Our Service will take place at St John's Church as near to 10:00m as we can but please do join us for a joyful procession with our four legged friends through beautiful Hilly Fields
We will leave St. Luke's at 9:30am

On Maundy Thursday we remember Jesus sharing his Last Supper with his disciples, instituting the celebration of the Eucharist. Following his teaching we celebrate the Eucharist in remembrance of him.

At this supper, Jesus gave his greatest commandment that we should love one another as he has loved us;
and so during this service feet of the congregation are washed by the clergy as an example of Christian humility and service.

Following the service there is a silent watch or vigil.

Good Friday at 11am at St Luke's Church
Fr Jeremy will lead our young people and their families on a walk with Jesus to Calvary

Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

It is a sombre day where we meet, pray and reflect on the cost of the great sacrifice of love: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and redeemer of the world.

Tenebrae (“shadows” or “darkness”) is a Holy Week service that is at least 1,000 years old and a local tradition at St John's Church Clay Hill
Originally held after midnight , Tenebrae would be sung each day of the Triduum in a church lit only by 15 candles.
These were extinguished one by one until the church was left in darkness.
At that point, a loud noise (“strepitus”) would be produced – sometimes by slamming a hymnal or other book shut, sometimes by stomping on the floor – symbolizing the earthquake after Christ’s death.

Like the “lessons and carols” services familiar at Christmas, Tenebrae consists of hymns and readings, and you are very welcome to join us at this and all of our services over Holy Week at St John's and St Luke's Clay Hill. Details of al our services can be found on our website (clayhillparish.org.uk)

From earliest times Christians have gathered through the night of Easter to recall the story of God’s saving work, from creation through to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, the Easter Liturgy is not merely a presentation of God’s work.
It is meant to be a real experience of new life for the worshipper, a passing from darkness to light which offers hope to all the faithful. It is therefore important that the preparation is prayerful and thorough.

The Easter Vigil marks the end of the emptiness of Holy Saturday, and leads into the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The singing of the Exsultet, the ancient hymn of triumph and rejoicing, links this night of our Christian redemption to the Passover night of Israel’s redemption out of Egypt. Christian baptism is a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ, a dying to sin in order to be reborn in him, and the Easter Vigil was from early Christian times a preferred occasion for baptism. It is fittingly a time when those who are already Christians may repeat with renewed commitment the promises of their own baptism, and strengthen their sense of incorporation into the royal and priestly ministry of the whole people of God.

The Easter Gospel is proclaimed with all the joy and splendour that the church can find.

Join us at 10:00am for our joyful Easter Celebration