From the Minister

So last month I wrote about our journey through Lent, and reminded us that this ran from Ash Wednesday through to Maundy Thursday, which is the Thursday before Easter Sunday. That last week of Lent, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is also known as Holy week. Traditionally each day we are reminded of events that took place during the final days before Jesus’ crucifixion. The events of the week really ramp up on the Thursday – when Jesus shared his last meal with his disciples, and was arrested, and Friday when Jesus was sentenced and crucified.

At that Thursday meal (now called the Last Supper; John 13:1-30) Jesus begins with a demonstration of love and service, washing his disciples feet, but the mood quickly changes as he goes on to explained that one of them would betray him. Only Jesus knew it was Judas. "Having received the piece of bread, [Judas] then went out immediately. And it was night" (v.30). From service to betrayal over the course of a meal, but it didn’t end there, that evening in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus agonised in prayer, faced a wrongful arrest, watched his friends scatter, endured humiliation at the hands of religious leaders and winced at Peter's denials. Yet still he moved faithfully toward the cross where on the Friday he would die for our sins.

We will be thinking of these events at church too during Holy Week. We begin with an evening communion service on the Thursday before Easter—held in the church school room lit by candles. With passages read from the gospel of John, and will conclude in the darkness of the church garden.

Then we pick up the story on Friday morning with readings in church, before a procession to join with our friends from St Mary’s at the community garden in the High Street.

Remembering this story, all Jesus endured for us to give us life, helps us reflect on our own lives, values. Christs way of sorrow gives us a new hope and a way to God.

Rev Rick

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown.