Palm Sunday services today:

* 9.30 am Family service with the music group in St Andrew's Chelmondiston

* 10.45 am Holy Communion in St Mary's Shotley

The next Prayers for Peace meeting for the benefice is on Tuesday 9 April (rather than 2nd). We will be back in St Andrew's church and as usual start at 7.00pm. The meeting lasts 30 minutes. 

Tomorrow, Monday 25 March to join Chelmondiston Church of England Primary School for their Easter Service at 10.00am in St Andrew's.

After the service we will be planting three trees on the Old School Field, to replace the trees we have lost the last few years. 

Palm Sunday

Gospel

Mark 11.1–11

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.

If anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?" just say this, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately."

'They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, 'What are you doing, untying the colt?' They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.

Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, 'Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!'

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Or

Psalm

Psalm 118.1–2, 19–24

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever. Let Israel now proclaim,

'His mercy endures for ever.' Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have become my salvation.

The stone which the builder rejected ︎has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord's doing, ︎ and it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made; ︎ we will rejoice and be glad in it.