Rehearsing in Settle, North Yorkshire, for Palm Sunday, April 9th are Daisy the Donkey and friends. Daisy comes from nearby Rathmell and at 10am on Palm Sunday the three congregations of Settle Giggleswick, and Rathmell will join together for a procession from St Alkeda’s Giggleswick, to Settle Holy Ascension, just half a mile away.
Some churches are reporting a difficulty obtaining donkeys for Palm Sunday processions. These remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey as crowds shouted Hosannah, waved Palm leaves and strew them ahead of him on the ground, some days before his arrest and crucifixion. In the Gospel of Luke the search for a donkey led the disciples of Jesus to the village of Bethpage. There they found the unbroken colt of a donkey, just as Jesus had said they would (Luke 19:29–30).
Palm Sunday Live brings Biblical events to Bingley Town Centre
Palm Sunday Live builds on the Popular Bingley Nativity live. In the afternoon of Palm Sunday, a procession led by a donkey will snake through Bingley from the Five Rise shopping centre . Characters will be dressed in period costume recreating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
"We will be highlighting the Palm Sunday Story and giving out Palm Crosses as we go along the Main Street", said one of the organisers. "All are welcome to join us, or watch along the route as the crowd, cheering Jesus and his disciples with the donkey!"
The procession will begin at 2pm
Palm Sunday procession through city of Bradford
The Dean of Bradford and Cathedral Clergy will be leading its first Palm Sunday Procession through the city in living memory. Also leading the procession will be Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo who is visiting the Diocese from Sudan. Everyone is welcome to join the procession … palm crosses will be supplied or bring your own!
The Cathedral’s Canon Precentor, the Revd Canon Paul Maybury said “We are looking forward to re-enacting the Palm Sunday story when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem amidst great celebrations. Bradford city has not seen such sight before!”
The procession will gather in Centenary Square at 9.50am, and move along Market Street, arriving in the Cathedral Precincts at 10.10am to meet the congregation before everyone processes into the Cathedral. Following the Choral Eucharist service refreshments will be served.