Hope restored, Palm Sunday

Hope can feel fragile in the face of the world’s chaos. Wars rumble on. Hearts break. Futures falter. Even faith, at times, feels like it's hanging by a thread. But there is a day etched in the calendar of grace that reminds us hope is never as far as it seems. That day is Palm Sunday.

Jerusalem was alive with expectation. Crowds pressed in, voices raised, cloaks thrown on the dusty road. Palm branches waved like flags of freedom as Jesus rode into the city on a donkey. It wasn’t just a moment—it was the moment, where prophecy met pavement and heaven whispered, “The King has come.”

“All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey”’” (Matthew 21:4-5, NKJV).

Hope doesn’t always come how we expect. The people longed for a political liberator, a ruler to overthrow Rome. But Jesus came with something deeper—peace for the soul, not just peace from an empire. He came not to crush enemies, but to crush sin. Not to raise a sword, but to raise the dead. And in doing so, He rewrote the story of what true hope looks like.

Palm Sunday reminds us that the road to victory passes through humility. The King of glory didn’t come with a parade of horses and warriors but with the quiet clop of hooves and the voices of children singing, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:15, NKJV). The ones who had ears to hear could sense it—God was doing something new, something eternal.

Maybe your own hope has been trampled. Maybe the last few years have left you wondering if God still shows up. But Palm Sunday declares that hope is not lost; it is riding in your direction, even now. The same Jesus who entered Jerusalem amid cheers would soon walk the Via Dolorosa amid jeers. He knew the cross awaited. He knew betrayal, denial, and death were only days away. Yet He came anyway.

Why? Because love moves toward the broken. Because mercy never stays at a distance. Because God’s plan of restoration could not be stopped by Roman nails or religious pride. Palm Sunday is proof that even when circumstances look uncertain, heaven is certain. The crowd may shift, the winds may change, but the King remains.

And here’s the wonder of it all—this story wasn’t just for Jerusalem. It was for every village, every city, every weary heart that ever wondered if God remembers them. It was for you. Right here. Right now. Whether you find yourself in a moment of triumph or a season of despair, the truth is the same: Jesus is coming. He is near. And He brings with Him a hope that never dies.

Paul would later write, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NKJV). That’s the kind of hope Palm Sunday plants in us. It’s not a fragile wish—it’s a bold, living assurance. The kind of hope that can stand in the middle of Good Friday grief and still say, “Resurrection is coming.”

So lift your head. Open your heart. The King is coming—humble, gentle, and full of mercy. Let your soul shout again, “Hosanna in the highest!” because Hope has a name, and His name is Jesus.

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Planning your Visit

Welcome to Runnymede Christian Fellowship, an Egham Church

Runnymede Christian Fellowship is a church based in Egham but serving a much larger geographical area. Those who call us home come from Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Englefield Green, Egham Hythe, Pooley Green, Maidenhead, Heathrow, Slough, Ashford, Thorpe, Windsor, Woking and beyond.

Our church is a community of believers who regularly meet to share life and show God's love. We do this by encouraging and serving each other and the community. We believe in the power of prayer and are always happy to pray for you.

Church - What to expect

Our Sunday service is available to stream online at 11:00 a.m. You can join us on Livestream or via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or X (Twitter).

The Sunday Service is now held at Strodes College, Strodes College Lane in Egham open to all, so if you would like to join us, please feel free to do so. If you have any questions, please call us on 01784 637010.

We run a physical Sunday School most weeks. If you would like your children to receive a weekly Sunday School teaching pack that you can do from home, please email us at admin@e-runnymede.co.uk so that we can send you the materials.

Church on Sunday at Strodes College, Egham

Our Sunday service starts at 11:00 a.m. and typically lasts about 90 minutes.

We start each service with lively worship with songs from around the world, followed by inspired Bible-based teaching. All our sermons are recorded and are available as a podcast after the service.

We have a monthly cycle of Sunday services, with our Communion Service being on the first Sunday of each month and an All-Age All-Nation Service on the second Sunday of each month. Our other Sunday services include Spirit-focused and teaching services.

We have consciously adopted being a blended church that is both for those online and face-to-face. You are welcome to join us on Livestream or via Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube, or X (Twitter), or you can catch up and watch the recordings later.

Joining us in person

Visiting a new and unfamiliar church for the first time can be intimidating, but we want to ensure you feel welcome and enjoy your time with us. A friendly face will be waiting to meet you at the entrance and welcome you.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and prayer. Our Sunday Service starts at 11:00 a.m. and typically runs for about 90 minutes, normally followed by tea and coffee.

Driving and Car Parking

Our Sunday Morning Service is now held at Strodes College, Strodes College Lane, Egham, TW20 9DR, which has plenty of Parking. Click on the link for directions to RCF.

We have plenty of parking spaces right outside the building. Spaces are reserved near the entrance for anyone with mobility problems (for those with a blue badge). Please let us know if you need to use one of these spaces, have any special needs, or require any assistance.

The car parking area is a public area, so please ensure that your children are under your control and that, for their safety, they do not run around in the car park.

Visiting with children?

Everyone is welcome at RCF. We encourage everyone, young and old, to join the service. We have Sunday School, which starts after worship and runs during the sermon for 30 to 40 minutes for children aged 4 to 12. On the second Sunday of each month, we have a shorter All-Aged All Nations Service, where the children stay for the worship and the sermon.

After Church

We chat over coffee and biscuits after church on the first, third and fourth Sundays. If you want to get more acquainted, why not join us for a Sunday lunch with some of our members? The meal is on us! Please contact us and let us know. We would love to share a meal and get to know you better!

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Want to connect?

If you want to connect with us either to be part of our wider online community or to join our Sunday gatherings, please let us know through our connect card.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions, please review our FAQ page. Here, you’ll find answers to many common questions. If you still have questions or concerns, please contact us; we’d love to hear from you.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO RCF!!

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Our midweek Ministry base at Virginia Lodge, Egham
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