Daily ScriptureSix days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume…. Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. (John 12:1-3,7)Daily ReflectionMary’s love for Jesus is extravagant, over flowing and slightly embarrassing for the other people present. Her extraordinary gesture of anointing him with the most expensive perfume and wiping his feet with her hair must have seemed OTT even in that setting, where they had witnessed many things – not the least Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead. But before the week is over, Jesus himself will have died, been buried and finally resurrected. Not even his friends in Bethany could have foreseen what was about to happen. But Mary sensed that his death was drawing near and she wanted to prepare him, as best she could…Today is the start of Holy Week, when we walk with Jesus to his cross, his tomb and his resurrection. Will you join him on his road through pain to glory? Revd Ylva
Palm Sunday (Elizabeth Lavers, Entry into Jerusalem)We made our slow way up from Jericho, a steep, rocky climb,Dusty and long. We were fearful of what lay ahead,But we would all follow the Master wherever he went -‘Let us go with him, to die with him’, as Thomas said.At Bethany, set in its green, smiling, well-tended fields,We were made welcome, as always, and stayed there to rest.Many men crowded in, on the way to the Passover feast,To see Lazarus, back from the grave, and the Master, his guest.Then word went ahead to Jerusalem: Jesus was near,And would arrive before long; people kept a look out.As he came into view on the road from Mount OlivetFrom across the valley of Kedron we heard a great shout.‘Hosanna!’ They hailed him, ‘Hosanna to David’s great Son!’A carpet was spread by the pilgrims for him as he passed,And the donkey he rode picked its way over cloaks and green palms,Down the hill, up the rise, to the gates of the city at last.As the Messiah rode in with his message of peaceWhich, if they heard and believed it, would set them all free,Richly dressed Pharisees, squawking like peacocks, enraged,Tried vainly to silence the crowds roaring like a great sea ‘Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David!’Revd Rosemary
Next Service:10am Holy Communion ONLINE Holy Communion Service. Please see 'Services and Events' for a cut and paste link to this service. A Zoom Coffee morning follows the Sunday service.
Daily ScriptureLet mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13 1-2)Daily ReflectionHospitality is one of the sectors that has suffered the most during this pandemic. Hospitality was a highly valued act in the time of Jesus and after, especially among the newly formed Christians. Welcoming the stranger is how we show what it means to love. Welcoming the stranger means giving them a place to sleep & providing food. Christian communities continue this hospitality today; monasteries, convents, communities, even churches are open to welcoming the stranger through offering sanctuary to pilgrims - showing them that Christ means love. What a wonderful feeling it will be when we feel safe and able to fling open our doors and welcome people into our homes and offer hospitality again, not only to our nearest and dearest but to those unknown to us - because you never know who you might be entertaining.Lyn Hayes, ALM