The service and activities of
Holy Week and Easter help us to “walk through” the last week of Jesus’ earthly
ministry as we think together about his arrest, trial, crucifixion and
resurrection.
All human life is here; friendship
and betrayal, courage and cowardice, suffering and love, loss and new
beginnings. These are things we all experience. They are as much a part of our
world as they were of Jesus’ world. Reflecting on them helps us to see our own
stories, and the challenges we might face in a new way.
Why not come along to some
of our Holy Week services this year to join with us in this journey of prayer
and meditation?
You will be very welcome.
PALM SUNDAY
10 am Sunday
Our Palm Sunday service
begins with a procession from the lychgate, entering the church through the
West Doors. We carry palm crosses as we walk, singing a hymn together. When we
enter the church the crosses are blessed and we hear the story of Jesus riding
into Jerusalem
on a donkey a week before he died.
The crowds which shout hosanna and greet him as a king then will soon
shout just as loudly for his death, and as the service goes on we begin to
think about his coming death.
Instead of a sermon at this
service a group of readers share in a dramatised reading the “Passion” story –
the account of Jesus trial and crucifixion - this year from Luke’s Gospel.
COMPLINE
8 pm Mon – Sat (not Thurs)
Compline is a short service
(about 15 – 20 mins) each evening at 8pm in the Lady Chapel from Monday to
Saturday of Holy Week (except Thurs.)
“Compline” means “completion”
and it was, and is still, the last service of the day in monasteries,
completing the day’s worship. We use a modern form of this ancient service of
prayers, psalms, Bible readings and silence. There are no hymns, so you don’t
need to worry about singing!
There is some music to listen
to beforehand to help us be still, and everything you need for the service is
clearly laid out in the service booklet.
It is a reflective, intimate
service, ideal if you feel in need of peace and quiet!
MAUNDY THURSDAY
8 pm Thursday
Our Maundy Thursday service
is an informal service of Holy Communion, recalling the Last Supper which Jesus
shared with his friends on the night before he died.
We hear the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and telling them
that they too must be the servants of others. We remember also his words of
reassurance to them that whenever they eat bread and drink wine together in the
future he will be with them, the origin the Christian practice of Holy
Communion in which we share bread and wine.
The service ends as we all go
into the Lady Chapel for TENEBRAE. The lights in the church are turned
off, except for one at the back for safety. The only other illumination comes
from 12 candles on the Lady Chapel altar.
We then hear 12 readings from the Bible, telling the story of Jesus
praying in the garden
of Gethsemane, of his
arrest and trial. After each reading one candle is blown out until we are in
darkness, reminding us of the darkness which Jesus faced.
The Maundy Thursday service
lasts for just over an hour.
MESSY CHURCH FOR GOOD FRIDAY
10 -11.30 am
Children’s
craft activities to help us
think about Good Friday and Easter.
We meet in church, where
there will be a variety of activities for all ages exploring various Holy Week
themes. Some of the activities could be quite messy! Wear old clothes!
At around 11 o’clock we break
for hot cross buns and a drink, and then we finish with a short, very informal
act of worship to share what we have made and thought.
Everyone is welcome, but we
can’t take unaccompanied children as we aren’t set up to cater for them.
(Actually mums, dads and grandparents usually have as much fun as the children
anyway…!)
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
2.30 pm Friday
The afternoon service on Good
Friday is a mixture of traditional hymns, readings and prayers reflecting on
Jesus’ crucifixion. It lasts about 30 minutes.
During the service we reflect
on the meaning of Christ’s death for today and pray for those who suffer from
injustice and oppression as he did. There will be a short, reflective talk
during the service and a chance to light a candle as your personal prayer.
GOOD FRIDAY
REFLECTIVE ACTIVITIES
12 – 8pm Friday
During the afternoon and
early evening of Good Friday there will be a number of different reflective
“stations” in church. These displays encourage us to reflect and pray on
various themes relevant to Holy Week and Easter. There will be quiet recorded
music playing to create a reflective atmosphere.
You can drop in at any time and go at your own pace – there will be
leaflets to guide you around the stations, but the church is not manned, so you
can have privacy to reflect as you want to.
N.B. There will be a Good
Friday afternoon service from 2.30 – 3pm, preceded by a choir practice from 2pm
onwards.
EASTER SUNDAY
Holy Communion, Baptism & the lighting of the
Paschal Candle
10 am
This joyful service of thanksgiving for the Resurrection begins as we
light the new Easter (or Paschal) candle, a reminder of the light of Christ
which even death could not put out. We light small candles held by the
congregation – we all carry that light of Christ out into the world.
EASTER SUNDAY FESTAL EVENSONG
6.30 pm
Our Easter evening service
uses the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer.
The choir will sing special
settings of the evening canticles, the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, as well as
anthems and a psalm.
There will be Easter hymns to
join in with, readings from the Bible and prayers. There is no sermon at this
service; we let the words and music speak for themselves!
