The events of the first Holy Week and Easter when Our Lord entered into Jerusalem were full of drama and incident! The liturgies of Holy Week and Easter are so designed to enable us to enter into the spirit of the first Holy Week and, by entering spiritually into the journey that Jesus made, deepen our awareness of the 'highs and lows' of the week and the meaning of the different events for our own lives.

Palm Sunday
We begin with the Procession of Palms and the dramatized reading of the Passion which sets the scene for the days that follow. We are encouraged to join in as the voice of the crowd and of other groups as the story unfolds.

Maundy Thursday
In the evening we recall The Last Supper at which Jesus washed the disciples' feet, to illustrate his new commandment that they should love one another as he loved them, and then commended them to break bread and share wine in remembrance of him. We 'reserve' extra wafers at this Eucharist for use on Good Friday and these are placed on the Altar of Repose in the chapel, which is decorated to remind us of the Garden of Gethsemane. Here we kneel in silent adoration and wonder of Our Lord's presence in the Holy Sacrament prayer, and then 'watch' with him in the Garden, recalling his words to his disciples that they should stay and pray with him. The rest of the church is stripped bare and Night Prayer ends the evening.

Good Friday
This is a solemn and simple day with liturgy to match. We reflect on the suffering and trial of Jesus and his crucifixion, then pray at the foot of the cross, and receive the Sacrament in one kind if we wish to or receive a blessing. The service is characterized by silence and simplicity (the singing is unaccompanied).

Easter Sunday
Early on Easter morning, the women went to the tomb to find that it was empty and that Jesus had been raised from the dead. So we gather early on Easter morning to light the new fire, to prepare and light the Paschal Candle, to renew our Baptismal Vows and to join together in joyous and exuberant celebration of the Resurrection which lies at the heart of our faith. The contrast with the solemnity and simplicity of Good Friday is marked and is uplifting for all.

We round our Easter Day celebrations off with Easter Eggs and a Parish Barbecue Breakfast.

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