Palm Sunday!

My sisters and brothers in Christ,

 

On Ash Wednesday we began our spiritual journey of renewal, a period of 40 days, known as Lent.  Next Sunday, known as Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of a week that is special to Christians throughout the whole world, Holy Week.  We begin our Holy Week celebration with palm branches in our hands, recalling the crowds that cried both “Hosanna!” and “Crucify!” celebrating Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish his paschal mystery.

 

On Maundy Thursday we begin our three-day celebration of the passion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the sacred paschal Triduum.  Let us make this a solemn three day retreat, and together come to know more deeply the heart of our faith, the heart of our loving God.  I encourage you to make every effort possible to participate in our services of Holy Week.

 

Fr. Henry

Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday.  And as you meditate on them, consider the question of the week:

As I carry home the blessed palms today, acknowledging Jesus as my king what one specific act can I commit to this week that will declare, without words, Jesus’ reign over my life?

 

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark 14:1-15:47 (the Passion)

 

Philippians 2:10-11

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.

 

This Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday – remembering the joyous arrival and welcome of Jesus to Jerusalem, being lifted up to praises of “Hosanna” and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”.  And we know that as we go through Holy Week, we will see those shouts of praise turn to shouts of “crucify him”.  But Easter morning we know he rises again.  And as Philippians has predicted, the whole earth shall again welcome Jesus with shouts of praise, confessing that Jesus Chris is Lord! Amen!

Maunday Thursday, April 2 – 7:00 pm

Good Friday, April 3 – 7:00 pm

Easter Vigil, April 4 – 7:00 pm

Easter Sunday, April 5  – 1:00 pm

Our friends and ecumenical partners at Incarnation Lutheran Church have invited members of All Souls to join them for Stations of the Cross on Good Friday (April 3) @ 4:00 pm.

1101 Lancaster Ave, Reading, PA 19607

We have special containers for you to sacrifice for Lent with your offering.  Any amount contributed will go towards the cost of preparing meals at Opportunity House this winter and spring.

Please bring a special offeringthis Sunday if you would like to contribute to the cost of the flowers used to decorate the Chapel for Easter.   Donations of any amount are welcomed.

  Bishop Rick will be at All Souls on Sunday, April 12 to install Fr. Henry as our new pastor.  He will also receive new members into the ECC.  If you are new and have not been received into the church, but have already been baptized – this might be great time to do this. Please let Fr. Henry know if you are interested in Membership Classes ASAP.