Palm Sunday

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, and then Holy Week, I hope that you will find some time just to be quiet; time to think a little about what these momentous events mean for you. You might find some of that quality of time within the various events that comprise our Holy Week programme – sitting quietly in the Sanctuary, allowing contemplative music and images to wash over your soul; walking the labyrinth, or pondering the Stations of the Cross in the top hall; praying your way through the daily newspapers, or helping with the re-cycling of paper, plastic, glass and tins; sharing in acts of worship in the morning or evening; watching contemporary films and pondering their significance for our faith ….
Or maybe it will all have to wait for that “time in-between” - Holy Saturday, when you will at last be able to sit down and think; pray …?

As you remember the events that comprise this simple, yet incredibly profound story, perhaps this short extract from Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi will help?

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death — and the worst kind of death at that — a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honoured him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth — even those long ago dead and buried — will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honour of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11 (The Message)