Dear Friends,

We have come to the final week of our walk with Jesus towards his crucifixion and resurrection as we reach Palm Sunday - on which traditionally the full account of the Passion is read before we mark the particular events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday later in the week.

This term the children of our primary schools have been focusing on the story of Jesus washing his disciples feet as they deepen habits that help them live out one of their core values: "respect". As I spoke at their Easter services I was struck by the way the last week of Jesus' life offers us contrasting ways of being: the tenderness of care of the upper room where Jesus shows his friends what love feels like and the rough scorn and jeering cynicism which turns into violence as he is taken to the cross. Which kind of power do we want to trust I wonder? As we travel through Holy Week, each in our own way, perhaps we can pray for the grace to be so fully caught up in the love for which Jesus stands, and dies and rises that we can be its agents in a world that can so easily lapse the other way.

God bless

Samantha

Services:

Palm Sunday 9am Parracombe,  11am Lynton,  5pm Barbrook

Maundy Thursday 7pm Lynton

Good Friday 2pm Lynton

Holy Saturday 8pm Lynton

Easter Sunday 6am Countisbury,  9am Parracombe,  11am Lynton and Martinhoe, 3pm Trentishoe

Looking beyond Holy Week, I would encourage you to look at the resources that are being provided by the Church of England in preparation for the Coronation of King Charles III. We are being encouraged to pray during the 28 days from Easter Day to the Coronation on May 6th, reflecting on a calling to serve in love.

The resources can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/coronation/reflections