Join us for Easter
Here is your itinerary for your
personal, authentic and timeless Easter Experience
with Alstonville Anglicans from from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday The Easter Experience begins with
Maundy Thursday 6pm 28 March
We gather at 6pm on 28 March for a meditative Eucharist. There are many symbols to guide our worship through Maundy Thursday
· including the commandment to love,
· love in action through the act of foot-washing,
· and the Institution of the Eucharist, a feast of bread and wine where we remember Jesus is in us and with us.
Maundy Thursday All-night Vigil
from 7pm Thursday 28 March
to 8am Friday 129 March
The all-night vigil is in the Church Sanctuary and begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday 7pm and continues through the night until Friday morning 8am. The vigil is an act of silent prayer when we are symbolically with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, near the mount of Olives. Jesus said to his disciples “Watch and Pray.” So, we watch. And pray. In silence. With Jesus.
For some, swimming in silence is easy. Others need some guidance – this is okay. The silence is supported by meditative music, a visual display and some cue cards to help you step into silent prayer.
All members of the community are invited to sign-up for an hour between 7pm Thursday 28 March and 8am Friday29 March to be with Jesus in the silence of the night.
As a gift of prayer, participants are invited to receive a stone to hold during silent meditation and before leaving place the stone near the Altar as a symbol of self-offering. At the end of their hour each participant is invited to light a candle before leaving.
FAQ
What to do?
· Sign up for an hour of silent meditation on Maundy Thursday. (Sign-up sheet is on the church door and our website).
· On arriving at the Church, sign-in and sanitise.
· Choose a pebble to pray with.
· Enjoy the silence with others for an hour (or more).
· When you are ready to leave, place the stone near the altar, light a candle in the baptismal font and depart in peace.
Why do we observe the all-night vigil on Maundy Thursday?: In the Scriptures Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he died the next day. He asked for help saying to his disciples “Watch and pray with me.” We symbolically spend time with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane through silent prayer.
Where is the all-night vigil held?: In the church sanctuary, enter through the front door.
What do I wear?: Wear something warm if necessary. Come as …you. Shoes optional. Slippers normal.
Can I come if I didn’t’ sign up?: We need a minimum of two people for each hour. You are welcome so please feel free to come.
Am I allowed to talk?: This is a moment in your life where you are given freedom not to talk. Give yourself and others the freedom and gift of silence and notice what happens in you.
Can I bring my dog?: We have had a new carpet placed in the church and ideally, we prefer not to have pets shedding hair etc. However, we are aware that late at night people, especially those who live alone, may feel safer with their dog and this may help them come to church to enjoy the silence. If you feel it necessary to bring a dog for your personal safety, please take full responsibility for your pet not disturbing the silence of others. There is a carpet sweeper in the vestry for you to clean up any hair your four-legged child may have left behind.
Can I bring a friend or a partner?: The more the merrier, guide them in what is expected by offering them this information.
The all-night vigil ends with
Morning Prayer at 8am on Good Friday 29 March.
The Good Friday Service is at 10am on 29 March 2024
The Good Friday service is a solemn occasion where we gather with Mary, the Mother of God, Mary of Magdala and some of Jesus’ friends to be with Jesus at the Cross, the place of his death.
Easter Dawn Service on 31 March 6am
The climax of our easter journey is the dawn service held on the 31 March 2024 6am in the Church.
· At 5.30am gather outside the church door for the lighting of the Easter Fire.
· At 6am the Fire is blessed, and the Paschal Candle is lit.
· We walk into the church prayerfully, led by the Paschal Candle.
The Paschal Candle symbolises our faith in the Resurrection of Christ. Through chant, we remember how the presence of God, sometimes called Shekinah, has been our faith ancestors and will always be with us. The Paschal Candle is decorated with bees, butterflies and other symbols of the risen life. The candle is signed with the Alpha and Omega, Greek letters that remind us that Christ is the beginning and end of time and that all time belongs to Christ.
The Dawn service includes the renewal of our baptismal promises and we are sprinkled with water to remember the grace of our baptism. The service concludes with a blessing.
Easter Service (including families) 9am 31 March
The Easter Service at 9am and includes the first Eucharist with the new Paschal Candle. Children are included in the worship of this service. The Scriptures, sermon and prayers will sustain us in our resurrected faith.