It was Palm Sunday on Sunday 17 April. We were celebrating Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but were also considering the whole story of Christ's Passion. The two themes were linked in the palm crosses that everyone received as they entered church. The palm leaf reminded us of the palm leaves and other objects that the Jerusalem crowd strewed in front of the donkey, carrying the Messiah. Twisting the palm leaf into the form of a cross reminded us that five days later that crowd would have rejected Jesus and he would be dying for us on the cross. In our first hymn, "Make Way" children and their parents followed our Rector, Michael Rusk, around the church, waving their Palm Crosses. We then had a prolonged reading of all of the Passion story from St Matthew's Gospel. In his sermon, Michael Rusk reminded us of the centrality of the cross in our faith and the importance of being known as Christians. He encouraged us to leave our palm crosses in prominent places which might encourage others to ask what they meant, so that we could explain our faith.
St Paul's is a vibrant church in the open-evangelical tradition. It is part of the Church of England and its Parish serves Oadby, east of the A6. It is also part of a larger group of parishes, called a "Benefice," which includes St Peter's Oadby, Great Glen and Burton Overy with Carlton Curlieu. We seek to be a church for all ages, backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, that is growing and following Jesus. We have a congregation of about one hundred at our main Sunday service and are always pleased to welcome enquirers and visitors.
St Pauls Oadby is part of a group of churches known as a benefice — the Benefice of Oadby - Great Glen. It is led by a ministry team, headed by the rector, Revd Steve Bailey, and including Revd Kim Ford (based at Great Glen), currently a vacancy (based at St Peters Oadby), Revd Sarah Collins (curate) together with Lay Ministers (Readers and Pastoral Assistants). The other churches are:- Oadby St Peter's http://stpetersoadby.org.uk/ Great Glen St Cuthbert's https://stcuthbertschurchgreatglen.blogspot.com/ Burton Overy St Andrews https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4702/
It was Palm Sunday on Sunday 17 April. We were celebrating Jesus' triumphal entry into 
