This week brings us to the centre point of our Christian faith: the three days of Easter, beginning with Maundy Thursday, leading into Good Friday, and culminating in the Easter Vigil. These three days, liturgically called the Triduum, are really one liturgy which flows through the three days. We come and go from these celebrations keeping in mind that they are really one celebration. Maundy Thursday ritualises our call to humble service through the washing of feet and remembers the gift of Christ’s own self through the gift of the Eucharist. Good Friday commemorates the unjust suffering and death of Jesus which he freely accepted out of love for the whole world, and the Easter Vigil reminds us that God has been with their people throughout all of history, and we celebrate that we are a beloved and redeemed people, sent out into the world to bring that love and redemption to all. At the Easter Vigil, we light the new fire from which the Paschal candle is then lit and the Easter Anthem (the Exultet) is proclaimed. The Easter water is blessed and the congregation has the opportunity to renew their baptismal commitment.  

I will be participating in the Easter Vigil at Christchurch Cathedral on Saturday Night at 8.pm. and will bring St. Matthias’s Paschal Candle to be lit from the new fire if any parishioners would like to join me. It will also be livestreamed if you want to watch it at home. I know that you are not all able, for various reasons to participate in all parts of  the Triduum. I encourage you to do as much as you can, and to be aware that this celebration takes place for all of us, whether we are physically present or not. I will be at St. Matthias on Easter Sunday morning to celebrate this wonderful resurrection day with you.  If you have bells at home, bring them to ring during the Gloria. It is truly a day to make a joyful noise.  The Lord has risen, Alleluia. 

Join us for the following services as we prepare to celebrate the pascal mystery:

Palm Sunday - Liturgy of the Palms April 2nd at 10am   

Maundy Thursday April 6th 5:30pm. Soup and bun supper followed by table liturgy.  

Good Friday Service April 7th at noon. Stations of the cross.  

Easter Sunday April 9th at 10am. 

April 9th The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day  

JEREMIAH 31:1-6;

PSALM 118:1-2, 14-24;

COLOSSIANS 3:1-4

JOHN 20:1-8   

Thursday morning communion resumes next Thursday. 

Thursday morning worship begins at 10am with refreshments to follow at 11am. During this season, we will be using a Celtic liturgy from the wonderful book 'Celtic Daily Prayer Book Two, Farther Up and Farther In.' 

This is not a ‘Celtic’ service in the sense that it recreates a Communion Service from the Celtic monastic era, but it is a service shaped by a Celtic theology. The potential strength of this service is its simplicity. It aims to get to the ‘essence’ of this meal that all Christians share. In it, also, are echoes of the meal at Emmaus, the Passover Seder meal and the sharing of bread and wine that is part of the ritual binding between brothers, like David and Jonathan.  

All are welcome. 

Thursday communion will continue into the fall on a weekly basis so we invite to come everyweek or whenever you can.

Photo by Dennis Kummer on Unsplash 

Remember the old song about “accentuate the positive”?  Rather than lead with the tragic topic of Sexual Misconduct (the name of our outdated policy), the diocese has embarked on an effort to focus on the behaviour we want to encourage … grounded in shared respect.  

Sadly, for years, if there were issues around conduct, regardless of specific context, the Sexual Misconduct Policy was the only administrative policy we had.  To be clear, we still have procedures to address allegations of sexual misconduct. Our central point is making sure that we as a church, including clergy and laity, staff and volunteers – and anyone using our facilities (e.g., renters) understand the importance of behaviour that upholds the values of love, truth and justice.   

Why sign the acknowledgement form?  Sadly, organizations sometimes encounter a situation where someone says they “didn’t understand … weren’t shown … didn’t receive” a copy of the expectations.  So, yes, we require Safe Church Training for our leadership and service roles.  And, for all of us exercising an active volunteer role in the parish, we are signing our acknowledgement, kept on file, that we’ve read and agree to abide by the policy.   

Need more context?  Chat with Reverend Colleen or a warden at coffee after church; by phone or email.  We’re happy to discuss. 

  Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash