Palm Sunday procession

Palm Sunday procession, originally uploaded by seadipper.

The liturgy at St Mary Magdalen's just goes on getting better and better. The processional cross was decorated with palms and leaves this year.

This has similarities to the "four species" of the Jewish Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles) celebration, the species concerned being the palm, willow, myrtle and citron (a sort of lemon). The practice could well go back to the earliest days of the Christian church.

It has been suggested that the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem actually took place on the Feast of Tabernacles rather than in the week before Passover. This is at least plausible.

The new layout of the sanctuary can be clearly seen in the picture.