St Mark’s Newtownards celebrates Palm Sunday in the sunshine!
With 2012 being the year where everything seems to be happening in Northern Ireland, the parishioners of St Mark’s Newtownards felt this was certainly the year to mark Palm Sunday in an extremely special way.
Organisers were to put together an event which would recreate the excitement and energy felt on the very first Palm Sunday when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.
With Parade’s Commission forms complete and permission granted, all was required was sunshine, crowds and the all–important donkey from Ark Farm…for the very first Palm Sunday Procession to proceed.
Sunday 1st April saw everything listed above and much, much more! The sun was shining down on the crowds that had gathered at Kiltonga Duck Pond and with the arrival of Grace the donkey, the crowds enjoyed a time of outdoor praise before following Grace into the town.
En route, the procession participated in praise shouts and songs of praise as they made their way along Belfast Road, onto Church Street. The procession also stopped outside Ards Community Hospital to pray for the sick and those who care for them before going into the church grounds.
On arrival, parishioners who had already made their way to the church came outside in the glorious sunshine and joined the procession as everyone made their way round the church behind Grace before entering the church with the final praise shout.
The few hundred who had gathered at St Mark’s to celebrate Palm Sunday then enjoyed the All–Age Worship which included the usual blend of music, puppets, creative worship and everyone with great smiles on their faces.
The final part of Palm Sunday celebration was a Bring & Share Lunch in the Parish Centre where the fellowship was continued.
The Rector, Revd Chris Matchett reminded everyone at the service that the Palm Sunday Story should have the strapline “to be continued” as there are many opportunities to worship at St Mark’s during Holy Week especially on Good Friday at 7.30am for Morning Prayer, 10.00am for All–Age Worship, 2.00pm for the Last Hour and 7.45pm for an Evening Service.
The parishioners of St Mark’s took their celebrations onto the streets to shine God’s love onto the community. You are warmly welcomed to share in their Easter Celebrations on Sunday 8 April with 9.00am Holy Communion, 10.30am Family Communion complete with an Easter Egg Hunt and 6.30pm for an Easter Praise Service.
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