Wednesday 5 April 2023

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I encourage you to mark this Holy Week by joining us for some of our special services. I hope these services will help us enter more fully into the story of Jesus' death and resurrection, and strengthen us as we seek to follow our Crucified and Risen Lord.

Maundy Thursday, 6th April, 6.30pm
On this special evening, we remember the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples. We will meet at 6.30pm in the Upper Hall for a Bring and Share Meal.
This meal will be incorporated into a service of Holy Communion, in a similar way as has been done in the past at St Ursula's, some years ago. Please bring some food to share: I recommend simple vegetarian food and soft drinks. The service also includes the footwashing as we remember Jesus washing his disciples' feet.

At the end of the Eucharist, we move into the church, where the altar will be stripped while Psalm 88 is read. This reminds us of Jesus being stripped and scourged before his execution, and leaves the church bare in preparation for Good Friday. Finally we hear the Gospel of the Watch, telling us of Jesus' agonised prayer in Gethsemane and the desertion of all his friends. We are invited to stay in silent prayer in church for a while, and then leave in silence.

Good Friday, 7th April
There are two services on Good Friday:

• Family Service, 10am: This is a very short service especially designed for families and children, but everyone is welcome!
• Liturgy of the Cross, 2pm: A reflective service with a dramatised reading of the Passion Gospel, canticles, hymns and silence.

Night Prayer (Compline) via Zoom. We continue to offer this short, reflective service (about 15 minutes) at 9pm, this evening, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. (We will NOT be meeting on Maundy Thursday). In this service we offer to God the past day, meditate on short Bible readings, and pray for those in need. It is a very good way to end the day. Do come and join us. Ask Helen for the Zoom link.

Easter Sunday, 9th April, 10am
On Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' resurrection with an All Age Eucharist. Do come and join us for this joyful celebration. The service will be followed by an Easter Egg hunt.

I leave you with one of Malcolm Guite's sonnets from his Stations of the Cross.

XI Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross

See, as they strip the robe from off his back
And spread his arms and nail them to the cross,
The dark nails pierce him and the sky turns black,
And love is firmly fastened on to loss.
But here a pure change happens. On this tree
Loss becomes gain, death opens into birth.
Here wounding heals and fastening makes free,
Earth breathes in heaven, heaven roots in earth.
And here we see the length, the breadth, the height,
Where love and hatred meet and love stays true,
Where sin meets grace and darkness turns to light,
We see what love can bear and be and do.
And here our Saviour calls us to his side,
His love is free, his arms are open wide.

With love in Christ,
Helen