East Garston

Approximately seventy people - adults, children and babies, gathered outside the Churchyard at East Garston for the annual Palm Sunday service. Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week and celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Crowds of people came out of the city to greet him, throwing down palm branches on the road.

Palms were in abundance and carried by children and adults alike. It was wonderful to see so many faces from our Sister Parish of Eastbury here at the service in East Garston.

Parishioners admire Dingle the Donkey - ( well, maybe not Sandra)

Meanwhile Dingle eyes up a potential meal

Many churches including East Garston - give out small crosses made from palm leaves, as a reminder of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem and his death on the cross. After the blessing of the Palm Crosses by Revd.Tony Cumberlidge, the procession, quietly made its way to the church.

Palm Sunday observances include processions with palm branches, the blessing of palms (burned and used on Ash Wednesday), and the construction of small palm crosses. All Saints' procession of palms was headed this year by 40 year old Dingle, who was herself lovingly looked after by village youngsters Stephanie and Lauren. Dingle was very kindly brought along by Mrs Liz Brunskill, from Lambourn, and gave great significance to the occasion - as well as much joy, especially to the children.

The service in the church, with Dingle present, began with G.K.Chesterton’s poem, honouring the donkey

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me:
I am dumb, I keep my secret still.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
and ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet

Revd. Cumberlidge’s apposite sermon reflected on the very recent England football example of the power of crowd behaviour.
He drew an analogy with those far off events in Jerusalem, showing how susceptible a crowd can be to changing their allegiance.

Photos : Ken Tarbox
Text : Sally Wright : Ken Tarbox
Poem by G.K Chesterton