This week’s Worship
Palm Sunday 10th April
9:45 am Croston Eccumenical gathering outside Church,
with Donkeys for the blessing Of Palms followed
by a joyous procession to the Croft Field
and back.
10:30 am Eccumenical Worship at Trinity Methodist
11:00: am Holy Communion, Bretherton
11:00: am Holy Communion, Mawdesley
Holy Wednesday 13th April
10:00 am Midweek Holy Communion, Croston
Maundy Thursday 14th April
7:00 pm Maundy Holy Communion, Croston
Good Friday 15th April
10:00 am Family Worship, Bretherton
10:00 am Family Worship, Mawdesley
2 – 3 pm The last hour, Croston
Easter Day, Sunday 17th April
9:15 am Holy Communion, Croston
11:00 am Holy Communion, Bretherton
11:00 am Holy Communion, Mawdesley
Mawdesley Prayer Group, Tues. 12th April 10:45 for 11am start.
Meet at Robin Hood Cottage (Bluestone Lane, opposite Nook Lane) Hope you can come and join us. Please bring a Bibles and the “signs of life” booklets which we’ll be using as a basis for study during Lent.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Palm Sunday marks out the start of Holy Week where we begin the journey through all the events that lead us to Good Friday and Easter Day. On Palm Sunday, we remember that the crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem turned within days and played such a significant part in the events of the last days of Jesus’ earthly life. Luke tells us that the crowd grew as Jesus rode along into Jerusalem, people were spreading their cloaks in the road. It doesn’t seem that it was an organized political event but rather a spontaneous gesture of enthusiasm. The movement grew as he neared the city following the path down from the Mount of Olives, the crowd began to praise God joyfully for all the deeds of power they had seen. When I visited Jerusalem on a pilgrimage a few years ago I began to understand the impact on the tightly enclosed walled city the crowd would have. Visitors to Jerusalem cannot help but be struck by the narrow dimensions of the Old City, with its labyrinth of small shops and stalls, each displaying their wares in the confined space outside. Even now, there is barely room for visitors to pass, let alone a crowd following a man sitting astride a donkey, probably with a will of its own, and reluctant to move ahead without constant prodding. Add to that a wildly enthusiastic following crowd, chanting slogans loaded with Messianic expectation, and we get some idea of the impact of the moment, it would have been so highly charged full of expectation.
It was an explosive situation in which the leader was expected to respond to the crowd by fulfilling their hopes and delivering their aspirations. But as we know Jesus did nothing of the sort, he had come to Jerusalem, the city of God’s peace, to claim the city and the hearts and minds of its people in the name of his heavenly Father.
But it all turned out to be a mission which ended, in death and apparent failure, which was perhaps inevitable?
The crowd which had welcomed Jesus with wild enthusiasm on Palm Sunday, within just a few days, were calling for his crucifixion.
Being part of a crowd can be a powerful feeling, where we can leave behind usual restraints and inhibitions.
As we think of the crowds surrounding Jesus on Palm Sunday, and the part they played in the events of the following days, it can be a good time to examine our own faith, and our own commitment to the crucified and risen Lord.
Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves, and he knew the crowds who lined the road to cheer him into Jerusalem would soon change and call for his blood. The disciples themselves would also become afraid and run away when the going got tough. So this week we are asked what kind of Christians we are. Are we ‘fair weather’ friends of Jesus, or are we prepared to follow him through the difficult times as well?
Wishing you a blessed and most Holy week ahead.
Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
Please be Vigilant
Flagstone thefts from churches in the Northwest
Please keep an extra watch over the churches
and report any suspicious activity to the police
immediately, also take a note of number plates.
Daily Lenten devotions
Signs of Life – Follow us online each day during lent as we journey with Jesus through Johns Gospel, booklets are also available in church.
Google – #LiveLent 2022: Embracing Justice
Offers a daily Bible reading, a short reflection and a prayer, as well as a practical challenge linked to the week’s theme. An accompanying child’s version is also available to help children and their families explore how we can live well together.
Covid Guidance
- Do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the past seven days
- We are no longer required to wear face masks but please be mindful of those who may be less confident and choose to wear a mask.
Please do continue your support of the Food Bank
Thank you for your support throughout 2021 but as we all hear in the news financial pressures are increasing and more families are struggle with the basic necessities, your donations are so important and will continue to make a real difference to people’s lives.
Facebook & YouTube Online Worship
An Act of Worship from Blackburn Cathedral will be available every Sunday from 9am. You can view this on the Cathedral YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4GsctW6SLc or on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BlackburnCathedral
This weeks Church of England worship for Palm Sunday comes from
St John’s Goole in Diocese of Sheffield.
Curate, Rev Joshua Blunt leads the service, and Rev Hannah Patton, Vicar, St John’s Goole is preaching.
You can view this from 9am on Sunday at https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland or via
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66pMA1xlKhY
St. Michael & All Angels
Childrens Sunday Club every 1st and 3rd Sunday
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Please pray for the family and friends of the recently departed:
Jean Rigby, Ella Snape
Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord may light perpetual
shine upon them, may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Dates for funerals
Ella Snape 1:45 pm, Monday 11th April, Croston Parish Church
Jean Rigby 12:30 pm Tuesday 26th April, Bretherton Parish Church
A prayer for Ukraine:
Almighty God, seated above all the affairs of humankind and sovereign over nations and leaders,
hear our prayer for Ukraine at this time of war,
that lives may be spared, that national boundaries be respected and that forces of aggression be restrained.
Grant, Lord God, peace in your world in our time.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Also pray for the people of Russia
that they may be freed from this ruthless dictator.
Humanitarian Disaster – ways to support for the people of Ukraine
See our Facebook page and posters in Church for ways to support this locally. The disasters and emergency committee appeal can be found at: www.dec.org.uk which is an effective way to offer your support.
Could you make an Easter donation to Church?
All our churches rely upon the generous donations of our parishioners to provide the financial support that both maintain our buildings and provide care and support to all those in the local community. Although some use standing orders or other methods of online giving, many donors use cash, either on the plate or in weekly planned giving envelopes.
Any donations you could make will be greatly received and one off donations or regular giving can be made by using ‘Online banking’ facilities, the bank details you will require to do this for each church are:
Bretherton – St. John the Baptist
St. Johns Bretherton PCC Account,
No: 10031333, Sort code: 16 17 41
Croston – St. Michael & All Angels
St. Michaels PCC Account,
No. 11215462, Sort Code 16-17-41
Also if you have no facility to transfer funds electronically, envelopes can be dropped off with our Treasurer Derek Alty,
12 Lostock Road, Croston.
Mawdesley w Bispham St. Peter
Mawdesley PCC Account,
No 87032805, Sort code 60 24 02.
If you decide to make a donation electronically you may be given the opportunity to set up a standing order, which would greatly help support our regular income.
The Collect
True and humble king, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory. Amen
First Reading
The Suffering Servant of Isaiah’s prophecy declares his unshakeable faith in God despite the adversity which he faces.
Isaiah 50.4-9a
The servant of the LORD said: The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens – wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards.
I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.
It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
Second Reading
Paul declares his faith in the incarnate Lord, crucified and now risen. He urges his Christian converts to be of the same mind.
Philippians 2.5-11
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 humbled 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.
The Gospel
The events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus after he has shared his last supper with the disciples. Jesus foresees his betrayal by the disciples and his arrest by the Jewish authorities.
Luke 23.1-49
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.’
Then 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.
When the centurion saw 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.
Prayer after Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant, and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation: give us the mind to follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father. Amen
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