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| This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday and marks the start of what many Christians around the world refer to as Holy Week. Beginning with Jesus’ ‘triumphal’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Holy Week is an opportunity to be slowed down … to walk day by day and remember the events that led up to Jesus death and resurrection and all that means for us and for our world. Our gatherings are gentle and leave space for pondering and questions and conversation, and we make no assumptions about where you are (or might feel you need to be) on your own spiritual journey through this week. You can just be you. We hope that you’ll be able to spend some time with us this week. But as always, we encourage you to do what is most life-giving for you in this season. PALM SUNDAY This Sunday, 24th March at 3pm we’ll be meeting at the Ibis Hotel to celebrate Palm Sunday – Naomi will be speaking and we’re going to share a time of acoustic musical worship together. MAUNDY THURSDAY COMMUNITY MEAL & COMMUNION On Maundy Thursday evening (28th March) we’ll be meeting together (from 6:30pm for a 6:45pm start) at the Ibis to share a special community meal, and a time of musical worship and communion together. The meal will be ‘bring and share’ – feel free to bring along something home made or shop bought (and if that’s not possible, just bring yourself!). Children are very welcome. “Maundy Thursday” (also known as Holy Thursday) is the day during Holy Week when we remember the last supper that Jesus shared with his disciples and friends. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus’ words “I give you a new commandment. All are welcome to join us for the meal and to celebrate communion with us. GOOD FRIDAY Throughout Lent, we’ve been drawing on the beautiful, soulful readings and litanies provided by our friends at enfleshed.com. We are not meeting together physically as a community on Good Friday (29th March) but we do invite you to engage (at your own pace) with this contemplative service of scripture and song written by Rev Anna Blaedel of Enfleshed.com. EASTER SUNDAY On Easter Sunday 31st March we will meet at the Ibis Hotel (Arcadian) on Sunday afternoons at 3pm for a special all-ages worship gathering. There will be full-band worship music, stories, arty activities and of course … lots of cake. Our pastor Danielle will be speaking to us about the ‘Slow Resurrection’ of Easter – new life doesn’t always come as quickly as we like. So what does it mean to hope for resurrection in the mean time? We’ll be livestreaming this gathering to our YouTube channel for those not able to join us in person. |
Our final online Lent ‘Rocketman’ group takes place this Monday evening at 7:30pm via Zoom. You are very welcome to join. Please note that our final in-person Wednesday ‘Queer Stories’ Group at the Loft has been cancelled for this week. We’ll be posting more about upcoming IG Group opportunities soon. Let us know if we can do anything to help you join in with these various worship gatherings and events. If you’d like to chat with someone or have any questions, feel free to drop us an email at newchurchbirmingham@gmail.com. |
