Monday 9 April 2012

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER

GOOD FRIDAY

After the Procession of Witness through Rush Green there was a quiet service of devotion before the Cross before The Liturgy. Father Martin, Father Mervyn, and the Servers prostrated themselves before the bare altar for a short while and then the service proceeded.

During the dramatic reading of the Gospel Father Martin acted as the narrator, Father Mervyn as Jesus and our Lay Reader Joan read the rest. After the Veneration of the Cross and the Reproaches the Blessed Sacarment was brought from the Altar of Repose in the Lady Chapel and all present made their Communion. At the end of the service we left the church in total silence.

HOLY SATURDAY

Today we prepared the church for Easter and the Easter Garden was built. The church was cleaned and all the chairs washed.

EASTER DAY  - ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN!

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THE EASTER VIGIL

At 5.30 a.m. we gathered in the church grounds to light and bless the New Fire and the Paschal Candle which was then carried in procession into the Church as the greeting Christ Our Light rang out in the dark building. As the procession moved up the aisle the sweet aroma of incense drifted around the building as people came into church and their candles were lit. We then kept the Vigil with the readings tracing the history of our redemption from the Book of Genesis through to the New Testament.  In between the readings the Choir sang the Psalms. The Font was blessed ready for a Baptism at the Solemn Mass at 10.00 a.m. Father Martin presided and Father Mervyn played the organ.

After the service we adjourned to the hall were we enjoyed a breakfast of cereals, fruit juices, boiled eggs, sausages, toast and marmalade with freshly brewed coffee or tea.

THE SOLEMN PARISH MASS

The church was packed for the Solemn Mass at 10.00 a.m. with several people who had been to the earlier service staying, including, of course, the choir. During the Mass an adult Duncan was baptised. Father Martin officiated at the Baptism and preached whilst Father Mervyn presided at the concelebrated Mass. The choir sang an Easter Anthem. After Mass we enjoyed a lovely chocolate cake made by Daniel our Boat Boy and Server and all the children received large Easter Eggs whilst the rest of us had Cadbury’s Cream Eggs to eat or take home. The numbers attending were the largest for many years and indicates the growth in those regularly coming to Mass in the last year or so.

Deo Gratias.

1662 SOLEMN EVENSONG & BENEDICTION

The final act of worship on Easter Day 2012 was Solemn Evensong and Benediction.

ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLELUIA

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