Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer
We begin and end most days with 20 minutes of reflective prayer in church. Prayer requests welcome. This is a wonderful way to mark the rhythm of the day! The service […]
Palm Sunday
Monday of Holy Week
Tuesday of Holy Week
Wednesday of Holy Week
Maundy Thursday
Watch of Prayer (scroll down, and see below)
Good Friday
Easter Eve
WATCH OF PRAYER
A Watch may be kept. If the Watch is to be kept a hymn or psalm may be sung. The following readings may be used. Silences may follow the readings.
The Gospel of the Watch is read without ceremony and is followed by silence.
HOLY WEEK HYMNS
There is a green hill far away (Listen)
without a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified,
who died to save us all.
We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear;
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.
He died that we might be forgiv’n,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heav’n,
saved by his precious blood.
There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin;
he only could unlock the gate
of heav’n, and let us in.
O dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.
O sacred head, surrounded (Listen)
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
so shamed and put to scorn!
Death’s pallid hue comes o’er thee,
the glow of life decays;
yet angel-hosts adore thee,
and tremble as they gaze.
Thy comeliness and vigour
is withered up and gone,
and in thy wasted figure
I see death drawing on.
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesu, all grace supplying,
turn thou thy face on me.
In this thy bitter passion,
good Shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (Listen)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
When I survey the wondrous cross (Listen)
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
HOLY WEEK INTERCESSIONS
From Emma Park
As we set out along the last few days to Easter, we pray for all who call this coming week ‘holy’. We remember those people who live in places where they are unable to practice their faith. We pray for the church throughout the world and for those who serve, including at St Peters.
We pray for everyone affected by the coronavirus, including those who have lost a loved one, those who are ill and those feeling scared. We think of the people who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, those in self-isolation and those struggling with their mental health.
We pray for people who have lost their jobs and are facing financial insecurity and give thanks for all those working in our health system and those caring for others
We pray for animals that are being negatively affected, including those who have lost their source of food and those being looked after by charities.
As we look ahead to the suffering of Christ, both the anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane and the pain and despair on the cross, we pray for those most in need. We pray for people living in countries that have few resources and limited healthcare; where they are facing the breakdown of society, do not feel safe and struggle to get even basics.
As Christ himself was a victim of the authorities, we remember similar victims worldwide. We pray that governments will not take the opportunity presented by the virus to seize extensive powers, become authoritarian and treat their populations badly.
We pray for the victims of ongoing civil turmoil and war, and think of the people of Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan. We pray for all engaged in humanitarian work.
We remember those who have recently departed this world and those whose anniversary falls at this time.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which no darkness can quench. You turn our darkness into light and in your light shall we see light.
REFLECTION
From Amanda Davies
What is the Covid-19 virus really teaching us?
Bill Gates shares what he feels the Corona/Covid-19 virus is really doing to us:
“It is reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of our culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or how famous we are. This disease treats us all equally, perhaps we should too. If you don’t believe me, just ask Tom Hanks.
It is reminding us that we are all connected and something that affects one person has an effect on another. It is reminding us, by oppressing us for a short time, of those in this world whose whole life is spent in oppression.
It is reminding us of the shortness of life and of what is most important for us to do, which is to help each other, especially those who are old or sick. Our purpose is not to buy toilet rolls.
It is reminding us of how materialistic our society has become and how, when in times of difficulty, we remember that it’s the essentials that we need (food, water, medicine) as opposed to the luxuries that we sometimes unnecessarily give value to.
It is reminding us of how important our family and home life is. It is forcing us back into our houses so we can rebuild them into our homes and so, to strengthen our family unit.
It is reminding us that our true work is not our job; that is what we do. Our true work is to look after each other.
It is reminding us to keep our egos in check. It is reminding us that no matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.
We can choose to cooperate and help each other, to share, to give, to help and to support each other – or we can choose to be selfish, to hoard, to look after only our self. Indeed, it is difficulties that bring out our true colors.
It is reminding us that we can be patient. We can either understand that this type of situation has happened many times before in history and will pass, or we can panic and see it as the end of the world and, consequently, cause ourselves more harm than good.
It is reminding us that this Earth can be sick. It is reminding us that we need to look at the rate of deforestation, just as urgently as we look at the speed at which toilet rolls are disappearing off of shelves.
It is reminding us that after every difficulty, there is always ease. Life is cyclical, and this is just a phase in this great cycle. We do not need to panic; this too shall pass.
Whereas many see the Corona/Covid-19 virus as a great disaster, I prefer to see it as a ‘great corrector’.”
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