NEWS & VIEWS

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week and the commemoration of the dramatic events leading up to Christ’s death on Good Friday. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, hailed as ‘Son of David’ by crowds with palm branches, is in sharp contrast to his betrayal, arrest on trumped-up charges and crucifixion by the authorities later in the week. You are invited to enter the dramatic events of your salvation by participation in the liturgies of the coming week.

EASTER MEMORIAL TREE As has become our custom, we invite you write the names of your loved ones departed on the tag with this week’s pew sheet and return with it on Easter Day, when during the 10am Mass you will be invited to hang your tag on the Easter Memorial Tree, which will then be blessed. Those whose names are added to the tree will be prayed for during the Easter season daily Masses.

THE EASTER TRIDUUM begins Thursday. This ‘three days’ begin with the Maundy Thursday liturgy (at 8pm here), continues with the Good Friday Liturgy (2pm) and culminates in the ‘solemnity of solemnities’ – the Easter Vigil – at 8pm on Saturday. These three are, liturgically, all one service and you are invited to enter the drama of your salvation by being present for each.

FOOT WASHING Thursday. “So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Twelve feet needed for this moving ceremony on Maundy Thursday. Please put your name on the list to volunteer. No experience necessary!

EASTER CLEAN UP 11am Saturday. Please come along for Morning Prayer at 10.30 and afterwards help clean our church for Easter. Many hands make light work.

EASTER VIGIL 8pm Saturday. This celebrates the greatest event in history, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The beautiful service takes us into the darkened church by the light of the newly blessed Easter Candle, through the events of our salvation to the great and dramatic proclamation of the Resurrection. Please make every effort to be at this beautiful celebration.

EASTER DAY 10am next Sunday. Our Festival Mass of Easter - as our Resurrection celebration continues - will be followed by a ‘Champagne breakfast’.

ILFORD COMMUNITY GROCERY for £5 a year anyone can fill their grocery basket twice a week for £4 each time at City Gates, 25-29 Clements Road, where there are also free training courses. Details at communitygrocery.org.uk/ilford or from 020 3422 6511.

MESSIAH Ilford’s St Alban’s Singers will perform excerpts from Handel’s great oratorio at St John’s Seven Kings at 7.30pm on Wednesday 12 April. Admission is free but a collection will be taken for The House of Hope (bahay-ng-pag-asa.org), a Philippines children’s charity. The choir, which rehearses at St John’s on Tuesday nights, is also recruiting singers. No experience necessary; membership is free! For more information contact stalbans.singers@gmail.com /
07984 338978 / 020 8550 5987.

REGULAR GIVING We rely on the people who worship at St Mary’s to cover the costs associated with our church. Financial giving to fund the ministry of the Church is part of being a Christian and an essential part of our commitment to our faith. Please, if you don’t already, would you consider giving a regular amount each month? We are really struggling to make ends meet! No amount is too small. Using our parish giving plan is easy and you are in full control (and Margaret Quinney will be pleased to help you if needed).

PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM We have booked twelve places for a pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine at Walsingham (walsinghamanglican.org.uk) from Monday 15 - Thursday 18 April 2024. The total price - including full board and travel by coach - is estimated at £380 each. Please sign the list at the back of church if you would like to come, and secure your place with a £10 deposit. If you would like further information, please ask Hilary Hardwick.

ELECTORAL ROLL REVISION Our official membership register, known as the Electoral Roll, is being revised from Saturday 15 April until Monday 1 May. If you are already on the roll you need do nothing. If you are a regular here, and are baptised and aged 16 or over, we strongly encourage you to join. If you are unsure, or for more information, please ask Emma Jeffery - emma@stmarysilford.org.uk. Application forms are available on paper in church and to download with the link below. 

INTERCESSION

OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE PRAY FOR

the sick, distressed and bereaved
John & Joan Cassidy, Richard Holland, Sam, Lucy Ball, Amberly Crediton, Kathy Valentine, Margaret Harding, Mel Taylor, Bernard Street, Muriel Masters, Keith Holland, Helen Johnson, Joe & Sally Cox, Kay Higgins, Edward, Peter Decker, Matthew, Jacqui & Leslie Haigh, Bibi Bacchus, Awin, Margaret Hopwood, Pope Francis; Linda Decker

the recently departed

those whose anniversaries of death fall this week

Monday

Leonard Smith

Tuesday

Ian Ogilvie

Wednesday

Allem Miller

Thursday

Kathleen Horne, Frank Weatherley, Beryl Waghorn

Friday

William Hayhoe

please pray especially for

those affected by gun crime

ORDER OF SERVICE