2015 Holy Week at St. Mungo's

Holy Week started with Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his triumphant return to Jerusalem. To give atmosphere to the story St. Mungo's was decorated with palm plants and a donkey which the Messy Church children had made a few years ago, 

We heard how it was spring time, the flowers were blooming, and all the people were happy because they were going to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the great feasts of the year. Many people were especially eager this year to reach Jerusalem because they heard that Jesus was going to be there, and they wanted to be sure to see Him.

Just outside the city Jesus said to two of his disciples, “In the little village of Bethphage you will find a young donkey tied up.  He has never been ridden before, but bring him here for Me to ride into Jerusalem.  If anyone asks you why you are untying him, just say, “The Lord hath need of him.’ And the owners will let him go.

The disciples no doubt were a little wary, but everything happened as Jesus had said and they returned with a donkey which they threw some of their clothes on its back to make a saddle. We think a donkey more of a working animal, but they were regarded differently in the land where Jesus lived.  There the donkey was considered an honorable animal.  It was the animal on which kings rode when they were about to take over their thrones.

On their way to Jerusalem people began to crowd the road.  News had reached Jerusalem that Jesus was coming. The people began to “rejoice greatly” as the prophet had said they would.  Some people honored Jesus by spreading their coats in the road for His donkey to walk over. The people began cutting down big branches from tall palm trees and spread them in the road. This was quite common to help make a brightly colored path for a king to travel over. Some waved their long palm branches, shouting “Hosanna to the son of David!"  (Hosanna means Praise the Lord).

Some men named Pharisees, members of the Jewish sect that emphasized strict interpretation and observance of the law, heard the crowd praising Jesus and thought that he was getting too much attention from the people. They wanted to be the most important, but everyone was listening to Jesus instead.

Maundy Thursday was the next gathering in St. Mungo's led by Rev Lynsay Downs from St. James the Less, assisted by Rev Hugh Donaldson, and Rev Ruth Halley. The service commemorates the Maundy (the washing of feet), and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the apostles. Members of the congregation were able to come forward and take part in the washing of feet.

Good Friday - Each of the Penicuik churches then held their own Good Friday services, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. At St. Mungo's Rev Hugh Davidson presented the story in a different way, using the Billie Holiday song 'Strange fruit on southern trees' referring to the bodies of Negroes hanged by the infamous lynch mobs, as a modern day killing, similar to the tree of Golgotha, the tree of the cross, and the judicial killing of Jesus that was as near to a lynching as makes no odds.  

We then heard the story in the form of Seven words from the Cross,with Jack and Fiona Hutcheson responding to statements of the story from Hugh. They talked about 'forgiveness, paradise, the holy church, why hast thou forsaken me? Thirst,vinegar, finishing with the seventh word,  the final giving up of His life.

Hugh closed the theme by thinking about the Jews and holocaust,some 70 years ago. How nowhere in the modern world has the crucifixion of humanity been more starkly executed and it is to this dark scene that the cross of Christ repeatedly draws us.

Easter Sunday - The Resurrection day celebrations started at 6.00am with a gathering at St. Kentigerns church, at the back of St. Mungo's Rev Ruth Halley preached to some 20 early risers before heading to Broomhill to greet the sunrise. Though daylight appeared the thick fog that morning shrouded any sunshine trying to break through. Spirits were high as everyone knew that Christ had risen.

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