Palm Sunday
From Hownam to Yetholm, via Morebattle, Linton and Hoselaw
this congregation in the Cheviot foothills walked 13.2 miles behind cross or
donkey on Sunday 28th March. This act of commitment was to embrace
Palm and Passion Sunday with a journey that could begin Holy Week for the
parishes in a way that reminded all of the coming of Jesus as a King riding on
a donkey and moving on to the events of trial and crucifixion. They day began with bacon rolls and coffee in
Hownam village hall nestling in the cheviots. After a short prayer and reading they
set off behind Megan and her pony – Tuppy. There were no donkeys to be had this
year that were considered manageable for the journey but two of the Junior
Church volunteered their ponies for the day. The walk down the Kale valley to
Morebattle was a pleasant 4 mile walk. Tuppie’s 26 years were beginning to tell
as we neared the village but he managed to bring us to the Kirk in time for
morning worship at 11.15am. The group joined the congregation for tea and a
biscuit before worship led By Dr Ian Clark. Ian had brought his own donkey,
painted by Margaret Boyd and he challenged the congregation to a donkey game
before reminding us all of the events of the day and the ‘why’ of the donkey on
Palm Sunday. Now complete with Cross the congregation walked over to Linton to
enjoy soup and a picnic lunch. Linton is a long sausage shaped parish and the
next journey was to walk the length of it with cross and a new pony called Max
led by its owner Duncan or his sister Kate. This is a long testing pull rising
several hundred feet to the wayside chapel at Hoselw sited to bring services to
this beautiful area of Roxburghshire. Max had pulled the group along at quite a
pace so there was half an hour to rest before an outdoor service led by
volunteer presenters as the battery had gone flat in the p.a. amplifier. After
worship the donkey was ridden back home and the last leg to Yetholm was taken
on mainly by the local Romany Ramblers walking group with one or two others. At
this point a fresh wind brought rain as we trekked off over the hills to
Yetholm – these few miles at the end of the day began to take their toll on
those who were a bit out of condition but we all made the heights of Venchen
hill to look down upon Yetholm and see the end of our journey in sight. Again a
little ahead of schedule the walkers had time for a rest and to dry out with
some coffee before an evening communion service attended by a fairly full
church. Through the day worship had followed the long narrative reading from
Luke’s Gospel that makes up the Passion reading for the day.