Events

Holy Monday

Gospel Reading:     John 12:1-11

Ideas for Prayer: 

For those working on the “front line” who are pouring out their love and offering themselves in their care for others

For the poor, across the world, remembering those who live in “hidden poverty” with great dignity

For everyone who is doing their best at this time

 

Holy Tuesday

Gospel Reading:        John 12:20-36

Ideas for Prayer: 

 For those who are learning about the Christian faith and seek to know more

For those who do not live in the country they identify as home

For all refugees and, at this time, especially for those living in refugee camps

 

Holy Wednesday

Gospel Reading:      John 13:21-32

Ideas for Prayer: 

For for all those who feel betrayed by friends or society

For those you trust and who trust you.

For those in high office and positions of responsibility, especially at this time of global crisis

 

Ideas for something active:

Saying Compline:

We have marked the first three days in Holy Week over the past few years by saying Compline, the night prayers of the church, by candlelight, arriving and leaving in silence.  Download the order of service from the web-site to join in at 8.30pm each evening, or use the prayers when it suits you – perhaps before you go to bed.

Being Prepared:

One of the things that helps us to understand the events of Holy Week is our knowledge of the happy ending to the story.  We always see the crucifixion in the light of Easter Day.

Use time on each of these three days to prepare something for your home to celebrate Easter when it arrives.  You could, bake a cake, decorate eggs, create a flower arrangement, make an “Alleluia” banner for your window……and anything else that will help you to make Sunday different, special and a great celebration.  If you’d like to e-mail photographs, we may be able to put a collage on the web-site.

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Maundy Thursday

Gospel Reading:    John 13:1-17, 31-35

Ideas for Prayer: 

 For all those who serve others, especially those going above and beyond at this time

For those who are missing being able to receive Holy Communion

For our brothers and sisters in Christ across the world.

Ideas for something active:

Love as I have loved you:

Think of someone you love deeply and bring them to God in prayer.  Notice all that you ask and hope for them.

Now, think of someone you do not know – a doctor in Italy, a police officer in Spain, a mother in Africa, a school child in India.

Bring that person to God in prayer with the same care and attention.

Share a meal:

Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples, drawing them together around the table.

If you live with other people share a meal today, spending time together around the table.

If you live alone, as you eat remember those who are also eating alone elsewhere.  You could set aside an amount of money equivalent to the cost of your meal to send to a charity which feeds those in need, and share your meal in that way.

 Could you not watch…..?

Jesus asked his disciples to watch with him as he prayed in the Garden.  Can you set aside half an hour in the day to do nothing but “watch” with Jesus?

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Good Friday

Gospel Reading:    John 18:1-19:37

Ideas for Prayer: 

 For all those you love and the ability to love more

For those who are bereaved and those who are dying

For a deepened understanding of Jesus’ death and all it means for humanity

Ideas for something active:

Easter Garden:

Keep up the old tradition of making an Easter Garden and find somewhere to put it in your home.  At three o’clock cover the tomb with a stone.  Remember to open it again on Easter Day – when you could also add some flowers.

Benefice Pilgrimage:

Sadly, we won’t be able to walk through the Benefice this year.  Hopefully, however, by the time we get to Good Friday there will be a virtual pilgrimage on the Benefice Web-site for you to use.  You could do so between 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock, or just for the “last hour” before 3 o’clock.

 

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Holy Saturday

Gospel Reading:     John  19:38-42

Ideas for Prayer: 

 For all those who wait

For all those who are sad, lonely or isolated

For those who do not know the resurrection joy that radiates into the twilight of this day

Ideas for something active:

A day of pause:

Holy Saturday is traditionally a day to pause as we wait for the joy of Easter Day to arrive.  Why not choose something to do today that you can be extra thoughtful about?  Perhaps you can clean a window, or a piece of silver, with extra care and attention.  You may like to prepare a meal mindfully, thinking about where each element has come from, how many people have been involved in delivering it to you, how it will taste.  Alternately, use your exercise time today to go for a gentle stroll, or spend some time sitting in your garden, taking in the beauty that surrounds us.

The New Fire:

This year we won’t be able to light the new fire together – but John will kindly do so on our behalf.  Hopefully there will be a video on the Benefice Web-site, so that you can see the flames of hope and new life leap into being.

When it is dark, go outside and light a candle, give thanks for the good news of Jesus, the Light of the World – then bring the light into your home and take it into each room – you could use it to light a candle there as well – give thanks for the new life that Easter brings to our homes.

Remember to blow out all your candles before you go to bed!

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