Blessing of Palms, Procession & Choral Eucharist – Palm Sunday

The preparation and penitence of Lent comes to a climax in the events of Holy Week and Easter. All are welcome to join us for the first of our special Holy Week services on Palm Sunday, 24th March, 2024, and we begin in celebratory mood.

Music at the Service

Setting: Communion Service in G – Charles Villiers Stanford
Canticle: Benedictus in B flat – Charles Villiers Stanford
Sermon: The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride’s
Anthem: Ingrediente Domino – George Malcolm
Organ Voluntary: Chorale Prelude ‘Valet will ich dir geben’ BWV 735 – Johann Sebastian Bach

The crowds hail Jesus as their Messiah, laying palms before him as he enters Jerusalem as they cry, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Yet Christ enters his own city in order to complete his work as our Saviour through his suffering, death and resurrection.

During our first hymn the congregation leaves the church and processes around it singing, blessed palm crosses held aloft as symbols of Jesus’s coming victory and in re-enactment of that triumphant day:

‘All glory, laud, and honour
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.’