We will be having Holy Communion in all five churches on Easter Day. During the week, we will keep Holy Week together as a Benefice, moving around the five churches.
From Monday to Wednesday we will gather from 7.30-8 pm for a short reflective service known as Compline, with time for meditation and beautiful music, at the following churches:
- Monday 14 April at St Mary’s, Potterne
- Tuesday 15 April at Christ Church, Worton
- Wednesday 16 April at Christ Church, Bulkington
Our theme will be ‘God With Us’ and will be explored by me each evening through the following Bible stories. Monday—‘Wrestling with God’ (Wrestling Jacob); Tuesday—‘Returning to God’ (The Prodigal Son); Wednesday—‘God is Always There’ (The Road to Emmaus).
On Maundy Thursday, 17 April, from 6.30–8.30 pm, at Holy Cross, we will hold our Maundy service. Rev’d Jane Knowles will be leading this service which consists of a very simple and symbolic meal shared with wine, foot washing, Holy Communion and the stripping of the altar: laid bare in preparation for Easter Day when all is new.
There will be silent meditation for anyone who wishes to stay after the altar has been stripped, we will share a simple supper, before celebrating Holy Communion. After the service, the Watch at the Garden of Remembrance will be kept until 10 pm. Please come and go from the Watch as you please, there is no need to have attended the service beforehand.
If you would like to come to the Maundy service, please contact Len Murray on seendlen@gmail.com so he can arrange catering.
On Good Friday, 18 April, there will be two events especially for children as well as one for adults. From 10 am–noon at Holy Cross, Seend, led by Rev’d Caroline O’Neill we will have an ‘Easter Workshop and Egg Hunt’ – a fun-packed fidgeter-friendly event for kids to learn the Easter story, with lots of do and sing. Then from 3.30-5.15 pm, Messy Church will have its normal monthly service at Potterne Village Hall, also with lots to do for fidgety kids looking for fun, and concluding with a simple meal. Children should be accompanied by an adult to both events.
For adults, from 2-3 pm, at St Peter’s, Poulshot, we will keep ‘The Last Hour’ – prayer and meditation at the foot of the Cross led by the Rev’d Maureen Allchin.
On Saturday 19 April from 8-9 pm in St Mary’s, Potterne we will keep ‘The Easter Vigil’. Starting with a bonfire in the twilit churchyard, we process into the dark church by candlelight, and gradually turn it into a cathedral of light, joyful bells, and singing.
On Easter Day, 20 April, we will have Holy Communion services in all five of our churches as follows:
Bulkington 9.30 am
Potterne 8 am (BCP) and 11 am
Poulshot 9.30 am (BCP)
Seend 11 am
Worton 9.30 am
Please contact me on rev@gerrylynch.co.uk or 07521 440 622 if you want to learn more about any of these services and events.