HOLY WEEK AND EASTER GALLERY 2014
Recording the highlights of the most sacred week of the year at St Faith's



Palm Sunday

We gathered in the Church Hall for the opening movements of the Palm Sunday liturgy.
Then, with palm crosses blessed, the procession, headed by Leo and Gareth, set off through the Milton Road gates,
round past the vicarage and on into church for the ceremonies of the day.


   

  

 

   





Maundy Thursday
The first day of the Paschal Triduum

On the Thursday of Holy Week the Church commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.
The name 'Maundy' derives from the Latin 'mandatum': Christ's command to his followers:
'A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
'
The liturgy features the symbolic washing of the feet by the clergy of members of the congregation.
In St Faith's, as for many years, the congregation then gather round the nave altar for the consecration and communion.
As the service draws to a close, we process behind the Blessed Sacrament, borne aloft to the Altar of Repose:
the Lady Chapel, decked out as the Garden of Gethsemane, and by the light of many candles.
Finally, the altars are stripped and laid bare, statues and ornaments removed, and the Watch of Prayer
is kept in the Lady Chapel until midnight and the beginning of Good Friday.

 

  

 

 





Good Friday
The second day of the Paschal Triduum

On the most solemn day of the Christian year, the Church recalls the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross.
The Great Crucifix at St Faith's, the almost life-size statue of our Lord, lies ready at the back of church.
In due course it is borne aloft by servers, carried slowly to the sanctuary, and there raised on its stand between the choir stalls.
Towards the end of the Good Friday liturgy, we are invited to come forward and venerate the figure of the crucified Jesus.
The service ends in quiet contemplation, at the hour that traditionally marks the moment of the crucifixion.
 
 

 

 

 


Holy Saturday
The third day of the Paschal Triduum

The day before Easter Sunday is also known as Easter Eve: it marks the time of waiting leading up to the joy of the Resurrection.
The morning is busy with the preparations for the great day: bright flowers are everywhere, including the Easter garden
and the reredos, closed or draped since the beginning of Lent, is uncovered again in all its glory.

At the Easter Vigil, at 8.00 pm on Easter Eve, the story of the events leading up to this night, from creation to
Good Friday,
are told in a sequence of readings. Then, as darkness falls, we move outside the church to where the New Fire has been prepared.
The new Paschal candle is prepared,  blessed and lit as we move into church where its light spreads to all present.
The music sounds forth and the lights go on, as the news of the resurrection is triumphantly proclaimed.
At the font, we renew our baptismal vows and are sprinkled with holy water before the first eucharist of Easter at last is celebrated.
After the service, it is time for Easter biscuits and a glass of bubbly to toast the most exultant hours of the church's year.

  

 




   

 


   

 


Easter Sunday
The day of Resurrection

There was a well-filled church to take part in the celebrations and joy of the climax of Holy Week and of the Church's year.
At the beginning of the service, the Easter Garden was blessed, before the Easter Gospel was proclaimed.
A happy crowd of relatives and friends had joined us for the baptism of baby Leo,
and many of them gathered round the font as Sue did the honours over a well-behaved infant.
The giving of a symbolic candle took place in front of the nave altar, before the vicar  went walk-about
to the back again for all to see and applaud the newest addition to the family of Saint Faith's.
Leo's family had supplied wine to drink everyone's health in time-honoured fashion after the service.
The font was then the backdrop again, this time for a presentation to Geoff Dunn, recently retired as parish office manager.
Finally, in more contemplative mood, the ashes of Ken Hollis and Jim Turvey, faithful members of our congregation,
 were laid in their final resting place in the Garden of Remembrnnce.

 

  

  

  

  

 

 

Mothering Sunday 2014

Poems for Holy Week