Dearest friends,
Palm Sunday has always struck me as a delightful and fun day. I can so easily get caught up in the expectation and the joy of the people of Jerusalem as Jesus enters the city.
I can see and hear the children as they run to meet him. This great teacher, this man who is God, Jesus who has given us so many signs and such wonderful love.
The noise, the smells, the hands held high waving palm branches crying out ‘Hosanna in the highest!’
But in the midst of that joy there is a deep darkness. It is harder for us to experience fully the joy of the people of Jerusalem because we know the story, we know what comes next.
We know the agony that awaits Jesus and his disciples.
We know the darkness of the garden at Gethsemane (where we will join the Disciples in their Watch on Maundy Thursday).
We know the pain of the arrest and His condemnation. His struggle to carry the cross, His falls, the reversal of the joy of the crowds to jeers, hatred and spittle.
Palm Sunday marks the start of that journey of darkness.
It also, and this is the vital part of the story, marks the start of the journey towards the light.
We KNOW that Jesus will come again, that He will rise three days later, that He will save us all – and in that joy we share a large part.
This week, accept and see the darkness… then let the light destroy it utterly.
Fr. Matthew
Notices
Maundy Thursday
We will have our annual joint Maundy Thursday service at St. Luke’s this year. Please do make every effort to attend at St. Luke’s. The service concludes with the start of The Watch at St. Luke’s and The Light will travel to St. John’s, to arrive at about 8:30pm.
Good Friday Walk of Witness
This year the Newton Abbot Parishes Team have put together a one hour Walk of Witness telling the story of Jesus’ Passion in the form of a travelling play. It starts at 11am at Bearnes School Playgroundin Newton Abbot.
Easter Live!
I’m sorry to share that we’ve taken the difficult decision to postpone Easter Live! A number of factors have consipred against the event, not least our leader being poorly. We pray for her recovery and stregth and we are plotting on an event for Pentecost.
Team Easter Fun Day
Saturday 4th April, 10:30am – 3:30pm Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Crafts, Refreshments, Lego Display – all free – St. Paul’s, Devon Square.
Holy Trinity Sunday– Joint event in Bovey Tracey.
PPT and St. John’s will unite to offer a joint service in Marsh Park. We’ll process from our churches, meet in the park and offer the eucharist together. Then we’ll enjoy a family fun day together. It’s the perfect Sunday to invite friends and family and to stay around for games and a BBQ.
Years Mind
I am updating the Year’s Mind list – if you have a loved one you would like remembered on the anniverary of their death please contact me.
Sunday 29th March
Palm Sunday
10am – Sung Parish Mass with procession [SJ & SL]
5pm – Evensong at St. Barts (TQ12 6AX)
Psalter Week 2, A(II), Holy Week
Holy Week
Monday 30th March
Monday of Holy Week
[prayers offered at home]
Prayer focus: The homeless
Tuesday 31st March
Tuesday of Holy Week
9:15am – Morning Prayer [SJ]
10am – Said Mass [SJ]
Prayer focus: St. Luke’s
Wednesday 1st April
Wednesday of Holy Week
10am – Said Mass [SL]
Prayer focus: St. John’s
Thursday 2nd April
Maundy Thursday
6pm – High Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Luke’s
with washing of feet, stripping of the altars and Watch until 10m.
8:30pm – The Light arrives at St. John’s
and Watch contiunues until 10pm.
Prayer focus: St. Catherine’s School
Friday 3rd April
Good Friday
11am – Walk of Witness, Bearnes School Playground
3pm – The Liturgy of The Passion [SL & SJ]
with veneration of The Cross
Prayer focus: Stover School
Saturday 4th April
Holy Saturday
7:30pm – Vigil Mass of Easter, St. John’s
THE GREATEST CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR
Prayer focus: Haytor View School
Sunday 5th April
Easter Sunday
5:30am – Dawn Mass of Easter [SL]
THE GREATEST CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR
10am – Easter Sunday Mass [SL & SJ]
Year A(II), Easter
Upcoming Dates
March
26th – Oswestry Chrism Mass, Exeter Cathedral, 11am – 3pm
Lent Course, Bread of Life, 7pm [WH]
29th – Palm Sunday Processions 10am [SL & SJ]
Evensong, St. Bart’s
Joint Evensong with PPT
April
2nd – Maundy Thursday, 6pm Joint Mass [SL]
Watch at both churches until 10pm
Light arrives and Watch begins at St. John’s, 8:30pm
3rd – Liturgy of Good Friday, 3pm [SL & SJ]
4th – Vigil Mass of Easter, 7:30pm [SJ]
5th – Dawn Mass of Easter & Breakfast, 5:30am [SL]
Easter Sunday Mass, 10am [SL & SJ]
10th – Bingo! 7pm [SL]
13th – Summer Term Planning Meeting, 7pm [WH]
18th – Table Top Sale, 10am [WH]
25th – Oswestry Regional Festival, Truro Cathedral
May
2nd – Quiz with fish and chips, 7pm [SL]
10th – Blessing of the Bikes, Exeter Cathedral, 3:30pm
Further ahead
5th September, Glastonbury Pilgrimage
[SJ] St. John’s | [SL] St. Luke’s | [WH] Wickham Hall
[SC] St. Catherine’s School