Weekly Update - 27th March 2026
Dear sisters and brothers
When the death of a celebrity is reported in the media, I have to confess that my reaction can sometimes be, “Gosh, I didn’t know they were still alive!”. Certainly, when biographies are written they will often contain chapters on early life (so that we understand what ‘made’ the person in question) but mostly concentrate on the great things they did at the height of their career. Biographers rarely spend much time on the circumstances of their subject’s death, except in exceptional circumstances. And the circumstances of Jesus’ death were exceptional, to the point that his biographers dedicated nearly a third of their chapters just to the last week of his life.
We sometimes refer to that week as Holy Week: starting with Palm Sunday and the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus to Jerusalem and ending with the glorious resurrection morning of Easter Sunday. The record that the gospel writers give us of the days between these two Sundays is one that contains some of the most memorable teachings of Jesus (“a new commandment I give to you: love one another”), most memorable stories about Jesus (the turning over of the tables and the Last Supper for example), and most memorable accounts of his disciples and enemies (Peter’s denial and Judas’ kiss amongst others). At the heart of the week is his arrest, trial and crucifixion. If we want to understand Jesus and the great things he did, the gospel writers are most concerned to tell us of his passion and death. It is the last week of Jesus’ life that seems most important to them. Perhaps, therefore, Holy Week should be so to us and we should spend time rereading the gospel accounts and allowing them to speak to us.
To help with that I have attached some short readings and prayers for each day of Holy Week and would encourage you to use these and perhaps read more of the gospel accounts. We will, as always, be gathering on the Thursday evening of Holy Week (April 2nd) at 7pm in Stocket Grange for a Maundy Thursday Communion Service and it would be wonderful to see as many as are able at that service. On Good Friday Aberdeen Churches Together have organised a Walk of Witness, starting at 10.30 at St Peter’s Church, Chapel Street, and walking from church to church, finishing at St John the Evangelist Church, Crown Terrace around 1pm. On Easter Sunday morning we have services both in Woodhill Court and in the Community Centre at 10am and 10.30am.
And it all begins on Sunday with our Palm Sunday service, followed by a Bring and Share lunch and then, in the evening, our monthly time of Praise and Prayer. Notices and words are attached as always.
May the length, breadth, height and depth of the love of God, which is revealed in all the events of Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter morning, keep you in perfect peace and strengthen your faith in our mighty and gracious Saviour.
Bless you
Ian
Rev. Ian Aitken
52 Ashgrove Road West
ABERDEEN
AB16 5EE
Tel. 01224 686929
iaitken@churchofscotland.org.uk
www.stockethillchurch.org.uk
Aberdeen: Stockethill Church of Scotland
Scottish Charity Number - SC030587