31 March

Dear friends,

We call it Holy Week, the final dramatic week of Jesus' life on earth, and it begins with the Palm Sunday procession down the Mount of Olives and into Jerusalem.

Some years ago I stood on the Mount of Olives, and looking across the Kedron Valley towards the old city wall, wondered what the day would have been like. 

How big were the crowds who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem?

And what did they make of the man who appeared riding a humble donkey instead of being mounted on a warrior horse?

Given the enthusiastic welcome, little could the disciples have imagined that the crowds would soon turn against Jesus and call for his crucifixion

Surprising, disturbing, unexpected - Holy Week is all of that and more - as it leads us from the pain and humiliation of Calvary's cross to the life transforming joy of Easter dawn.

It begins on Palm Sunday - it begins with shouts of Hosanna - as we welcome our donkey riding King

Russell Barr

Locum minister