Topic: Notice

Easter Garden Challenge!

Easter Garden

Take part in our Easter Garden Challenge:

Details here: easter garden challenge

An Easter Garden

 

Here is a link to a video on how to make an Easter Garden which might be a good activity to do with the kids to help them to understand why we celebrate Easter.

 

https://request.org.uk/restart/2017/02/23/make-an-easter-garden/

 

It doesn’t have to look exactly like this. It could be made outside in the actual garden but if it’s on a tray or in a container you will be able to move it around.

 

The main components are

  • Soil or compost
  • A couple of flower pots as shown – or you can make the hill from soil and use bigger stones to make a cave.
  • Moss
  • Twigs and string to make three crosses.
  • A stone big enough to cover the mouth of the cave.
  • A couple of pieces of white cloth, to put in the cave very early on Sunday morning (Jesus’ body has gone – only the cloths he was wrapped in are left).
  • A couple of figures if you have them, to be a disciple (John) and Mary Magdalene, who were the first to visit the tomb on Easter Day.
  • Some twigs of blossom and a few small flowers – maybe in little pots so that you can water them.

 

 

 

Maundy Thursday Reflection and order of service

Table

 

You can download the Maundy Thursday order of service here: Maundy Thursday 2020

Maundy Thursday reflection 2020
I was asked at a conference last year “What does your church do well?” Without hesitation I said: Food. I was thinking of the sumptuous lunches, buffets, Seda Meal, Harvest Suppers, breakfasts and BBQ lunches that I have had the pleasure of attending within the Benefice. Even now just thinking about it makes me feel hungry and gets me thinking about what sort of food orientated celebration we might have once we can get back into our church buildings.

Table fellowship is a marked feature of Christ’s ministry and of Christian life. In Jesus’ day, it mattered terribly what and with whom you ate, as well as the methods and rituals of preparation of food and self. There were no restaurants or drive-thrus, not even the supermarket deli counter. (To say nothing of individual, microwave, so-called “TV” dinners.) Sharing food was serious social interaction.

As we celebrate Maundy Thursday, we come upon another dinner scene. The disciples are gathered with Jesus for a feast. He has seen to the preparations (even though he himself was not the one spending all day in the kitchen). He has brought them together for a meal as he had done so often. The occasion bears the weight of religious tradition. We will never be sure whether it was a special meal just before the Passover, as in John, or the Passover meal itself, as in the other Gospels. But we know that those gathered share deep spiritual convictions and traditions. They have also shared their lives over a period of years. Yet even now, they both know and do not know one another. Like many of the other meals they’ve shared, this one has its jarring aspect. In this case it is not a criticism of pharisees and religious leaders, but it is something and someone closer to home; Jesus spoke of being betrayed by someone eating with them. The awkward moment passed, but its effect lingered. That sort of thing happens at family gatherings, someone makes a remark that is met by a deafening silence. This meal Jesus was sharing with his close friends was peppered with just such moments: Jesus spoke cryptically about betrayal and
darkness and about serving each other. He identified himself with the meal he was serving. “This is my body, my blood.” And afterward, just as odd, he insisted on washing their feet. All the while he was talking, almost rambling really, but so urgently; like he was trying to get across some really important point; like it was crucial that they “get it.” It was all about vines and branches, and coming and going and the world and the Father ( I in you as the Father is in me) and about love–a lot about love.

The strange thing about having our church buildings shut is that we now return to celebrating the “Last Supper” in its original domestic setting; at home. Jesus gathers us again in our homes.

Maundy Thursday is full of religious significance and tradition. It is usually a time when we come together to share deep convictions. The meal (be it the Seder meal or the meal of the Eucharist) is familiar, its identification with Jesus is established. As we enter into the story, the action, we know where it is going. We’ve been and will go to the Garden; we’ve been and will go to the Cross; we’ve been and will go to the Tomb on Easter morning. This year we will have to do this within the context of our social isolation and not as a family in our parish churches. Despite this let us look forward to a time when we can truly come together and participate in the sacrament of a shared meal that has the risen Jesus at its centre. But in the meantime, we can still celebrate and share what Jesus was trying to teach his disciples at the first Last Supper. The teaching about serving, about presence, and absence, about isolation and community, about
the world and how God wants the best for us.

 

Revd Geoffrey Clement, April 2020

 

 

Stations of the cross: 10 Jesus is stripped of his clothes

Stations of the cross 10

10th Station of the Cross: Jesus is stripped of his clothes

Jesus said: Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow, they do not work, or make clothes for themselves. But not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.
Matthew 6:28-29

The soldiers notice you have something of value. They remove your cloak and throw dice for it.
Your wounds are torn open once again. Some of the people in the crowd make fun of you. They tease you and challenge you to perform a miracle for them to see. They’re not aware that you’ll perform the greatest miracle of all!
The long walk is over, Jesus has reached the end. Now He has no more to do – it will all be done to him. The soldiers had dressed him up as a king before, but now they strip him of his own cloths. There is nowhere to hide, he is vulnerable, humiliated, completely at their mercy – except that within his own soul he carries the dignity and the beauty of all his Father’s creation.

As a child we demand that our parents buy us the right clothes, usually the most expensive and the ones with the correct fashion label.
As an adult we can all to easily judge people by their outer appearance: the clothes they wear and the jobs they do. How often have we seen only the external and not the internal in each other.
We confess, Lord, that we cling too closely to material things. There is so much that we say we “cannot do without.” Give us the true wealth that dwells in the heart, and bless all who live simply, rejoicing in the beauty of your world.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Stations of the cross: 9

Stations of the cross 9

The 9th Station of the cross: Jesus falls for the third time

Jesus said: I am telling you the truth; a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it falls into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains. John 12:24-25

Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your cross. You know your journey is coming to an end. You struggle and struggle. You get up and keep going.
As a child, sometimes we fail time and time again. We find it hard to get along with our siblings and friends, sometimes we are not honest, sometimes we are lazy. We are tempted to stop trying.

It’s just too hard sometimes, just too much effort.
As an adult, we often feel we should have conquered our weaknesses by now. We become discouraged when confronted by the same problems over and over again. Sometimes we get weary. When we have health problems, we can become discouraged and depressed.
You know, Lord, that we do not like to face our own mortality. Fearfully, we cling to life. Give us the faith to believe in the harvest that follows when we truly give our lives to you, and be very close to all those who die today.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Stations of the cross: 8 Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

8 Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the road. As you pass by you see they are sad. You stop to spend a moment with them, to offer them some encouragement.
Although you are have been abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help them.
As a child, sometimes we think a lot about ourselves. We think about what we want and would like people to spend their lives pleasing us.
As an adult, sometimes we act like a child. We become so absorbed in ourselves and what we’d like that we forget about the needs of others. we take them for granted, and often ignore their needs.
Forgive us, Lord, when we are so preoccupied with our own suffering that we have little compassion left for others. Fill us with your boundless love, that we may always have enough and to spare for those in need. We thank you, for the people we have known, who in the midst of great anguish, have ministered to us.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Stations of the cross: 7 Jesus falls for the second time

Stations of the cross 7

7 Jesus falls for the second time
As with the previous meditation, there is no reference to Jesus falling under the weight of the cross in the Four Gospels, but the Stations of the Cross offer us 3 mediations on this theme.
Lord Jesus this is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross grows heavier and heavier it becomes more difficult to get up. But you continue to struggle and try until you’re up and walking again. You don’t give up.
As a child, sometimes things get us down. Others seem to find things easier to do or to learn. Each time we fail, we find it harder to keep trying.
As an adult, sometimes we think we should know more than we do. We become impatient with ourselves and lose confidence in ourselves when we fail. It is easy to despair over small things, and sometimes we do.
Lord, we often pray, “take this cup of suffering away from me,” but find it difficult to add the words, “yet, not what I want, but what you want.” Give us courage to face the pain life throws at us, trusting in your transforming power, and bless all those who meet the challenge of great suffering today.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Stations of the cross: 6

Stations of the cross 6

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

The tradition that a woman called Veronica wiped the face of Jesus is not to be found in the four gospels in the New Testament. Rather it comes from the apocryphal gospel of Nicodemus which probably dates to the 4th Century. Over the centuries it has gained a place in the Stations of the Cross, and there are valid themes to be meditated upon in this story.

Jesus, suddenly a woman comes out of the crowd. Her name is Veronica. You can see how she cares for you as she takes a cloth and begins to wipe the blood and sweat from your face. She can’t do much, but she offers what little help she can.

As a child, sometimes we know someone could use a little help and understanding. They may be picked on or teased by others, or just sad or lonely. Sometimes we feel bad that others don’t step in to help, but there again we don’t help either.

As an adult, we notice the needs around us. Sometimes our own family members crave our attention, and we don’t even seem to notice. Sometimes a co-worker, friend, or family member could use help or understanding, but we don’t reach out to help lest we are criticised, or worse still they demand more of us than I’d like to give.

We confess, Lord, that we often fail to see the love which prompts the actions of others, and so dismiss, as insignificant, deeds that are beautiful in your eyes. Give us the patience to discern the charity that dwells in our neighbours and hear our prayer for all those who long to ease the pain of the world yet feel their achievements are so small.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Stations of the cross: 5 Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

Stations of the cross 5

5 Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

Jesus, who healed so many people and preached to thousands, now has no one to help him carry his cross. One of his closest friends denies ever knowing him. Another has betrayed him. The rest have run away. Simon a stranger, is forced by the soldiers to assist, so that the prisoner should not die before reaching the place of execution. He was just watching what was happening, but all of a sudden he is helping you carry his cross.

As a child, sometimes we see people who need our help. Sometimes we pretend not to hear when parents call us. We disappear when we know others could need our help.

As an adult, sometimes we try to do as little as we can and still get by. Others might need our help, but we ignore their needs. Even when asked to help, we sometimes claim to be too busy.

Forgive us, Lord, we find it hard to accept the help of others, even when it is freely offered with love. We do not like to face our own frailty, we hate to admit our needs. Give us the humility that is grateful to receive the ministry of those who care for us, and hear our prayer for the elderly, the handicapped and all who must daily depend on human kindness.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Stations of the cross: 4 Jesus meets his mother

Stations of the cross 4

Today we reach the 4th Station of the Cross:

Jesus meets his mother
Jesus said: Woman, you must not tell me what to do. My time has not yet come. John 2:4
And he said: Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? …Whoever does what God wants him to do is my brother, my sister, my mother. Mark 3:33-34

Jesus, you feel so alone with all those people yelling and screaming at you. You don’t like the words they are saying about you, and you look for a friendly face in the crowd. You see your mother. She can’t make the hurting stop, but it helps to see that she is on your side, that she is suffering with you. She does understand and care. When as a little boy he stumbled or fell she was the one who would lift him and comfort him in her arms and make everything all right again. Now all she can do is walk besides him and accept whatever comes next.

As a child, sometimes we feel like too many things are going on. Sometimes other kids pick on us and call us names. We need to look around us for a friendly face, and for the help we need. We need to share our troubles with those who truly care about us.

As an adult we sometimes feel overwhelmed by many things. Life is so competitive, and we worry so much about the future and those who have some control over it. We need to remember that being an adult does not mean having to solve every problem on our own. We need to look around us for a friendly face, for the help we need.

We know, Lord, that we find it difficult to love enough to be able to let go. Help us to honour the freedom you give to all human beings, so that they may grow into the people you call them to be. We pray for parents who fear for their children and do not know how to help.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer