A short contemplative Eucharist.

This service marks the beginning of the Holy Triduum, which continues through Good Friday and only ends at the Easter Vigil on Saturday night.
We celebrate the institution of the Eucharist with a mass and footwashing. After the mass the reserved sacrament is taken to our beautifully decorated altar of repose, the sanctuary of the church is stripped, and we keep silent watch with Jesus at the altar of repose, preparing ourselves for what is to come on Good Friday and remembering how he asked his disciples 'will you not watch with me one hour'. The Watch finishes at midnight.

We'll make an altar frontal and build an Easter Garden, there'll be hot cross buns for all and coffee for adults. A short storytelling will follow the crafts.

This is a profoundly beautiful and solemn service. It continues from the night before when we met to celebrate the institution of the Eucharist, to have our feet washed, and to watch with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene. Today we gather in the bare church to remember his passion and his death. We hear the Gospel of his Passion, we lament those things we have done which have caused pain to others, we hold before God in love and compassion those who suffer today, and we venerate the cross. We consume the reserved sacrament, and we leave the church in silence, awaiting the hope of the resurrection.

We meet outside the church around the fire of Easter, we light the Paschal Candle and move inside the church to hear the great hymn of joy - the Exsultet. In the dark and quiet of the church we hear readings from the Old Testament, and then we celebrate Christ's Resurrection with the Gloria and the first Eucharist of Easter. This is an ancient and joyful service celebrating the mystery of the Resurrection, and ends our Triduum observance.

Rejoice with us this Easter Day with our parish mass for Easter. This will be followed by an Easter egg hunt around the church.