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Dear reader,
In the Christian calendar we remember the last days of Jesus life in the season of Passiontide which is followed by Easter. It was at first a night-long vigil, followed by the celebration of Holy Communion at dawn. Over time, the Passion developed into Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday. By taking part in the Holy Week services we share in Christ’s own journey, from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the empty tomb on Easter morning.
Our Lent groups this year have been looking at Bishop Stephen Cottrell’s book “Things He carried”. Each chapter is about a different thing that Jesus carried in the last days of His life e.g. the cross, our sorrows. It is not comfortable reading as it deals with the physical reality of the Passion story. It is tempting for us to gloss over the difficult details of Jesus’ last days and concentrate on the joy of Easter Day. We need to remember that the resurrection was only possible because of and not in spite of, Christ’s suffering and death on the cross.
We travel together with Christ from Jerusalem to the empty tomb by attending Holy Week services and spending time praying, reading and reflecting on the events. Then on Easter Day we celebrate the new life and hope that His resurrection still brings to us and our world.
Reverend Carol Brennand
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