Clent Parish Church

St. Leonard’s is a pretty, rural church, set below the south flank of Clent and Walton Hills, in the north of the county of Worcestershire. We are part of the Stourbridge Deanery of churches in the Diocese of Worcester. Clent was formerly part of the United Benefice of Clent & Belbroughton with Fairfield. Recent re-organisation affiliates St. Leonard with the neighbouring churches of St. John and St. Saviour in Hagley, all under the guidance of Rev. Richard Newton. Although Sunday services are temporarily suspended we are delighted that you have arrived here on our web.

A Prayer for NHS staff

Lord Jesus, who healed the sick and gave them new life, be with doctors, nurses and carers, as they act as agents of your healing touch. In desperate times, keep them strong yet loving; and when their work is done, be with them in their weariness and in their tears. Amen Our address is: St. Leonard’s Square, Church Avenue, Clent. Our postcode is: DY9 9PN Google map of our location . ________________________________________

WELCOME

Services this month: APRIL

At the direction of the Archbishops ALL C. of E. CHURCHES are now CLOSED You are invited to “attend” Sunday Worship on Zoom - at 10.30 am this Palm Sunday. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/2742533710?pwd=R1dnMk9hdjc3L0JVR29Xc1lSc2Y2UT09 Meeting ID: 274 253 3710 Password: 868619 Download the Order of Service here During Holy Week there will be Serivces of Compline each evening at 8:00pm (watch this space for Zoom links) and on Good Friday, there will be a service at 2:00pm (watch this space for a Zoom link) “Belonging to Christ has never been measured by the number of people in church for a Sunday Service but by the service we offer to others every day.” There is an alternative service available ALL WEEK on this website - on the next page <This Week>, a Palm Sunday service will be on-line from 05/04/20; there will be a Good Friday Meditation available from 10/04/20, and an Easter Day service on-line from Sunday 12/04/20.

SAFEGUARDING

If you feel that, as a child, or vulnerable person, you need HELP - there are people at St. Leonard trained to give you every assistance. • Come to church and ask to speak to SARAH . Call her on 01384 637 331 • Ring HILARY on 07495 060869 • Ring the Parish Office on 01562 700 777 • Ring CHILDLINE on 0800 1111 • or ACTION ON ELDER ABUSE on 080 8808 8141 _________________________

PALM SUNDAY

Holy Week and its momentous events commence with Palm Sunday - the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the capital city of Judeah - location of the central garrison of the Roman occupational forces and also of the Temple, the focus of the Jewish faith. Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Dominica in palmis de passione domini. Illustration - fresco in Byzantine style. He came in simple style and not, as many anticipated, as a militaristic leader who would lead resistance to the Roman government. It is called Palm Sunday because the crowd is recorded as having thrown palm fronds on the ground for him to ride over - as a display of reverence towards him. It would also have produced a sweet smell as the animal’s feet crushed the leaves (contrasting with the other city smells of the period). • Brides sometimes have lavender seedheads scattered on the path to the church to produce a similar delicate- smelling effect. • It was not uncommon (if it could be afforded) for Victorian families to scatter straw outside the houses of the sick and dying to muffled the sound of the horse-shoes striking the cobblestones and the screeching of the metal rims of wagon wheels disturbing the occupant.