Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The events of the first Palm Sunday are recorded in the gospels. Our Lord, by now famous for his preaching and his miracles, was cheered into Jerusalem by crowds who hoped he might lead some sort of uprising against the Roman occupying forces. Children sang and strew branches before him as he rode in on a donkey, fulfilling an ancient prophecy.
But we have to do more than remember the events. And although, at times, we may have a solemn entrance (without the donkey!), though we may have a procession with palm leaves and sing "Hosannas,” we still have to do more.
Through the reading of the Passion we have to be drawn into the mystery of Christ's suffering. We ask that we too may be prepared to accept our own cross and follow Jesus' example of complete self-giving. We pray for a share in his suffering so that we may also share in his rising.
HOLY WEEK AT SAINT MARTIN’S
PALM SUNDAY - 28th March
8.00 am Low Mass
10.00 am THE BLESSING OF PALMS AND PARISH - MASS
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY - 29th-31st March
7.00 pm Low Mass and Meditation
MAUNDY THURSDAY - 1st April
7.00 pm MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
GOOD FRIDAY - 2nd April
1.00 pm Children’s Service
3.00 pm LITURGY OF THE LORD’S PASSION
HOLY SATURDAY - 3rd April
10.00 am Office of Readings and Morning Prayer
8.00 pm BLESSINGOF THE EASTER CANDLE, VIGIL - AND FIRST MASS OF EASTER
EASTER SUNDAY- 4th April
8.00 am Low Mass
11.00 am SOLEMN PONTIFICAL MASS
- with the Rt. Reverend Jonathan Goodall - - our Bishop
PLEASE NOTE-ON THIS SUNDAY 11am START
THE SOLEMN PONTIFICAL MASS WITH BISHOP JONATHAN GOODALL WILL BE BROADCAST ON EASTER SUNDAY AS THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY OF CELEBRATION. TO TUNE IN VIA FACEBOOK TO JOIN IN OUR WORSHIP PLEASE OPEN THE FACEBOOK APP ON YOUR PHONE OR DEVICE AND SEARCH FOR:
“St Martin’s Parish Church, Fenny Stratford “
PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT NO SERVICES WILL BE BROADCAST AFTER THAT UNTIL SUNDAY THE 18th APRIL. NOW THAT THE INFECTION RATE HAS FALLEN SIGNIFICANTLY AND SOCIETY IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING LOCKDOWN, AND THAT NEARLY ALL THOSE CLASSED AS VULNERABLE HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST, AND IN MANY CASES, SECOND VACCINATION, IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT WE MAY COME TOGETHER IN PERSON ONCE AGAIN AS A PARISH FAMILY.
OTHER NOTICES
A big thank you to those who have already responded with generosity to the appeal for funds that was made recently. We will be embarking shortly on work on the fabric of the Church and Vestry Hall as stage one of a three stage program of repairs identified in our last quinquennial report. Things have been difficult over this last year because of the Pandemic and the repeated lockdowns while we still had to continue to meet all the usual expenses of running our Church and buildings.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE A DONATION TOWARDS THE COST OF THE FORTHCOMING REPAIRS.
CHEQUES CAN BE MADE PAYABLE TO:
Saint Martin’s P. C. C. No. 1 A/c
MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONTINUED GENEROSITY.
PLEASE don’t forget to contact me if you have any prayer requests or Mass intentions you would like me to offer at Mass or if would like someone added to our parish prayer list of the Sick or Departed.
My contact details are as follows:
Telephone: 01908 372825
Email: victorbullock@talktalk.net
I am also available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 12 noon.
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION is also available at this time.
Please continue to remember the following in your prayers:
Firstly:
For a worthy offering and good keeping of Holy Week that we may be drawn deeper into the mysteries of our faith and grow in our love of Christ Jesus our Lord.
For a continued drop in the rate of Covid infections and in the number of hospitalised victims.
For our society and people that we may continue to work together, that we may see the gradual and permanent ending of Lockdown.
For the continued rapid dissemination of the Vaccines for Covid 19 and for all working for this end.
Those who have found themselves out of work, particularly those who have families or other dependents to support.
Those who are despairing at the future of their businesses and those that work for them.
Those who continue to live in fear of Covid and are living with anxiety and depression.
For the Government in their seeking solutions for the common good at this time.
For peace to reign within our homes and amongst one another.
For the elderly, housebound and those living in residential and nursing homes.
For our Ambulance Service and for our other Emergency Service Staff and for Milton Keynes Hospital and all who work there.
For Bishop Jonathan and all our parish clergy as they seek to continue to make present in our midst the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, the Sacraments of Christ and offer continuing Pastoral care.
For Genesis Abbey, the Mother House of the Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict. For it’s Abbot Michael-John Austin, the community and for those new to its life.
For the Sick:
For Amie Reed, Rhodie Howard, Paul Ward, Jean Holden, Peter White, Roger D’Elia, Norman Kent, Denis & Yvonne Simpson, David Lingham, Sandra Walduck, and Doris Weatherley.
For the Departed:
For Shirley Milburn, John McDonald Moore, Grace Moore and all who have died recently, and for all those who have died of Covid 19.
We pray too for all whose years mind falls at this time, among them Iris Collier, John Mead, Joan Peacock, William Meredith, Doris Eames, Alfred Duffield, Reginald Gammage and Lily Redmond. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.
And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.
We
May God bless you and keep you as you walk with Christ through this Great Week.
Father Victor