We met on Easter eve for a service of readings and prayers including the lighting of the new Easter candle, two Baptisms and the admission of two choristers to the choir. So the joy of Easter day is prefaced with newness and renewal!

We had a series of short readings each separated by a short silence, and then the Easter candle was prepared and lit from a small fire out in the churchyard. We passed the light from candle to candle among us and sang the Exultat. Happily Joanna was a little better and was able to play for us. Father Roger then gave his sermon.

The admission of two new choristers followed, Amelia and Dorothy had started attending choir last September, but various covid related delays had resulted in their admission at this service. They then took their places with the other junior choir to sing the solo in 'Lead me Lord' setting by Charles Wesley with the adult choir joining in the harmony parts.

This was followed by the rite of Baptism, where Amelia and her mother Jo were Baptised and received a lighted candle. 

We greeted each other with alleluias in anticipation of the resurrection tomorrow.

  

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, 

they came to the tomb, 

taking the spices that they had prepared. 

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 

but when they went in, they did not find the body. 

While they were perplexed about this, 

suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 

The women were terrified

and bowed their faces to the ground, 

but the men said to them, 

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? 

He is not here, but has risen. 

Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 

that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, 

and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." 

Then they remembered his words, 

and returning from the tomb, 

they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 

Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, 

Mary the mother of James, 

and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 

But these words seemed to them an idle tale, 

and they did not believe them. 

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; 

stooping and looking in, 

he saw the linen cloths by themselves; 

then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Good Friday, the second day of the Triduum, and a beautiful spring day! Our afternoon service of reflection on the Crucifixion took place at 2:00pm. This service is made up of readings, prayers, music and a sermon all on the subject of the events of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. Father Roger lead the service and gave the sermon. 

The choir sang the anthem 'O Saviour of the World' setting by John Goss. Joanna remains unwell, so we were most fortunate to have James Roriston play for this service, for which we give him many thanks.

There was a short choir rehearsal in the Parish Rooms after the service and some Hot Cross Buns!

The Choir sang around the piano in the South Transept for this service

 Isaiah 52:13-53:12

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

See, my servant shall prosper; 

he shall be exalted and lifted up, 

and shall be very high. 

Just as there were many who were astonished at him —

so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,

and his form beyond that of mortals— 

so he shall startle many nations;

 kings shall shut their mouths because of him; 

for that which had not been told them they shall see, 

and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

Who has believed what we have heard?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 

For he grew up before him like a young plant, 

and like a root out of dry ground; 

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, 

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

He was despised and rejected by others; 

a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; 

and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, 

and we held him of no account. 

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; 

yet we accounted him stricken, 

struck down by God, and afflicted. 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, 

crushed for our iniquities; 

upon him was the punishment that made us whole, 

and by his bruises we are healed. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; 

we have all turned to our own way,

and the Lord has laid on him 

the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, 

yet he did not open his mouth; 

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, 

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, 

so he did not open his mouth. 

By a perversion of justice he was taken away. 

Who could have imagined his future? 

For he was cut off from the land of the living, 

stricken for the transgression of my people. 

They made his grave with the wicked 

and his tomb with the rich, 

although he had done no violence, 

and there was no deceit in his mouth. 

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. 

When you make his life an offering for sin, 

he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; 

through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. 

Out of his anguish he shall see light; 

he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. 

The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, 

and he shall bear their iniquities. 

Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,

 and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; 

because he poured out himself to death, 

and was numbered with the transgressors; 

yet he bore the sin of many, 

and made intercession for the transgressors.

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.

Since, then, we have a great high priest 

who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God, 

let us hold fast to our confession. 

For we do not have a high priest 

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 

but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, 

yet without sin. 

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, 

so that we may receive mercy 

and find grace to help in time of need.

In the days of his flesh, 

Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, 

with loud cries and tears, 

to the one who was able to save him from death,

and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 

Although he was a Son, 

he learned obedience through what he suffered; 

and having been made perfect, 

he became the source of eternal salvation 

for all who obey him.

Hear the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

After they had eaten the supper,

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley 

to a place where there was a garden, 

which he and his disciples entered. 

Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, 

because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 

So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers 

together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, 

and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 

Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, 

came forward and asked them, 

"Whom are you looking for?" 

They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." 

Jesus replied, "I am he." 

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 

When Jesus said to them, "I am he," 

they stepped back and fell to the ground. 

Again he asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" 

And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 

Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. 

So if you are looking for me, let these men go." 

This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, 

"I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." 

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, 

drew it, struck the high priest's slave, 

and cut off his right ear. 

The slave's name was Malchus. 

Jesus said to Peter, 

"Put your sword back into its sheath. 

Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?" 

So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police 

arrested Jesus and bound him. 

First they took him to Annas, 

who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, 

the high priest that year. 

Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews 

that it was better to have one person die for the people. 

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. 

Since that disciple was known to the high priest, 

he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 

but Peter was standing outside at the gate. 

So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, 

went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, 

and brought Peter in. 

The woman said to Peter, 

"You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" 

He said, "I am not." 

Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire 

because it was cold, 

and they were standing around it and warming themselves. 

Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. 

Then the high priest questioned Jesus 

about his disciples and about his teaching. 

Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; 

I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, 

where all the Jews come together. 

I have said nothing in secret. 

Why do you ask me? 

Ask those who heard what I said to them; 

they know what I said." 

When he had said this, 

one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying,

"Is that how you answer the high priest?" 

Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly,

testify to the wrong. 

But if I have spoken rightly, 

why do you strike me?" 

Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. 

They asked him, 

"You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" 

He denied it and said, "I am not." 

One of the slaves of the high priest,

 a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, 

asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" 

Again Peter denied it, 

and at that moment the cock crowed. 

Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. 

It was early in the morning. 

They themselves did not enter the headquarters, 

so as to avoid ritual defilement 

and to be able to eat the Passover. 

So Pilate went out to them and said, 

"What accusation do you bring against this man?" 

They answered, "If this man were not a criminal, 

we would not have handed him over to you." 

Pilate said to them, 

"Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." 

The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." 

(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said 

when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) 

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, 

summoned Jesus, and asked him,

"Are you the King of the Jews?" 

Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, 

or did others tell you about me?" 

Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? 

Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. 

What have you done?" 

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. 

If my kingdom were from this world, 

my followers would be fighting 

to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. 

But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 

Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?"

Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. 

For this I was born, 

and for this I came into the world, 

to testify to the truth. 

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." 

Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" 

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, 

"I find no case against him. 

But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. 

Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" 

They shouted in reply, 

"Not this man, but Barabbas!" 

Now Barabbas was a bandit.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 

And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns 

and put it on his head, 

and they dressed him in a purple robe. 

They kept coming up to him, saying, 

"Hail, King of the Jews!" 

and striking him on the face. 

Pilate went out again and said to them, 

"Look, I am bringing him out to you 

to let you know that I find no case against him." 

So Jesus came out, 

wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. 

Pilate said to them, 

"Here is the man!" 

When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, 

"Crucify him! Crucify him!" 

Pilate said to them, 

"Take him yourselves and crucify him; 

I find no case against him." 

The Jews answered him, "We have a law, 

and according to that law he ought to die 

because he has claimed to be the Son of God." 

Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. 

He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, 

"Where are you from?" 

But Jesus gave him no answer. 

Pilate therefore said to him, 

"Do you refuse to speak to me?

 Do you not know that I have power to release you, 

and power to crucify you?" 

Jesus answered him, 

"You would have no power over me 

unless it had been given you from above; 

therefore the one who handed me over to you

is guilty of a greater sin." 

From then on Pilate tried to release him, 

but the Jews cried out, 

"If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. 

Everyone who claims to be a king 

sets himself against the emperor." 

When Pilate heard these words,

he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench 

at a place called The Stone Pavement, 

or in Hebrew Gabbatha. 

Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; 

and it was about noon. 

He said to the Jews,

"Here is your King!" 

They cried out,

"Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!"

Pilate asked them, "Shall I crucify your King?" 

The chief priests answered, 

"We have no king but the emperor." 

Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; 

and carrying the cross by himself, 

he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, 

which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 

There they crucified him, 

and with him two others, one on either side, 

with Jesus between them. 

Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. 

It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." 

Many of the Jews read this inscription, 

because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; 

and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 

Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, 

"Do not write, "The King of the Jews,' 

but, "This man said, I am King of the Jews.' " 

Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." 

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, 

they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. 

They also took his tunic; 

now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 

So they said to one another, 

"Let us not tear it, 

but cast lots for it to see who will get it." 

This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

 "They divided my clothes among themselves,

and for my clothing they cast lots." 

And that is what the soldiers did. 

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, 

and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, 

and Mary Magdalene. 

When Jesus saw his mother 

and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, 

he said to his mother, 

"Woman, here is your son." 

Then he said to the disciple, 

"Here is your mother." 

And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, 

he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), 

"I am thirsty." 

A jar full of sour wine was standing there. 

So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop 

and held it to his mouth. 

When Jesus had received the wine, he said, 

"It is finished." 

Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

Since it was the day of Preparation, 

the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross 

during the sabbath, 

especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. 

So they asked Pilate 

to have the legs of the crucified men broken 

and the bodies removed. 

Then the soldiers came 

and broke the legs of the first and of the other 

who had been crucified with him. 

But when they came to Jesus 

and saw that he was already dead, 

they did not break his legs. 

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear,

and at once blood and water came out. 

(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. 

His testimony is true,

and he knows that he tells the truth.) 

These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, 

"None of his bones shall be broken." 

And again another passage of scripture says, 

"They will look on the one whom they have pierced." 

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, 

who was a disciple of Jesus, 

though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, 

asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. 

Pilate gave him permission; 

so he came and removed his body. 

Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, 

also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, 

weighing about a hundred pounds. 

They took the body of Jesus 

and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, 

according to the burial custom of the Jews. 

Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, 

and in the garden there was a new tomb 

in which no one had ever been laid. 

And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, 

and the tomb was nearby, 

they laid Jesus there.

Having had a beautiful service of Stations of the Cross followed by Compline yesterday evening, tonight we came together for our Maundy Thursday eucharist commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. This is the first service of the Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve, leading up to Easter Day. The celebrant was Father John, and he also gave the sermon, in which he asked us to imagine ourselves as one of the disciples in that upper room. As they were flawed individuals so are we, but Jesus loves us non the less.

Unfortunately Joanna is unwell so we sang the hymns unaccompanied and said most of the service.

At the end of this service the altar is stripped of all its linen and remains so until Easter day.

We left the Church quietly thinking of the momentous events of this evening some 2000 years ago.

   

 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

A reading frmot he first letter of Paul tohe Corinthians,

Beloved:

I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, 

that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed 

took a loaf of bread, 

and when he had given thanks, 

he broke it and said, 

"This is my body that is for you.

Do this in remembrance of me." 

In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying,

 "This cup is the new covenant in my blood.

 Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, 

you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

Now before the festival of the Passover, 

Jesus knew that his hour had come 

to depart from this world and go to the Father. 

Having loved his own who were in the world, 

he loved them to the end. 

The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot 

to betray him.

And during supper 

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, 

and that he had come from God and was going to God, 

got up from the table, 

took off his outer robe, 

and tied a towel around himself. 

Then he poured water into a basin 

and began to wash the disciples' feet 

and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 

"Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 

Jesus answered, 

"You do not know now what I am doing, 

but later you will understand." 

Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." 

Jesus answered, 

"Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." 

Simon Peter said to him,

"Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 

Jesus said to him,

 "One who has bathed does not need to wash, 

except for the feet, but is entirely clean. 

And you are clean, though not all of you." 

For he knew who was to betray him; 

for this reason he said, 

"Not all of you are clean." 

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe,

and had returned to the table, 

he said to them, 

"Do you know what I have done to you? 

You call me Teacher and Lord—

and you are right, for that is what I am. 

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, 

have washed your feet, 

you also ought to wash one another's feet. 

For I have set you an example, 

that you also should do as I have done to you. 

Very truly, I tell you, 

servants are not greater than their master, 

nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 

If you know these things,

you are blessed if you do them. 

"Now the Son of Man has been glorified, 

and God has been glorified in him. 

If God has been glorified in him, 

God will also glorify him in himself 

and will glorify him at once. 

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. 

You will look for me; 

and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you,

"Where I am going, you cannot come.' 

I give you a new commandment, 

that you love one another. 

Just as I have loved you, 

you also should love one another. 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, 

if you have love for one another." 

Palm Sunday has arrived and  we began our journey to the Cross with our Lord over Holy Week, with a Eucharist which included a procession with Palms and a reading of the Passion Gospel. Father John was the celebrant, and we began in Church with a reading from St Luke (see below) describing how the disciples were sent to collect a donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem with waving palms and cries of Hosannas. We then processed around the Church singing the traditional hymn 'Ride on, ride on, in Majesty'  and carrying our palm crosses. Following the epistle and another hymn, we read the passion gospel read by members of the congregation with Father John reading the words of Our Lord, and the choir shouting out the words of the crowd.

The Eucharist then proceeded and during Communion the Choir sang 'O Saviour if the World' setting by John Goss as the anthem. After every one who wished to had received communion we sang our final hymn and received the blessing.

We then repaired to the Parish Rooms for a coffee and then the Annual Meeting. We read and discussed the report for the year 2021 and remembered what a strange and difficult year that had been. Reports from all of our groups and activities were in the Annual Report, and we re elected out Church Wardens and members of the PCC. We gave thanks for the care and support we have had from Father Roger, Archdeacon Luke and Father John, and also indeed from Bishop Martin, and look forward with enthusiasm to the arrival of Father Chris later in the year.

In Holy Week we will have a service of Stations of the Cross on Wednesday evening, A Eucharist for Maundy Thursday on Thursday evening, a Service of reflection on Good Friday at 2pm, A Service of vigil, including Baptisms, on Easter Eve at 7:30, and finally the Eucharist of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday morning at 10 am. All are welcome to these services as you follow the Easter Story to its triumphant conclusion of the Resurrection!

 Luke 19:28-40

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, 

at the place called the Mount of Olives, 

he sent two of the disciples, saying, 

"Go into the village ahead of you, 

and as you enter it you will find tied there 

a colt that has never been ridden. 

Untie it and bring it here. 

If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?' 

just say this, "The Lord needs it.' "

So those who were sent departed 

and found it as he had told them.

As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 

"Why are you untying the colt?" 

They said, "The Lord needs it." 

Then they brought it to Jesus; 

and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, 

they set Jesus on it. 

As he rode along, 

people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 

As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, 

the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully 

with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, 

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Peace in heaven, 

and glory in the highest heaven!" 

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 

"Teacher, order your disciples to stop." 

He answered, "I tell you, 

if these were silent, the stones would shout out." 

A reading fromt he letter of Paul to the Philippians.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 

who, though he was in the form of God, 

did not regard equality with God 

as something to be exploited, 

but emptied himself, 

taking the form of a slave, 

being born in human likeness. 

And being found in human form,

he humbld himself 

and became obedient to the point of death

— even death on a cross. 

Therefore God also highly exalted him 

and gave him the name that is above every name, 

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, 

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father. 

Hear the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 

They began to accuse him, saying, 

"We found this man perverting our nation, 

forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, 

and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." 

hen Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

 He answered, "You say so."

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,

 "I find no basis for an accusation against this man. 

But they were insistent and said, 

"He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, 

from Galilee where he began even to this place." 

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 

And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, 

he sent him off to Herod, 

who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad,

for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, 

because he had heard about him 

and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 

He questioned him at some length, 

but Jesus gave him no answer. 

The chief priests and the scribes stood by, 

vehemently accusing him. 

Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; 

then he put an elegant robe on him, 

and sent him back to Pilate. 

That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; 

before this they had been enemies. 

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 

and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; 

and here I have examined him in your presence 

and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him 

Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. 

Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 

I will therefore have him flogged and release him." 

Now he was obliged to release someone for them at the festival.

Then they all shouted out together, 

"Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" 

(This was a man who had been put in prison 

for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 

but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"

A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? 

I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; 

I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." 

But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts 

that he should be crucified; 

and their voices prevailed. 

So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 

He released the man they asked for,

 the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, 

and he handed Jesus over as they wished. 

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, 

who was coming from the country, 

and they laid the cross on him, 

and made him carry it behind Jesus. 

A great number of the people followed him, 

and among them were women 

who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 

But Jesus turned to them and said, 

"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, 

but weep for yourselves and for your children. 

For the days are surely coming when they will say, 

"Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, 

and the breasts that never nursed.' 

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us'; 

and to the hills, "Cover us.' 

For if they do this when the wood is green, 

what will happen when it is dry?" 

Two others also, who were criminals, 

were led away to be put to death with him. 

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, 

they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, 

one on his right and one on his left. 

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; 

for they do not know what they are doing."

 And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 

And the people stood by, watching; 

but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, 

"He saved others; 

let him save himself 

if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 

and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 

There was also an inscription over him, 

"This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there 

kept deriding him and saying,

 "Are you not the Messiah? 

Save yourself and us!" 

But the other rebuked him, saying, 

"Do you not fear God, 

since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 

And we indeed have been condemned justly, 

for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds,

 but this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, 

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 

Jesus replied, 

"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." 

It was now about noon,

 and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 

while the sun's light failed;

and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

 Having said this, he breathed his last. 

Then the centurian sawe what had taken place,

he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." 

And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle 

saw what had taken place, 

they returned home, beating their breasts. 

But all his acquaintances, 

including the women who had followed him from Galilee, 

stood at a distance, watching these things. 

We met today at 10 am for a Parish Eucharist on a sunny but very chilly morning. Today is known as Passion Sunday, when we contemplate the suffering of Jesus on the cross. This was reflected in the Hymns we sang, including 'When I survey the Wonderous Cross' and in the address from Father Roger who was the celebrant at this service.

We were joined by the Sunday School at communion, and the Choir sang 'God so Loved the World' setting by John Stainer as the anthem.

At the end of the Service, our Church Wardens Janet and Chris were able to tell us that a new Vicar is coming to St Marys!!! Although Father Chris Brading and his family will be joining us in Sidlesham soon, his induction date is not yet set as there is much to arrange! We give thanks for his appointment and look forward to welcoming him to the cure of our souls!!

Fr Chris will be part-time as our parish priest alongside being part-time Missioner for The Society under the Patronage of St Hilda and St Wilfrid.

 

A reading from a letter of Paul to Phillippians.