“Will You Come and Follow Me…..?”
This is the first line of a wonderful hymn composed by John Bell (of the Christian community based at the Abbey on the Scottish island of Iona), as seen in its first verse:
Will you come and follow me
if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know,
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown
in you, and you in me?
Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus had a naturally invitational approach with everyone he met, from the very first fishermen he invited to ‘come and follow him’ to each one of us, here and now in our 21st century lives! That personal invitation especially includes journeying with Jesus through Holy Week (10th – 17th April), and our churches in Alrewas, Fradley and Wychnor most warmly welcome you and your family to join in with the various special services and activities hosted by each one (details available in each church’s section in this edition of Parish News)…..
Come and experience the first day of Holy
Week – Palm Sunday (10th April) – as Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem is retold in story, movement and symbol (with palm crosses for all) …enter into the awe and wonder of the crowds which celebrated Jesus as King, but had no idea what that might mean for their own lives……what might it mean for ours?
On Maundy Thursday (14th April), join us at All Saints Alrewas as we gather from all three villages to enter into the experience of Jesus’ ‘last supper’ with his disciples, and Jesus blows his disciples’ minds as he reveals completely unexpected insights into God’s presence and power in their lives….and ours too!
This moving Communion Service will include symbolic ‘handwashing’ for those who wish to partake as we remember Jesus being betrayed by one of his very own and his disciples abandoning him out of fear for their own lives, from 9pm to 12am
a ‘Night Watch’ will continue in All Saints, with opportunity for candle-lit personal meditation and occasional readings – you are warmly invited to ‘drop in’ and stay for however long you wish, as we prepare for the world-changing events the next day…
On Good Friday (15th April), you are invited to participate in a variety of services and activities which help us to experience the awesome depth and costliness of God’s love for our world, and for each one of us personally, as the events leading to Jesus’ death are retold in story, song, activities and experiences for all ages……
Following an eerily quiet ‘Holy Saturday’ as the painful reality of Jesus’ death sinks in, we sincerely hope everyone will join in our churches’ joy-filled celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection on EASTER SUNDAY as we celebrate the life-changing victory of God’s love!
We sincerely hope you will accept this personal invitation to join in the wonder of Holy Week and experience afresh the amazing presence and power of God to make all things new…. including me and you, and our lives now and eternally!
With every blessing,
Vicar John