Dear friends, 

 We have now entered the season of Passion tide and Easter is just around the corner. Between now and Easter Sunday, we have so many wonderful opportunities to engage with the story behind it all, from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem through to the events of Good Friday and the cross. It is one of the most important  times of the year for us as a church and when we participate in the journey, it can be extremely helpful to us on our walk of faith and for reflection on our daily lives and current world situation. It is a journey into darkness and back out again. It is one which carries themes of friendship, loyalty, justice, mob mentality and so much more. In the story of Holy Week we discover the roots of our practice of Holy Communion, something that is now at the heart of the way we worship together as a church community. Since many of you will not be familiar with the additional services we hold in Holy Week I thought I would use this space to give an overview and description of them. Have a think about what you and your family might like to come to as we each ask ourselves where we will find the good news this Easter. 

 Maundy Thursday (Not at St Martin’s)

 The clergy and licenced lay ministers of the diocese join together at Bristol Cathedral at this me of year. The Bishop blesses oils which are distributed to the local churches and are used throughout the year. This is a symbol of unity and a reminder of our call and vocation. At St Martin’s our Maundy Thursday service centres around the Last Supper – that final meal which Jesus shared with his friends and followers. Here we receive our tradition of Holy Communion, eating and drinking to remember Christ. This is also a famous moment because Jesus showed us what true leadership is all about, serving your community, by washing the feet of his disciples. At St Martin’s one of the most powerful moments is the stripping of the altar, leaving it bare and empty. We then hold vigil in a representation of the Garden of Gethsemane in the Lady Chapel, remembering how Jesus’ disciples attempted to be there for Jesus in that painful time of prayer. 

 Good Friday 

 As with many things at St Martin’s, our Good Friday services offer two very different opportunities to reflect on the last moments of Jesus’ life. In the morning we move around the church, using all our senses to think about what went on and what it might say to us today. It is perfect for the whole family as it is interactive and engaging throughout. For some, our traditional service at 2pm is the service not to be missed. We consume the last of the reserve sacrament (the bread set aside in the Lady Chapel) as we engage in the desolation felt at the death of Christ. Service of the Light (Easter Saturday) Following the darkness of the previous two days, both literally and metaphorically, we finally arrive at the Good News of the Easter story! Our service begins outside in the glow of a fire. Our Pascal candle (large candle by the font) is lit and light returns to our church. As we celebrate the joy of the resurrection and the new light that enters our lives we remember the commitments we make to Christ in baptism and in prayer to follow him and take this light with us through life. It is another service filled with rich symbolism and ancient words, something worth experiencing at least once. 

 Easter Sunday 

 On Easter morning we continue the celebrations begun the night before with two Holy Communions, one at 8:30 the other at 10:30. There are so many elements to the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and in this event we find hope, joy and courage but also perhaps a feeling of uncertainty and questioning. We join with the disciples who wonder if it could be true, perhaps joining with Thomas in his doubt or with Mary Magdelene in her grief. As we unpack the story of the resurrection we see that even though life and death are not simple, tidy things, God worked in amongst them and still can today. Expect a beautiful Easter garden, a little bit of incense and lots of Easter eggs to find around the church after the service. Whatever your past experience of Holy Week and Easter, whatever your faith journey looks like, no matter what doubts you carry into this space, know that you are welcome to come and explore. To explore the story and its message, to ask questions and raise eyebrows, but also to celebrate and find hope as we journey with Jesus into the dark and back out again. Blessings, Rev’d Phil