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The Rural Deanery of Louthesk within the Diocese of Lincoln

Holy Week in

Louthesk Services and activities during Holy

Week 2020

The Deanery of Louthesk

Rural Dean: The Rev’d Nick Brown Chapter Clerk: The Rev’d James Robinson

Lay Chair: Dr Paul Hill Treasurer: Dr Jenny Ballantyne Synod Secretary: Dr Anita Samaan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Binbrook Benefice The Benefice of Fotherby, North Thoresby and Grainsby with Waithe The Parish of Louth The Benefice of North and South Somercotes, Marshchapel and Grainthorpe with Conisholme The Benefice of Legbourne Woldmarsh The Plurality of the Benefice of Midmarsh with Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe

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Marking Holy Week in a different way this year This coming week marks the climax of the Christian year, as we commemorate the events that led up to

Christ’s death on the Cross, and the breaking of boundaries as life triumphs over death and heaven breaks

out into our earthly experience as we encounter the risen Christ and the empty tomb. There are a good range

of materials to help us mark the significant events of the coming week. As well as this booklet, there are a

range of suggestions on the Church of England website, together with some family resources from Gloucester:

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-

parishes/holy-week-and-easter-2020

https://www.gloucester.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holy-Ground-2020.pdf

As well as the regular rhythm of daily prayer throughout Holy Week, the following services or activities are

suggested to mark the journey through this significant week:

o Make a Palm cross and display it in a window – for those with access to the internet, there are a number

of tutorials that can be found by a simple internet search.

o Eucharist for Palm Sunday with Blessing of Palms will be streamed on the Parish of Louth facebook page

– palms cannot be distributed at this time, but will be blessed for distribution at a later date.

o Reading of the Passion – as a preparation for what lies ahead, the passion will be read at the conclusion

of the Eucharist. You may wish to read it at home yourself as a devotional act during Holy Week.

• Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week

o Meditations for Holy Week will be streamed on the Parish of Louth facebook page, and later made

available on the Confraternity of St Herefrith website. For those without internet access, a resource

booklet will be posted out with this Newsletter (and also available to download from the Parish of Louth

website).

o On Wednesday afternoon the BBC are broadcasting a Service for Holy Week from Westminster

Cathedral.

• Maundy Thursday

o A Eucharist of the Last Supper will be streamed on the Parish of Louth facebook page. You may wish to

make your evening meal into an Agape meal (details can be found in the Holy Week Resource booklet)

• Good Friday

o We will recall the events of Good Friday by the Reading of the Passion according to John, which will be

streamed on the Parish of Louth Facebook page. Alternatively, read this account of the Passion of Christ

in your household (John 18.1-end of 19)

• Easter Day

o Easter Day will be marked by the celebration of the Eucharist with blessing of Paschal Candle and

renewal of Baptismal vows. This is normally the occasion when Christians are bounded to share in

communion. As this is not possible in the normal way this year, those who wish are encouraged to

make a spiritual communion at the same time that the Eucharist will be celebrated. For those able to

the service will be streamed via the Parish of Louth facebook page.

o ‘Light out of darkness’: light a candle for Eastertide and place it in a window each evening so that people can witness our faith that life triumphs over death.

Holy Week and Easter will – for all of us – be a different experience this year – but one that has the potential

to deepen our engagement with the story of Christ’s suffering, the Christian certainty of the triumph of life over death, and mean that when we gather together once again we will do so with faith renewed.

THIS WEEK, LET US TRAVEL THE WAY OF THE CROSS IN HOPE AND EXPECTATION OF THE JOY

THAT FOLLOWS.

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PRAYER AND WORSHIP IN HOLY WEEK… Resources for you to use for Morning and Evening Prayer, and at the time when

worship is taking place as the Eucharist is offered, can be downloaded from the

Parish of Louth website. All the services marked * are streamed via the Parish of

Louth facebook page (www.facebook.com/louthchurch)– you do not need to be

signed up to Facebook to access this.

Sunday 5th April 10am Eucharist with blessing of palms*

PALM SUNDAY Liturgy of Palms: Romans 8.6-11; Ezekiel 37.1-14; John 11.1-45

6pm Evening Prayer* Psalm 80; Isaiah 5.1-7; Matthew 21.33-end

Monday 6th 9 15am Matins*

Psalm 41; Lamentations 1.1-12a; Luke 22.1-23

7 30pm Meditation and Compline* Please join in at home – a resource to use is on pages 7-10

Tuesday 7th 9 15am Matins*

Psalm 27; Lamentations 3.1-18; Luke 22.[24-38] 39-53

11am Online Diocesan Service with Renewal of

Ministerial Vows

7 30pm Meditation and Compline* Please join in at home – a resource to use is on pages 7-10

Wednesday 8th 9 15am Matins*

Psalm 102; Wisdom 1.6-2.1; 2.12-22; Luke 22.54-end

3 30pm BBC Radio 3 Broadcast Service

A pre-recorded service from Westminster Cathedral

7 30pm Meditation and Compline* Please join in at home – a resource to use is on pages 7-10

Thursday 9th 9 15am Matins*

MAUNDY THURSDAY Psalm 42; Leviticus 16.2-24; Luke 23.1-25

7 30pm Eucharist of the Last Supper* Exodus 12.1-4, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11.23-26; John 13.1-7, 31b-35

Friday 10th 9 15am Matins*

GOOD FRIDAY Psalm 69; Genesis 22.1-18; Hebrews 10.1-10

3pm Reading of the Passion according to John*

8pm ‘At the Foot of the Cross’ on BBC Radio 2

Saturday 11th No services – we wait at the tomb with hope…

Sunday 12th April 10am Eucharist for Easter Day*

EASTER DAY Acts10.34-43; Matthew 28.1-10

5pm Eucharist (via www.lincoln.anglican.org)

6pm Evening Prayer on Easter Day*

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How to make a Palm Cross

1. →Cut two strips about 1cm in width from the length of an A4 piece of

paper. Sellotape them together to make one long strip (or use an A3 sheet if

you have it).

2. Take the strip and fold it in the middle to form an

inverted right angle/ an upside down L.

3. → Now take the vertical strip and fold that up (behind).

4. Turn the whole thing over to

form a number 7 and then fold the

vertical end up again (behind).

5. → Then take the horizontal end and

fold it over (in front). Now when you look in

the back you will notice you have

made a small square pocket.

6. Take the horizontal arm and slide it

through the pocket from the back, all the way

to the end and gently tug at it to ensure it’s firm.

7. → Now slide the horizontal arm through the back of the

pocket to make about a third of the length into a loop to

form the left arm of the cross.

8. Then tuck the end of the right arm back

into the middle to form the right arm, then fold the

top vertical bit down through the pocket to make

the vertical part of the cross.

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The Passion Gospel: Matthew 27.11-54 You may wish to read this in the home on Palm Sunday or in the early part of Holy Week

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew. (No response)

NARRATOR: Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him,

PILATE: "Are you the King of the Jews?"

NARRATOR: Jesus said,

JESUS: "You say so."

NARRATOR: But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.

Then Pilate said to him,

PILATE: "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?"

NARRATOR: But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was

greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a

prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a

notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said

to them,

PILATE: "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called

the Messiah?"

NARRATOR: For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him,

PILATE’S WIFE: "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him."

NARRATOR: Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas

and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them,

PILATE: "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?"

NARRATOR: And they said,

CONGREGATION: "Barabbas."

NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,

PILATE: "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"

NARRATOR: All of them said,

CONGREGATION: "Let him be crucified!"

NARRATOR: Then he asked,

PILATE: "Why, what evil has he done?"

NARRATOR: But they shouted all the more,

CONGREGATION: "Let him be crucified!"

NARRATOR: So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was

beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying,

PILATE: "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."

NARRATOR: Then the people as a whole answered,

CONGREGATION: "His blood be on us and on our children!"

NARRATOR: So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him

over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the

governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They

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stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a

crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before

him and mocked him, saying,

SOLDIERS: "Hail, King of the Jews!"

NARRATOR: They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After

mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then

they led him away to crucify him.

NARRATOR: As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they

compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called

Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed

with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had

crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then

they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge

against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying,

BYSTANDERS: "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save

yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

NARRATOR: In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were

mocking him, saying,

CHIEF PRIESTS: "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him

come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let

God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, `I am God's Son.'"

NARRATOR: The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice,

JESUS: "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"

NARRATOR: that is,

JESUS: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

NARRATOR: When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,

BYSTANDERS: "This man is calling for Elijah."

NARRATOR: At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a

stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said,

BYSTANDERS: "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."

NARRATOR: Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment

the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook,

and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the

saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of

the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the

centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the

earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said,

CENTURION: "Truly this man was God's Son!

The reading of the Passion ends in silence.

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AN AGAPE MEAL: suitable for use in the home on Maundy Thursday An agapé meal is a way of breaking bread together as Jesus did with people in all sorts of settings. It is distinct

from celebrating the eucharist or sharing in communion – which is a way of participating in the life of the body

of Christ, and a particular aspect of its identity as the people of God. An agapé meal is, by contrast a part of

domestic life, and is best done in the context of a (simple) main meal. You may like to join in at home with some

bread and wine, as part of your meal.

Giving Thanks

We have bread and wine,

gifts of this good earth,

enough for all, if we can share!

Gracious God we give you thanks

for all the many blessings in our lives

and ask that you would bless us now

as we share your good gifts

in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Breaking Bread

Loving God, you provide enough for everyone:

this earth is fertile, fruitful and abundant,

but we are sometimes greedy, wasteful and selfish.

Many go hungry despite our plenty,

many are left outside while we enjoy a feast.

But on the hillside, in the wilderness,

with five thousand and more hungry people,

Jesus took the bread that they had,

broke it and gave thanks to you.

He shared the bread,

so that no one should be left out,

and they all ate and were satisfied.

Blessed be God forever!

Blessing Wine

Hurting God, you hurt with our pains,

you weep with our tears;

when you see how we struggle and suffer.

You long for our peace, yet we so often make war.

You long for our healing and wholeness,

yet we so often turn away from you.

But at a wedding in Cana when the wine ran out,

Jesus asked them to fill the empty jars with water,

and by your grace, water became wine,

sadness was turned to joy,

and all were able to share in the best wine of all.

Blessed be God forever!

Sharing Together

Dreaming God,

you long for us to dream your dream,

of a world at peace, a people made one,

a feast for all; where bread is broken and shared

with companions on the road,

where wine is blessed and shared with all who are

hurting, and all are caught up together

in the Kingdom of your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The bread can be shared, using the words:

Bread for the world to share.

The wine can be shared using the words:

The best wine, saved till now.

At this point you might share a meal, including

within it the bread and wine.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Gracious God we thank you,

for your abundant love in creation,

your compassionate, healing touch in our hurting,

your inspiration for our venturing.

Thank you for bread, and wine to share.

Give us grace to follow in the footsteps of your

Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Blessing

God who longs for our healing,

meet us in our hurting, with your compassion.

Jesus who stands with us, touch us in our

brokenness, that we may be made whole.

Spirit who anoints us with power, fill us with your

grace, that we may reach out to others.

The blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Be with you, now and for ever.

Amen.

Adapted from ‘Dancers and Wayfarers’ by Chris Thorpe, Canterbury Press 2020

HOLY WEEK TEARS… We thank the Rev’d Mark Sherman, the Superintendent Minister of the local Methodist circuit

for providing these thoughts and reflections for Holy Week, which were sent to him by his

friends, Rev Graham & Elaine Halls.

Monday – Day 1 Welcome to this week’s Devotions. This is Holy Week, a week set apart by Christians to reflect on the final

days of Jesus’ life from his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his death on the Cross on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Day. A week full of high tension moments, of tears and jeers, support and

rejection, betrayal and denial. High points and low points, noise and silence, crowds and isolation. We will,

especially during this time of Coronavirus, be able to sympathise and empathise with many of those emotions

and happenings, sharing tears of joy as well as sorrow.

I have called this week’s devotions Holy Week Tears.

A prayer to begin our reflections this week:

Eternal, ever living God, in times of certainty and uncertainty, you are with us.

in times of doubt and belief, you are with us.

In times of sickness and good health, you are with us.

In times of laughter and of sadness, you are with us.

In times of togetherness and aloneness, you are with us.

In the good times and the bad, you are with us.

In times of clarity and confusion, you are with us.

In our tears of sorrow and our tears of joy, you are with us.

Eternal, ever living God, we thank you for your presence and we entrust ourselves to your care.

Amen

Each day this week I want us to reflect on one of the symbols of Holy Week and I want to give you each the

opportunity to create your own visual reminder that will build up to Easter Day.

Each day we will cut out a tear drop shape, ideally from a newspaper or a magazine, I cut mine about the size

of an A5 piece of paper, so about 15cm x 21cm, but size isn’t critical. You might want to cut yourself seven all at once and if they are all the same shape and size, your finished display will look much more pleasing.

So today is Day 1, take one tear drop shape and

place it before you and on it place your Palm

Cross, I hope you all have one…if not draw yourself a cross on your tear drop or cut one from

a contrasting piece of paper. Now put this

somewhere where you will see it during the day.

Mine is on our kitchen table and will stay there all

week to be added to each day. After all, we are on

a journey, a journey following Jesus on his journey

to the Cross and beyond.

Palm branches were scattered on the ground as

Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, people

shouted their support, ‘Hosanna, God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord’. Palms were

used to symbolise goodness and victory, so on that day it seemed appropriate to scatter their palms on the

road.

Read this Palm Sunday Hymn…..StF 265 - Ride on, ride on, in Majesty.

1 Ride on, ride on in majesty!

Hark, all the tribes ‘Hosanna!’ cry; your humble beast pursues its road

with palms and scattered garments strowed.

2 Ride on, ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die:

O Christ, your triumphs now begin

o’er captive death and conquered sin.

3 Ride on, ride on in majesty!

The wingèd squadrons of the sky

look down with sad and wondering eyes

to see the approaching sacrifice.

4 Ride on, ride on in majesty!

Your last and fiercest strife is nigh;

the Father, on his sapphire throne,

expects his own anointed Son.

5 Ride on, ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die;

bow your meek head to mortal pain,

then take, O God, your power,

and reign.

Henry Hart Milman (1791–1868)

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle Edition.

These days we are asked to support so many causes and people, even recently we were asked to light a candle

and place it in our window and to open our windows and clap in support of the NHS. We have been asked to

support the environment by reducing our plastic usage. We are asked to carry on supporting charities that

have had to “shut up shop” during the coronavirus, we have been asked not to cancel our membership, but to let them carry on. We are in our actions shouting Hosanna, we are showing our support. We click “like” on Facebook pages to show we like and support ideas and things and people and the world can see what we do.

So the world, or at least our little part of it, will see how we show our support, what we wave our palms for,

who it is we follow and support. I hope that those who know us, know of our allegiance to Jesus and know

why the Cross, and today the Palm Cross, mean so much to us. Our belief in God, our journey with Jesus, our

encounters with the Holy Spirit are not separate to life, but are integral to it, a part of who we are, that is why

we lay our symbols this week on sheets of newspaper, the two become one.

A closing prayer:

May the blessing of God who gave his Son for us, surround us with peace;

May the blessing of Jesus who rode into Jerusalem for us, give us peace;

May the blessing of the Holy Spirit poured out for us, burn within us and give us peace;

May our triune God bless us in our tears of sorrow and of joy;

This Holy Week, in these uncertain times and everyday. Amen

It is Tuesday, Day 2 of Holy Week Tears

If you are journeying with us this week, you will know that today is

Day 2 of our Holy Week Tears reflections and that we are creating a

visual focal point as we move through this Holy Week. Take your

tear drop shape and place it next to yesterday’s Palm Cross and on it place a bread roll or a slice of bread, a naan or pitta or a cracker.

Bread is an important symbol throughout the Bible, not least

because it demands some sort of preparation.

A few weeks ago I would have said “it is easy for us to get bread”, maybe it isn’t so easy now, but certainly in Biblical times it took a bit of time, no corner shop or supermarket to supply it. Unleavened

bread was a more speedy make because you didn’t have to leave it

whilst the yeast did its work and rose the loaf, but you still had to

build a fire, which meant collecting wood and getting a flame. We

know how long it takes to make bread to get it to rise, it means a bit

of forward planning, a bit of preparation. A bit of a settled existence…think of those displaced and homeless, refugees in a foreign land. I make all our own bead, including sour dough and that takes three days, you need

time and patience, there is preparation and waiting.

Remember how the Israelites had to leave Egypt with no time to let their bread dough rise? (Exodus 12:34) The

Jewish people still use unleavened bread to celebrate Passover and their rescue from Pharaoh.

Jesus refers to himself as “the Bread of Life” (John 6)

Bread is nourishment and sustenance for the body, but Jesus offers spiritual bread that feeds our spiritual lives.

We recall some of that each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer…maybe pray that now.

In Holy Week, in Jesus’s journey towards the cross, he asked his Disciples to go and prepare the Upper Room

for a meal together, find the story in Luke 22:7-13. Here he would share a final meal with his Disciples, he

broke bread and shared wine and we recall this when we share Bread and Wine together in church.

Read this hymn and reflect on the words, and for today the first two verses are very significant.

Hymn StF 569: An upper room did our Lord prepare…

1 An Upper Room did our Lord prepare

for those he loved until the end;

and his disciples still gather there

to celebrate our Risen Friend.

2 A lasting gift Jesus gave his own —

to share his bread, his loving cup;

whatever burdens may bow us down,

he by his cross shall lift us up.

3 And after supper he washed their feet,

for service, too, is sacrament;

in him our joy shall be made complete —

sent out to serve, as he was sent.

4 No end there is! We depart in peace;

he loves beyond the uttermost;

in every room in our Father’s house

he will be there, as Lord and Host.

Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000) Words: © 1974, Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London N3 1DZ

<www.stainer.co.uk>

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith (Kindle Locations 14968-14988). Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle

Edition.

A closing prayer:

Eternal, Holy God, you are amongst and with us and we praise, we worship, we adore you.

You are the calm at the centre of our beings, the hope of promises to come.

You are the one who adds yeast to our beings

You are the one who has prepared us, has kneeded and tended us.

You are the one who sees us rise and mature and become what you have us be.

You are indeed the Bread of Life for us and in us.

Eternal, Holy God, we praise and bless your Holy name.

Amen

It is Wednesday, welcome to Day 3

of Holy Week Tears

If you are journeying with us this week, you will

know that today is Day 3 of our Holy Week Tears

reflections and that we are creating a visual focal

point as we move through this Holy Week. Take

your tear drop shape and place it next to

Monday’s Palm Cross and Tuesday’s Bread and on it place some Silver Coins.

A quiet thought:

As we sit quietly and look at our silver coins we

think of their value, their worth, their usefulness

and we are thankful for them and for all else they

give to us and mean to us.

The coins are symbols of the 30 Silver Coins that Judas was given for betraying Jesus, see Luke 22:47-53.

Likely enough Judas would, last Sunday, have joined the support and shouts of Hosanna as Jesus entered

Jerusalem. Here he is betraying his so called friend for 30 silver coins. What a change of allegiance…and all for money? We know all too well what happened to Jesus, but much less is written about what happened to

Judas, but there are a few words of his journey, look at Matthew 27:3-10 and Acts 1:18-19. Judas, who

betrayed Jesus for money, seems to have had a change of heart and repented for his sin, but he had lied and

in so doing betrayed his friend.

How easy it is to have a change of heart for the wrong reason. How easy it is to skew the truth or tell a lie.

How easy to be blind to what the bigger picture really is. We are all guilty of that to some degree.

Hymn: StF 267 - Jesus in the Olive Grove..

1 Jesus in the olive grove,

waiting for a traitor’s kiss, rises free from bitterness.

2 As he wakes his comrades up,

torches flicker in the glen;

shadows turn to marching men.

3 In that dawn of blows and lies

Church and State conspire to kill,

hang three rebels on a hill.

4 Innocent and guilty drown

in a flood of blood and sweat.

How much darker can it get?

5 How much darker must it be

for a God to see and care

that we perish in despair?

6 It is God himself who dies!

God in man shall set us free:

God as Man — and only he.

7 Let him claim us as his own;

we will serve as best we can

such a God and such a Man!

Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000). Words: © Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London N3 1DZ

<www.stainer.co.uk>

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith (Kindle Locations 7719-7730). Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle

Edition.

A quiet thought:

Let us think again of our silver coins and link in our minds how Judas used his coins. Maybe in the coming

months, after all the changes of recent weeks, our coins will take on a different value, a different worth, a

different meaning.

A closing prayer:

Lord God, you know us through and through, you know our failings, our faults, our fears, our frailty.

You know our hopes, our dreams, our desires, our wishes.

You know the heartache of our present hibernation, isolation, home centred existence.

We recall the stories of Holy Week, we see the images they create

We imagine some of the pain of Jesus, the anguish of the disciples, the fear of the authorities, the uncertainty

of friendship, the reality of desertion, betrayal and even denial.

The cost of commitment and friendship, or care and support is often greater than we had imagined it would

be.

The cost of giving and receiving sometimes stretches us physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Lord God, you know us through and through, accept us as we are, work with us as we are, befriend us again

and again so that we feel forever enfolded in your care.

Amen

It is Maundy Thursday, welcome

to Day 4 of Holy Week Tears

If you are journeying with us this week, you

will know that today is Day 4 of our Holy

Week Tears reflections and that we are

creating a visual focal point as we move

through this Holy Week. Take your tear drop

shape and place it next to Monday’s Palm Cross, Tuesday’s Bread, Wednesday’s Silver coins and on it place some Soap and small

cloth or a tissue.

A quiet thought:

Reflect on your bar (or bottle) of soap your

cloth or tissue (or toilet paper!) and how

something so ordinary and every day,

something we have used with barely a

thought, has in recent weeks become a commodity of value and desire and need beyond anything we could

have imagined a few weeks ago.

We add soap and towel (paper or otherwise) to our reflections this week as a reminder of Jesus’ service to his Disciples, to his friends, to those nearest to him. He knelt and washed their feet. A final act from him to

them, he was their servant king and he is ours too. No task too menial or

humble. John 13:1-15 tells the story for us.

Foot washing, normally the job of a servant, was an act that would have

shocked and humbled his friends. He was aware that times were confusing

for them, so he did something very basic, very every day, that they would

understand, he would show them that they were to care and do for others

as he had cared and did for them. Many of us are humbled now at the little

acts of kindness shown to us in the present Coronavirus times. There are

those who need their feet washing, but there are those who need a phone

call, an email, a reassuring word, a shopping list collected, a prayer said, a

letter posting. In their own right they are little insignificant acts, but they

mean more than we can ever know. Even if we are self isolating we can

offer service and the caring to those around us. Today, Maundy Thursday,

maybe it is even more apt that we reflect on this.

A hymn for this day: StF 249 - Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love…

Jesu, Jesu,

fill us with your love,

show us how to serve

the neighbours we have from you.

1 Kneels at the feet of his friends,

silently washes their feet,

master who acts as a slave to them.

2 Neighbours are rich folk and poor,

neighbours are black folk and white,

neighbours are nearby and far away.

3 These are the ones we should serve,

these are the ones we should love.

All these are neighbours to us and you.

4 Kneel at the feet of our friends,

silently washing their feet,

this is the way we should live with you.

North Ghanaian song adapted by Tom Colvin (1925–2000)

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle Edition.

A closing prayer:

Servant God, you sit beside us, stand with us, breath with us, cry with us and we are humbled that you care

for us.

Wash away the dust from our minds, the dust in our eyes and our ears; let us see you and hear you and know

you with such clarity, that we can rest in the knowledge of your abundant care, no matter what happens to

us.

Servant God, we give thanks for those whose acts of kindness make a difference to our lives, especially in

these changing, confusing and frightening times; for those whom we rely on in times of need, for those who

work tirelessly to ensure things are the best they can be. Bless them and bless us and all those we love.

Amen.

It is Good Friday, welcome to Day 5 of

Holy Week Tears

If you are journeying with us this week, you will

know that today is Day 5 of our Holy Week Tears

reflections and that we are creating a visual focal

point as we move through this Holy Week. Take

your tear drop shape and place it next to Monday’s Palm Cross, Tuesday’s Bread, Wednesday’s Silver coins Maundy Thursday’s soap and towel and on it place some spiky bits of bramble or hawthorn (if

your garden has them) or some nails, a cocktail

stick, anything sharp and maybe if you have it a

bit of purple cloth or paper.

A quiet thought:

Reflect on your spiky prickly things, what they feel like. Reflect on your bit of purple, rich and regal, what

images does it evoke for you?

We add our spiky things to represent the crown of thorns placed upon Jesus’ head at the crucifixion and the

purple cloth represents the robe that was put on Jesus. Purple for royalty, Jesus was King of the Jews and still

we refer to Jesus as King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Read the story of Good Friday in Mark 15. The images today

are of pain, anguish, desolation, death, of desertion, sadness, bewilderment, confusion, hopes dashed, fears

raised, engulfing darkness, grief and more….these are the images of Good Friday.

We read a Good Friday Hymn: StF 287 - When I survey the wonderous cross…

1 When I survey the wondrous cross,

on which the Prince of Glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

save in the death of Christ my God;

all the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to his blood.

3 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?

4 His dying crimson, like a robe,

spreads o’er his body on the tree; then am I dead to all the globe,

and all the globe is dead to me.

5 Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith (Kindle Locations 8249-8271). Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle

Edition.

A closing prayer:

Blessed God, our hearts feel broken as we reflect on the events of Good Friday and we try to feel your pain.

We imagine the fear and anger and all the emotions of the day and somehow this year of all years, they

resonate deeply with us.

Blessed God, we know you share the pain and anguish of the day with us. In Jesus, you suffered and you died

for us; now in Jesus we pray for your protection, your love, your gentleness and we pray in this in between

time for a vision of a brighter future, of life enriched and in all its fullness. Amen

It is Saturday, welcome to Day 6 of Holy

Week Tears

If you are journeying with us this week, you will know

that today is Day 6 of our Holy Week Tears reflections

and that we are creating a visual focal point as we

move through this Holy Week. Take your tear drop

shape and place it next to Monday’s Palm Cross, Tuesday’s Bread, Wednesday’s Silver Coins, Maundy Thursday’s soap and towel, Good Friday’s prickly and purple things and on it place some herbs or spices or

perfume.

A quiet thought:

Reflect on your Herbs. Spices or Perfume. What do

you use them for and why?

Read about what happened to Jesus after he died, Mark 16:1-8

We, as Christians, normally spend the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Day preparing for the Easter

Day celebrations in church and home. Maybe buying last minute Easter Eggs, planning an Easter Egg hunt for

the youngsters drawing Easter bunnies and spring chicks with the children, “dressing” the church, filling it with flowers and getting ready a cross to decorate on Easter morning. All about preparation.

For the first disciples of Jesus it must have been a long day, not knowing what to do, where to go, how they

were going to manage, suddenly their whole life had changed (I guess in many ways people who have been

made redundant, or ever furloughed, have a bit of that feeling). Their “jobs” had relied on Jesus. Now he had been crucified and buried in the tomb. So, they had lost their leader, their jobs and they grieved for their

friend. All human emotions we can relate to. They felt alone and bereft, again, especially in these days, we

can empathise with them. The women had the task of gathering herbs and spices to anoint the body and that

was what they would do on Sunday morning, they couldn’t do it on Saturday, that was Jewish Passover.

Preparation then for what was to come. BUT…what was to come was not what they expected…but for now, on this Holy Saturday, they waited, they prepared. Our herbs, spices, perfume, remind us of their waiting,

waiting to perform what they thought was the last act of kindness and respect for their friend. Time must

have seemed to stand still, must have weighed heavily on their shoulders; their minds filled with “what ifs”, “maybe”, filled with waiting and wondering, longing and hoping.

A reflection on our Lenten journey:

Together

and alone we set out on our lenten journey.

We set out as One

set out as one.

We have travelled, still will travel, to places we are not happy with

to places we are not comfortable with

to places that hurt us

to places that challenge us.

We have travelled, still will travel, to places that settle and sustain us

to places that cocoon us

to places that release us.

We have travelled, still will travel, alone and apart

together and at one.

We have travelled, still will travel, happy

and sad.

We have travelled, still will travel, willingly

and reluctantly.

But travel we will.

And after travel is journey’s end.

If we have travelled Lent

If we have travelled Holy Week

then we will find Easter.

Find ourselves somewhere different to where we started with different tears.

Find ourselves somewhere different to where we started.

Find ourselves different to when we started.

Find ourselves different.

Find ourselves.

Find.

Find GOD

This hymn encompasses so much of what we have been reflecting on: StF277 - My song is love unknown…. 1 My song is love unknown,

my Saviour’s love to me, love to the loveless shown,

that they might lovely be.

O who am I,

that for my sake

my Lord should take

frail flesh and die?

2 He came from his blest throne,

salvation to bestow;

but they made strange,

and none the longed-for Christ would know.

But O my Friend,

my Friend indeed,

who at my need his life did spend!

3 Sometimes they strew his way,

and his sweet praises sing;

resounding all the day

hosannas to their King.

Then ‘Crucify!’

is all their breath,

and for his death

they thirst and cry.

4 Why, what has my Lord done?

What makes this rage and spite?

He made the lame to run,

he gave the blind their sight.

Sweet injuries!

Yet they at these

themselves displease,

and ’gainst him rise.

5 They rise, and needs will have

my dear Lord made away;

a murderer they save,

the Prince of Life they slay.

Yet cheerful he

to suffering goes,

that he his foes

from thence might free.

6 In life no house, no home,

my Lord on earth might have;

in death, no friendly tomb

but what a stranger gave.

What may I say?

Heaven was his home;

but mine the tomb wherein he lay.

7 Here might I stay and sing,

no story so divine:

never was love, dear King,

never was grief like thine!

This is my Friend,

in whose sweet praise

I all my days could gladly spend.

Samuel Crossman (c. 1624–1683)

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle Edition.

A closing prayer:

Immortal God, these days of waiting are tinged with a myriad of emotions, like a kaleidoscope, each time we

look and think, different images pass in front of us, different memories, pictures, smells, experiences. Hold us

tight, hold us securely in your presence and bring us from the death of

Good Friday to the glories of Resurrection Day. Amen

It is EASTER SUNDAY, welcome to Day

7 of Holy Week Tears

Love and Prayers to you all on this Easter Day!

If you have journeyed with us this last week, you will

know that today is Day 7 of our Holy Week Tears

reflections and that we have been creating a visual

focal point as we have moved through Holy Week.

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen, that is our joyful cry

today…no more tears of sadness, today tears of joy. No more tears on our display but in the centre of

your tear drops place a vase of flowers and if you

can find some butterfly pictures to cut out or draw,

add them to the vase as well.

No quiet thought, but a rousing hymn with which to launch our day, even an Easter Day different from what

we had hoped for and imagined: StF 303 -I know that my redeemer lives.

1 I know that my Redeemer lives —

what joy the blest assurance gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead;

he lives, my everlasting Head!

2 He lives, to bless me with his love;

he lives, to plead for me above;

he lives, my hungry soul to feed;

he lives, to help in time of need.

3 He lives, and grants me daily breath;

he lives, and I shall conquer death;

he lives, my mansion to prepare;

he lives, to lead me safely there.

4 He lives, all glory to his name;

he lives, my Saviour, still the same;

what joy the blest assurance gives,

I know that my Redeemer lives!

Samuel Medley (1738–1799)

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Flowers and Butterflies are symbols of new life, bursting forth from the darkness. Easter celebrates the

Resurrection of Jesus who was born for us, died for us and rose from the dead for us.

Read of the Resurrection that we celebrate today: Matthew 28

A meditation for this day:

The dark clouds that yesterday tumbled across the sky and rested on the hills,

are now yielding to the finger shafts of golden brilliance creeping across the darkness.

The tears of yesterday that blurred our vison and wet our cheeks and were without consolation

are now tears no more but salty stains marking the moment.

And the dawn brings light, golden brilliance as splinters of glass,

spreading and transforming before our eyes and our tears are gone, wiped away,

and we make our way in the changing light and a clearer vision to the tomb of sadness and oppressive

darkness

and BEHOLD

the darkness is no more

the tumbled clouds have given way

deep sadness and bewilderment, the heavy pain of death

TRANSFORMED.

Light and Life stand before us.

“Who is it that you seek?”

Death is gone, overcome, overshadowed, overwhelmed.

Life lives, loves, hopes, tears of joy like diamonds glisten.

The cross is no more than wood chopped and fashioned.

The tomb a stone hewn place

Beyond and above Halleluiahs resound and echo and fill our minds…

For Christ is alive and the tumbled clouds have been transformed…

Tears of joy and relief of happiness and celebration wash away our fears…

Our spirits lifted, enlightened,

And Christ is the golden brilliance by which we see our lives,

and Halleluiah is our Cry…Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah. FOR JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN.

StF 313 – Thine be the glory

1 Thine be the glory,

risen, conquering Son,

endless is the victory

thou o’er death hast won; angels in bright raiment

rolled the stone away,

kept the folded grave-clothes

where thy body lay:

Thine be the glory,

risen, conquering Son,

endless is the victory

thou o’er death hast won.

2 Lo, Jesus meets us,

risen from the tomb;

lovingly he greets us,

scatters fear and gloom;

let the Church with gladness

hymns of triumph sing,

for her Lord now liveth,

death hath lost its sting:

3 No more we doubt thee,

glorious Prince of Life;

life is naught without thee:

aid us in our strife;

make us more than conquerors

through thy deathless love;

bring us safe through Jordan

to thy home above:

Edmond Budry (1854–1932) translated by Richard Birch Hoyle (1875–1939)

Methodist Church. Singing the Faith Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. Kindle Edition.

A closing prayer:

May the tears of today

Be the balm to the pains of yesterday.

May the tears of tomorrow

Be the cleansing of memories.

May the tears to come

Be those of joy and laughter.

And may the Risen Christ go with you. Amen