Palm Sunday, the Start of the Easter Celebrations

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The Sunday Service this week was our popular Friends and Family Service led by our Rector, the Rev Alex Wheatley. This week’s theme was “Preparing for Palm Sunday” and after the opening part of the service where the Rev Alex told stories for the children and led the congregation in singing some children’s hymns, the children and the older members of the congregation, all went about different activities but all to do with Palm Sunday. We had palm leaves large and small, being made by young and older, and colouring in Palm Sunday pictures by the children, with coffee or tea and cakes, served up during this period instead of at the end of the service. The service then finished with news first about the Holy Week activities, and finally the singing of the Lord’s Prayer. We will have a busy week during Holy Week and this will all be shown at the end of this column.

Two Evening Services in St Mary’s Last Sunday!

We were pleased to welcome fellow worshippers from other parishes in our Deanery, as well as our own Benefice members from Sutton and Cockayne Hatley. The other parishes were: Eaton Socon, Biggleswade, Sandy, and Dunton. These churches came together once more for the last of a series of Lent Evensong services over the previous weeks. The Rev Alex Wheatley gave an interesting talk about Malachi. This service was immediately followed by our own monthly NightLight service which was very well attended this week. The theme was “Forgiveness” and several of those present led the prayers, a Contemplation period, and finally a talk from the Rev Alex, all based on the main theme. The next NightLight Service will be at the beginning of May.

The Next Few Days at St Mary’s

We move towards Easter starting today, Friday 8th April, with our organist, Nick Wilson, giving his “Thought for the Day” on BigglesFM, at 8.15am. He can be found talking to Alan on his breakfast show, by tuning to 104.8Mhz FM on your radio. His next talk with Alan will be after Easter on April 22nd. Following Nick at 9.30am, will be our toddlers and baby group, First Steps, meeting with their mum’s in the Church Hall, Hatley Road. Please note, the group will not be meeting next week as it’s Good Friday, but will be back the following Friday, April 22nd. Enquiries can answered by calling Sandy on 01767 260430. On April 14th, Maundy Thursday, the Mothers Union will be holding a meeting of meditation and prayer in the church hall at 2.30pm, followed by refreshments. All are welcome. Friday April 15th, is Good Friday. There are services in all the Benefice churches, the details are shown at the end of this column. We hope to see many townsfolk and visitors visiting us during Easter Week, all are very welcome.

Holy Week Services All services at St Mary’s Church unless shown otherwise

10 April: Palm Sunday

10am: Joint Service (Cockayne Hatley& Zoom )

11, 12, 13 April

7pm: Compline (All on Zoom)

14 April: Maundy Thursday

7:30pm: Holy Communion followed by The Watch

15 April: Good Friday

12pm: Hour by the Cross (Sutton)

1pm: Hour by the Cross (Potton)

2pm: Hour by the Cross (Cockayne Hatley & Zoom )

17 April: Easter Day

9am: Holy Communion (Sutton)

10:30am: Holy Communion (Potton) with children’s Easter Egg Hunt!

Zoom Code for all Services using Zoom: 815 0338 3687