From
earliest times, Christians have gathered to recall the story of God’s
saving work, from creation through to the death and resurrection of
Jesus. It is a hope that for each one of us this Easter there is a
real experience of the new life that is a passing from darkness to
light. Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday,
the sixth Sunday of Lent is sharply juxtaposed with the Passion
narrative, a complementary feature of that service.
We move then to Maundy Thursday (19:30). The Last Supper took place in "the upper room" of the house believed to have been owned by John Mark and his mother, Mary (Acts 12:12). This room is also the site of Pentecost. Here, Christ washed his disciple's feet. “Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "command" from Christ's words in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you." Maundy Thursday is the first of the three days known as the "Triduum," and after this a more sombre attitude prevails because after his Last Supper, Christ went outside the Old City of Jerusalem, crossed the Kidron Valley, and came to the Garden of Gethsemane, a place whose name means "Olive Press," where olives still grow today. There He suffered, knowing what would befall Him: he knew He would be taking on all the sins of the world, He knew that, for some people, this Sacrifice would not be fruitful because they would reject Him. His Apostles fall asleep, He is betrayed by Judas with a kiss, He is seized by "a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief Priests and the ancients of the people" and taken before Caiphas, the high priest, before being taken to Pontius Pilate the next morning.
Good
Friday
will see All Saints participate in “The Ealing Passion Walk
of Witness” gathering at St
Mary’s
at
9:55am for readings and prayers. After this we will process to Christ
the Saviour Church. There will be songs that
all
the
gathered
can join in with. At 11.20am
the dismissal will involve those gathered and passers-by being
invited to Haven
Green Baptist church for refreshments.
In
the
afternoon
All
Saints will be open from
noon
to keep the hours til three and culminate in a service to
finish at 2:30 – a simple spoken service.
Holy
Saturday
will be marked this year at 6pm at St Paul’s Cathedral as local
churches accompany candidates for confirmation for their confirmation
there. This chimes with the early church’s preparation of
candidates for the commitment they would make to become followers on
‘the way’ through baptism on Holy Saturday after a period of
reflection and prayer as a catechumen. All Saints celebrates the
confirmation of those we have had the privilege of preparing.