Opening Prayer Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Thought for today Today we recall Jesus’ final ride into Jerusalem which was full of visitors and pilgrims getting ready to celebrate the Passover. The people of God who knew their scriptures would have known that the prophecies foretold that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem through a particular gate riding on a donkey. It is therefore of no surprise that when Jesus did exactly this – that the people recognised the meaning and reacted with joy. For God had fulfilled his promise and sent them their long awaited Messiah – the promised one of God, the anointed one and their King. Today we remember that the final week of Jesus’ life began with joy, a sense of expectation and the waving of palm branches – but also recall that this joy evaporated even more quickly than our way of life has changed during this pandemic. For in less than a week, Jesus would be put to death and die for our sins, so we might live forever in heaven.

Let us Pray Lord, be with us today and everyday. Pour out your holy spirit that we may see your plans and purposes for our generation. Lord help us this week to recall the last week of your life. Amen

Palm Sunday Collect Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AMEN

Prayer of blessing - May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.

Closing Note This message is sent to you with love and prayers as: a word of encouragement and a sign of hope in these quite extraordinary times.