Passiontide, the final two weeks.
This Sunday is called Passion Sunday and it marks the start of the last two weeks of Lent.
This is a very special time within our church calendar and is marked by the veiling of the statues, icons and crosses in church.
It marks the two weeks before Christ’s Passion and our liturgy at morning prayer and evening prayer shifts to recognise this starker last period of lent.
It is in this time that the darkness feels greatest, we know what is to come on Good Friday and we know the events of the next two weeks only too well.
In the old lectionary (our diary of readings) the readings for this Sunday focused on the eighth chapter of John – where Jesus is accused of blasphemy and even possession and where people started to reach for stones to throw at him.
“So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” John 8:59
Just as Jesus hid himself He is now hidden in church behind veils and covers.
His images and statues are taken away and perhaps we find ourselves holding stones ready to throw.
In these final weeks of lent we are called to see the stones we are carrying and to recognise where we were planning to throw them.
We are called to examine ourselves in the starkness of the darkness ahead.
It is in that examination and that darkness that we will most clearly see the coming glory and bright light that is Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
Fr. Matthew
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Next Sunday children are invited to come and help build the Easter Garden in the Lady Chapel. It’ll be a hands-on activity where we re-create the garden of gethsemane, calvary and the tomb. The garden will form the centre piece of the altar of repose over Easter.
During Lent there will be a Priest available for confessions for an hour before each mass. Make your way to the statue of Jesus and the Priest will hear your confession or will help you make your first confession.
It’s Palm Sunday next week so don’t be late for Mass – we’ll start our procession outside at 10am and you’ll be able to receive your blessed palms to take home.
From the 30th April we’ll be launching a new Evening Prayer & Benediction service on the last Sunday of each month at 6pm.
Julie, Susan and Fr. Josiah are advancing plans for a new Sunday afternoon children’s service and club – 4pm to 6pm on the last Sunday of each month. The first service will be on the 30th April. If you’d like to be involved, please speak to Fr. Josiah.