Holy Week is the chance to walk with Jesus to his death and then through to resurrection. If you are a Christian, you should make the effort to be in church as much as you can this week—and you absolutely should be in church on Easter Sunday unless there is a life-altering reason why you can’t!
If you are curious about faith, you will never find a better time to explore it.
Worship will be shared across all five churches in our benefice.
PALM SUNDAY
On Palm Sunday morning, 29 March, we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, ever aware of how quickly the crowds will turn. Truly a story for our own times! Holy Communion in all churches: 9.30 am at Poulshot and Worton; 11 am at Bulkington, Potterne, and Seend.
Sunday 29 March, 6.00-7.00 pm, Holy Cross Seend
Devizes Deanery Choral Evensong. Join this beautiful and ancient form of prayer and song, with bible readings from the timeless language of the King James Version. The Rt Rev’d Dr Andrew Rumsey will preach—as Bishop Andrew is being promoted to be Bishop of St Albans soon, this will probably be the last time we see him in one of our churches.
COMPLINE MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY
From Monday to Wednesday we will pray the ancient monks’ form of prayer called compline, lasting exactly half an hour, with music to help us transcend our daily routine and a short reflection.
Monday 30 March, 7.30-8.00 pm, St Mary’s, Potterne
‘The Kingdom.’ We think kingdoms are all about domination and control—but Jesus Christ showed us a more excellent way.
Tuesday 31 March, 7.30-8.00 pm, Christ Church, Worton
‘The Power.’ We find ourselves watching the news and thinking the world would be a better place if only we had the power to make others do what we think is best for them—but God used His power to set others free.
Wednesday 1 April, 7.30-8.00 pm, Christ Church, Bulkington
‘The Glory.’ Sometimes day-to-day life can be tough; yet we sometimes get glimpses that we are made for something far more wonderful.
Maundy Thursday, 2 April, 6.30-8.30 pm, Holy Cross, Seend
Starting with a simple shared meal for ourselves, we celebrate Jesus’ supper with friends which was the first Holy Communion. If you are coming to the meal, please let Jane Knowles know for catering purposes on Jane.knowles2@btinternet.com.
After the service, the watch at the Garden of Remembrance will be kept until 10 pm. People are free to come and go from this as they please.
Good Friday, 3 April, 10.00 am–12 noon, Holy Cross, Seend
‘Easter Workshop’ – a fun-packed event for kids and kids at heart to learn the Easter story, with lots of do and sing. Highly fidgeter-friendly!
Good Friday, 3 April, 11.00 am–12.30 pm, Worton and Marston
The annual Worton and Marston Family of Churches Good Friday walk sets off from Marston Methodist at 11 am, finishing at Christ Church with a soup lunch.
Good Friday, 3 April, 2.00-3.00 pm, St Peter’s, Poulshot
‘The Last Hour’ – prayer and meditation at the foot of the Cross to commemorate Christ’s sacrifice for us.
Easter Eve, 4 April, 8.00-9.00 pm, St Mary’s, Potterne
‘The Easter Vigil’ – Starting with a bonfire in the twilit churchyard, we process into the dark church in candle light, and then slowly turn it into a cathedral of light, joyful bells, and singing as we celebrate Jesus Christ, risen from the dead to open the way to eternal life for us.
Sunday 5 April—Easter Day services in all our churches as normal! If you call yourself a Christian, you should be at Church on Easter Day! Holy Communion at 8 am and 11 am in Potterne; 9.30 am in Poulshot and Worton; 10 am in Bulkington; 11 am in Seend.
And if you want more people to come to Church, why not bring some friends to some of our Holy Week services?
The Rev’d Gerry Lynch
Rector
Recent Sermons
- Compared with our other senses, there is something particularly potent and unavoidable about smell. The raising of Lazarus from the dead, already starting to stink, is a pungent tale! Read here.
- The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the well was a scandalous one with theological meaning that is rich for the picking. Read more.
- Is it bad of me that I often find myself wondering if Nicodemus was a bit thick when I read John 3. Read more.
- From Ukraine to the Holy Land to Iran to the USA to the forgotten wars like Sudan and Congo, the 2020s have been a bumpy decade. Where did it all go wrong?