Our Benefice Palm Sunday Service in Aynho drew in over 100 people, more than doubling attendance from last year.We are indebted to our volunteers who helped bring the service together as we prepared for the beginning of Holy Week and the most significant 8 days in the Christian calendar. We were helped by our volunteer team of Crucifer, Acolytes, and Lector, who led the procession. Our retired clergy and lay readers who kept the service and the Rector on track. And we are grateful to the Tythe Barn at Launton, who brought their donkeys Del Boy and Barnaby to help us process to the church. Palm Sunday marks the time that Christ entered into Jerusalem, six days before his Crucifixion on Good Friday. Christ entered Jerusalem not as a king on a warhorse, but on a donkey colt. it has been tradition for centuries for Christians to make a procession to church on this Sunday, to carry palm crosses, and to be joined by a donkey. Donkeys of course, in memory of this, have a dark cross of hair on their back and shoulders. In keeping with tradition, we did not have a sermon, but had the Passion Gospel read out, telling the whole account of the last supper, the arrest, trial, and the crucifixion. Parts were read by members of our congregation, and many people who had not been to a service before, along with some regulars, found hearing the whole story unexpectedly moving. Join us next year at Croughton.
A Huge thank you to all of the volunteers who met up to walk, cycle or even drive between churches in Northamptonshire to raise money for historic churches across the county and for our own parish church. All money raised is split between the traveller's home parish and Northamptonshire Historic Churches, to help maintain our places of worship.Hardy Travellers from Hinton-in-the-Hedges met to fortify themselves with bacon and sausage baps before heading out to rack up the miles. Most people either walked or cycles (some churches sent out mounted teams on horseback) and some of our older volunteers joined in by carpooling to each church. They were met by volunteers manning the sign in registers at the other churches, and offering refreshments to keep up energy during the day.Our volunteers broke for lunch just as the heavens opened, before returning safe and satisfied to our Parish.Well done to everyone. Do join us next year!
