PALM SUNDAY – 14th April
On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem to be greeted by the crowds. We gather at the Cricket Pavilion at 9.15 am to hear the story and then, carrying palms and singing hymns, we make our joyful procession to St Mary’s for our Parish Eucharist, which this year includes a dramatic reading of the Passion story led by members of the congregation.
6.30 pm – ‘The Way of the Cross’, a powerful service with choir anthems, hymns, readings and prayers for the start of Holy Week.
MONDAY, TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK – 15th, 16th & 17th April, 8.00pm
Each evening we gather to share the Eucharist, a lovely quiet and reflective service ‘in the round’ in the Chancel area of the church. Each night, Will offers a devotional address to help us enter more deeply into the meaning and events of the last days of Jesus’ life.
MAUNDY THURSDAY – 18th April
8.00 pm THE LORD’S SUPPER with FOOT WASHING
Our evening service recalls the events of the Last Supper, the washing of feet and Jesus’ gift to us of the Eucharist. It starts with joy; but over it lies the shadow of the Cross, the Agony of Gethsemane and the torment of Good Friday. What begins as an occasion of rejoicing and thanksgiving ends on a different note in this extraordinarily powerful service. The Stripping of the Altars, the removal of all ornaments from the Sanctuary, the exit of choir, ministers and congregation in silence, all symbolise Christ’s isolation and loneliness.
Before that, however, there is the solemn procession to the Altar of Repose, symbolising the walk of Jesus and his disciples from the Upper Room out to the Garden of Gethsemane.
On arrival at the Altar of Repose the sacrament is placed on the Altar surrounded by flowers, reminding us of Gethsemane where Christ in his Sacrament waits; and we watch and pray with him in a vigil up until midnight…
9.00 pm THE VIGIL OF GETHSEMANE until midnight, concluding with
11.50 pm COMPLINE
GOOD FRIDAY – 19th April
10.00 am ALL AGE SERVICE
Our All Age Service is suitable for everyone. We gather to offer our songs, prayers and readings as we remember the events of the first Good Friday and Jesus going to the Cross to die for us.
The Easter Garden – decorated by our Friday morning Teddy Tots – will be on display for the first time after the service and then we make our way to the Transept for Hot Cross buns and other refreshments.
11.30 am WALK OF WITNESS from St John Fisher RC Church to the Common
We gather outside St John Fisher Roman Catholic Church on Dunstable Road to begin a Walk of Witness shared with Christians from all the different churches in Redbourn. At various points we stop to hear another part of the last hours of Jesus’ life, to pray and to offer a hymn as we celebrate our shared faith in Christ. All are welcome – young and old – as we walk and witness together.
1.30 pm GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY with COMMUNION
A stark, solemn and incredibly moving service offered at St Mary’s at the very time when we recall Jesus hanging on the Cross. The service includes a reading of the Passion story, the veneration of the Cross, a powerful Litany of prayers and an opportunity to receive Christ’s body and blood in the sharing of Communion with him in his death for each and every one of us.
EASTER DAY – 21st April
6.00 am DAWN VIGIL followed by PARISH BREAKFAST, leading into
8.00 am THE FIRST COMMUNION OF EASTER
10.00 am ALL AGE EUCHARIST followed by Easter Egg Hunt
12 noon HOLY COMMUNION
6.30 pm FESTAL EVENSONG for EASTER with St Mary’s Choir
Our Easter celebrations start at dawn with the Vigil of Readings, as we hear again the story of our salvation, fill the church with the new light of Easter, finishing with a splendid cooked breakfast. Our services continue with 8.00am, 10.00am (All Age) and 12 noon celebrations and we round of the day with a splendid Choral Evensong led by our choir.
EASTER MONDAY PILGRIMAGE
Monday 22nd April
On Easter Monday we join in the traditional Easter Pilgrimage to St Albans Abbey to join with thousands of others from around the Diocese.
We meet at 10.15 am for breakfast in the Transept, then set off at 11.00am and make the gentle walk along the River Ver to St Albans where we share a picnic lunch on the Abbey Orchard (bring your own) and then join in the joyful All Age Service at 3.00pm. Please sign up in church if you’re coming so we know how many to expect. Dogs welcome!
St Mary's Church, Redbourn 