Holy Week in the Two Shires Benefice

This is obviously a Holy Week with a difference. It is natural to ‘mourn’ what we won’t be doing this year that we would normally be doing; but do also use this time to reflect on the journey of Holy Week for you now. During this week every year we are entering into the journey that Christ and his followers went through from Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, through the Passion, and onto the Resurrection. In many ways this year, like no other in recent times, our own times follow this form. We are on a painful journey, but in the midst of that there is hope and there will be resurrection.

‘In house’ there are a number of things that you can access to help observe Holy Week this year. Do keep looking at https://twoshires.wordpress.com to see new content. There is a special page for Holy Week, and the content relevant for the day will appear on the Prayer page also.

· Compline – there is a recorded service of Compline that can be used any evening. https://twoshires.wordpress.com/2020/04/06/monday-in-holy-week/

· Maundy Thursday – There will be ‘An Invitation’; an order of service you can follow at home in your own time whilst you have your main meal of the day. It uses prayers, songs and meditations before, during and after your meal as we remember the Last Supper together. It will be available to download from Wednesday night at: https://twoshires.wordpress.com/gallery-downloads-and-links/

· Good Friday – There is a meditative Stations of Cross prepared using images from local hedgerows and the Good Friday Reproaches you can join in with. It will be available to use from Friday morning on the website here https://twoshires.wordpress.com/contact/

· Easter Sunday – I will be pre-recording an Easter Sunday service in my garden which will include sharing in the breaking of the bread. I will also be blessing and lighting a candle to put in our Easter Garden at home which, once our churches are open again, I will use to take the Light into each church as part of that rejoicing when that happens. The Easter Sunday service will ‘go live’ on the site at 10am on Easter morning here: https://twoshires.wordpress.com/sunday-service/

Do also have a look at the Deanery website; https://ilminsterdeanery.uk/ where there is content being made available all the time. Particularly you might want to sing some Easter hymns with our own Pamela Everitt who has recorded a hymn for each day. Thank you, Pamela.