Opening Prayer Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. A Thought for today Today, we remember that on the Sabbath day Jesus’ body lay in the tomb. We also reflect on the Creed of the Church, which says that on this day that Jesus descended into hell. But why? Hear a reply from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday which says: “Today a great silence reigns on earth because the King is asleep”. It also says “I order you sleeper to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead”. As Christians it is our belief that on this Holy Day that Jesus opened up the gates of hell for us.Holy Saturday Prayer Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we may reign with him in glory by becoming dead to sin and alive in Jesus. AMENPrayer of blessing May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.Closing Note This message is sent to you with love and prayers as: a word of encouragement and a sign of hope in these quite extraordinary times.
Opening Prayer Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. A Thought for today Today we recall Jesus’ last words from the cross before he died:• Father forgive them; for they know not what they do• Today you will be with me in paradise.• Woman, behold, thy son! Son, behold, thy mother!• My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?• I thirst.• It is finished.• Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.Ponder and learn from what Jesus prays for, what Jesus offers to a sinner, what Jesus provides for those He loves, what He says to the world and His Father.Good Friday Prayer Grant, Lord, that we who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ may continually put to death our evil desires and be buried with him; and then pass to our joyful resurrection through the grave and gate of death; through the merits of Jesus, who died, was buried and rose again for us. AMENPrayer of blessing May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.Closing Note This message is sent to you with love and prayers as: a word of encouragement and a sign of hope in these quite extraordinary times.
Opening Prayer Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. A Thought for today Today we recall Jesus’ last meal with his friends. A meal at which he asked us to remember him. A meal at which he served his friends by washing their feet. A meal at which he broke bread and drank wine saying that they were his body and blood that would be given up for us to save us from our sins. A meal at which he commanded his friends to love one another as he had loved them. Then, when the meal was finished, Jesus went out to pray and prepare for all that was coming. He prayed that he would be spared from the suffering that was to come. Then gave himself over to God's will. After this he was arrested, falsely accused, convicted and condemned to death, tortured and tormented. Even though he was innocent and without sin. Maundy Thursday Collect God our Father, you have invited us to share in the supper which your Son gave to his Church to proclaim his death until he comes: may he nourish us by his presence, and unite us in his love. AmenPrayer of blessing - May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.Closing Note This message is sent to you with love and prayers as: a word of encouragement and a sign of hope in these quite extraordinary times.
Opening Prayer Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. A Thought for today Today we recall Jesus’ final ride into Jerusalem which was full of visitors and pilgrims getting ready to celebrate the Passover. The people of God who knew their scriptures would have known that the prophecies foretold that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem through a particular gate riding on a donkey. It is therefore of no surprise that when Jesus did exactly this – that the people recognised the meaning and reacted with joy. For God had fulfilled his promise and sent them their long awaited Messiah – the promised one of God, the anointed one and their King. Today we remember that the final week of Jesus’ life began with joy, a sense of expectation and the waving of palm branches – but also recall that this joy evaporated even more quickly than our way of life has changed during this pandemic. For in less than a week, Jesus would be put to death and die for our sins, so we might live forever in heaven.Let us Pray Lord, be with us today and everyday. Pour out your holy spirit that we may see your plans and purposes for our generation. Lord help us this week to recall the last week of your life. AmenPalm Sunday Collect Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AMENPrayer of blessing - May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.Closing Note This message is sent to you with love and prayers as: a word of encouragement and a sign of hope in these quite extraordinary times.
