Wednesday, 31 March 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
Tomorrow we enter the most solemn three days in the Church’s calendar. Tomorrow we begin the great three day service which recalls our Lord’s journey from the events of the Last Supper, through his Agony in the Garden, his betrayal, his trial, his condemnation, his crucifixion and, ultimately, his triumphant resurrection from the dead.
I invite you all to join in the worship, prayer and meditation that marks this momentous time in which we saw the final building blocks of the Christian faith put in place. Our marking of the Triduum, these three most important of days, will be attended this year by the Bishop of Grantham.
On Maundy Thursday there will be a service of Holy Communion at 8pm in St John’s Church, Corby Glen. In this service we will commemorate Jesus’ giving of his new commandment of love and the institution of Holy Communion.
On Good Friday there will be three hours of meditation, prayer and worship at the foot of the cross in St John’s Church, Corby Glen. This will be between 12 noon and 3pm. Different times of meditation and prayer will begin at 12 noon and 1pm. The Good Friday Liturgy will begin at 2pm. People are invited to come and go (and come again!) as they wish and as they find convenient during these three hours. Please do not hesitate to join us in prayer, even if only for a short time.
On Holy Saturday the great Easter Vigil will take place at 8pm in St John’s Church, Corby Glen. The desolation and emptiness of the crucifixion ends with the lighting of the new fire, the blessing of the new Easter candles, the renewal of our baptismal vows and the celebration of the great sacrament our Lord gave us as a way of remembering him throughout our earthly lives.
On Easter Day it was my intention to celebrate Holy Communion in every one of our churches at different times in the day. Unfortunately, preparations for scheduled building works in our church in Burton-le-Coggles began earlier than expected. This means that our services on Easter Day will be as follows:
10.30am in St John’s Church, Corby Glen
and St Andrew’s Church, Irnham
4pm in St Mary’s Church, Bitchfield
and St Nicholas’ Church, Swayfield
6.30pm in St Thomas’ Church, Bassingthorpe only,
and not in Burton-le-Coggles as previously announced.
Please let me know if you are intending to come to any of the services over the next few days to allow us to be ready to welcome you without the otherwise necessary fuss of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Please note that there will be no public services of Morning or Evening Prayer on Good Friday or Holy Saturday.
I look forward to worshipping with you as we journey towards our Lord’s resurrection.
With every blessing to you all,
Revd Stephen