is the last lent walk and we meet tomorrow, Thursday 30th March, at 11am at St John's.
We will finish the walk with a soup lunch back at St John's where there are also facilities. The walk will be a maximum 1 hour - less if it is very wet! Our route will take us on a tour of Tatworth / South Chard and will predominantly be on road and pavement. Michelle has made gallons of soup - so more the merrier!!
PRAYERS
Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for:
Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Sheila Clement; Wendy Cotton; Jan Knott; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Dorothy White, Tony Meech, Di Nicholls, Hester Down, Stella Hutchison; Oskar Lee; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Frank Long; Cyril Larcombe; Valerie Palmer, Jane Scott, Nan Austin, Ron Bone; Bob Stacey, Lynn Ranson, Anne Perez
We remember all those whom we love but see no longer; particularly at this time Donald Raddon, Kathleen Lench, Jean Dodd, Hannah Knott, Bob Hendy.
A Collect for Palm Sunday
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.
Blessings
Philip
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
PASTORAL EMAILS - please to: [email protected]
HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP: https://twoshires.wordpress.com
Rest Days - Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday)
For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses.
Mornings are best times for phone contact!