The journey’s beginning, where will it end?

Just once a year, here at St Stephen’s, we let our hair down and we process through the streets.  Not something we do lightly, normally we practice our faith sitting in pews in a warm church, hoping not to make too much noise so as not to disturb our neighbours. 

But on Palm Sunday we celebrate the beginning of a journey that changed the world.  Holy Week starts today.  On several occasions this week we will be celebrating outside of our church building, the enormity of the events we are celebrating cannot be contained in our church building. 

Today we are processing through the streets of our parish, joining with all the Christians living here, following our donkey, and in spirit entering into the journey that Jesus made nearly 2000 years ago which led him to the cross and resurrection. 

On Thursday evening we meet in the church hall to commemorate the last supper he celebrated with his friends, when they had their feet washed by him. 

At Sunrise (5.50am) on Easter Sunday morning the church itself becomes the tomb in which our Saviour lay, and we will light the Easter fire of the resurrection outside and finally bring the light and joy of the resurrection into the church itself.

Bernhard Schunemann

13 April 2025