Newsletter - Palm Sunday 2025
- Benwell and Scotswood Team
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
13/4/25
Your update for Holy Week from the Benwell & Scotswood Team.
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Holy Week Timetable
Sunday 13 April
11am - Palm Sunday team service at Venerable Bede, NE4 8AP
Tuesday 15 April
4.30pm - baptism rehearsal at St James, NE15 6RS (baptism candidates only!) No Farsi bible study.
Wednesday 16 April
1-3pm - cleaning party at St James, NE15 6RS
Thursday 17 April
7.30pm - Maundy Thursday at St John's, NE15 6NW
The watch continues in silence until midnight for those who wish to stay.
Friday 18 April
2pm - Good Friday at St Margaret's, NE15 6AR
Saturday 19 April
8.30pm - The Easter liturgy with baptisms at St James, NE15 6RS
Sunday 20 April (Easter Day)
9.30am - St John's Holy Communion
(No St Margaret's Holy Communion)
11am - Parish Eucharist at St James, NE15 6RS
Future dates for your diaries
Sun 27 April
St John's annual meeting to take place immediately after the service at 9.30am
Wed 21 May
7pm, PCC at St Margaret's
Sunday 25 May
11am, Team service followed by APCM at St James
Fr Chris will be away 2-16 May
News
Holy Week 2025
You are invited to journey with us through Holy Week, when we recall the story of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. The greatest story of hope in the face of suffering.
Palm Sunday
13th April, 11am
At Venerable Bede, NE4 8AP
We remember Christ’s triumphant arrival into Jerusalem with a procession outside the church bearing palm crosses and branches and singing. There is then a dramatic reading of the passion story and Holy Communion.
Maundy Thursday
17th April, 7.30pm
At St John's Benwell Village, NE15 6NW
We recall how Jesus shared his last meal with friends before he was betrayed with washing of feet and the stripping of decoration from the church. After the service the church remains open for the ‘watch’ until midnight for silent prayer.
Good Friday
18th April, 2pm
at St Margaret's Scotswood, NE15 6AR
We gather at the foot of the cross to remember that Jesus suffered and died for us and meditate on Christ's sacrifice. With veneration of the cross.
The Easter Vigil
Saturday 30th March, 8.30pm
at St James Benwell, NE15 6RS
The climax of Holy Week and the most important celebration of the Christian calendar. Beginning outside after sunset with the Easter fire, before we move inside for the great celebration of Easter and the baptism of several of our adult members. A service full of symbolism with light, music, and water, we rejoice in Christ’s bursting from the tomb, bringing us all hope of new life.
Easter Morning
Sun 20th April
9.30am at St John's
11am at St James
We gather for Holy Communion on Easter morning.
Cleaning party at St James
On Wednesday 16th April, we will be giving St James a good clean and settinng up the church to prepare for Easter day.
If you can come give us a hand then join us from 1-3pm.
Parish Eucharist moves to St James from Easter
The 11am Parish Eucharist 'hub service' will move to St James from Easter day and will remain there every Sunday during the warmer months.
Easter Flowers
If you would like to make a donation towards the flowers for our Easter celebration, please speak to Liz and/or Olwyn.
Holy Week Rota
Please double-check the rotas for our holy week services, if you are unable to do one of the jobs, please let us know asap.
Also if you are not on the rota for something, and would like to be, please let us know!
Embrace - Gaza appeal
Conflict across the Middle East is unfolding with relentless intensity, devastating the lives of millions. Even as they live through these dark times, Embrace’s partners in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon are working tirelessly to bring the light of Christ amidst the suffering.
You can click below to donate online. If you would rather donate by phone, please call 01494 897950.
Palm Sunday
Red
Intercessions
Prayers for others:
Sonja and Stan
John Nicholson
Malcolm Smith
John Peterson
Maria Hawthorn
Herbert Agbeko
Pauline Nelson
Michelle & Peter Wilson
Alan & Maureen Taylor
Irene Foskett
Pat Law
Moe and Mary
Christina Wilson
Diane Humphrey
Nellie Galbraith
Isla
We stand with Christ in his suffering.
For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For grace to seek out those habits of sin which mean spiritual death,
and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For Christian people, that through the suffering of disunity there may
grow a rich union in Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them, that
our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly for
justice and peace,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those in the darkness and agony of isolation,
that they may find support and encouragement,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure, or sorrow, feel
that God is far from them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
That we, with those who have died in faith,
may find mercy in the day of Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
If you would like to add someone to the prayer list please email church@benwellscotswood.com
The name will stay on the list for 1 month unless requested to be long-term.
Reading
Philippians 2.5–11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,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.