|
Palm Sunday (13th April)
10 am St. Paul’s Gisborne Blessing of & Procession of Palms followed by Solemn Sung Mass. Our Holy Week journey begins with the crowds singing “hosanna!” As Christ entered into the city of Jerusalem in triumph. At this mass we begin outside and bless palm leaves, then move in procession to the church, in the same way as Christ did through the city of Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday (17th April) 7.30 pm Church of The Resurrection, Macedon Then begins The Sacred Paschal Triduum (three great days) on Maundy Thursday. At this most solemn service light turns to dark as we, obedient to Christ’s example, wash feet & celebrate the last supper. After this, we move with our Lord (in the blessed sacrament) to the garden, where we, like his disciples abandon him. We leave our vigil in silence, as the church is removed of all adornment, all comfort, and excess noise even as the church bells fall silent… Good Friday (18th April) 8.00 am Church of The Resurrection, Macedon Liturgy of the Passion and Mass of the Pre-Sanctified At Macedon, we gather to commemorate the passion early in the morning in word as we hear the words of St. John’s Passion, Venerate the holy Cross & consume the blessed sacrament. The service ends with there being nothing left & even the sanctuary light extinguished, for Christ our Lord is crucified, & we are left in darkness & sorrow. 10.00 am St. Paul’s Gisborne Solemn Liturgy of the Day At Gisborne we also hear the words of St. John’s passion & Venerate the Holy Cross, with the last thing we see as we leave the church being the crucified Christ as we leave in silence and darkness. 3.00 pm St John’s Riddells Creek Stations of The Cross At the traditional hour of his death, we walk together that most sacred journey from the garden to the tomb as we walk the way of the cross through the grounds of St. John’s Riddells Creek, with the falling autumn leaves adding that sense of the end coming. But yet, it is not the end… Holy Saturday (19th April) 7.30 pm Church of the Resurrection Easter Vigil Ceremonies and Solemn Sung Mass Alleluia, Christ is risen! We gather in the darkness at Macedon, and, true to its name, the resurrection comes. First, the light of Christ is carried into the church, then as we hear the story of our salvation, we sing together the great hymn of praise and triumph, the Gloria in Excelsis as light floods the church, and bells ring out, proclaiming the great news of Christ’s resurrection to the mountains around us and beyond. We then renew the vows of our baptism in the waters of new life, & celebrate the mass of the resurrection, followed by champagne & Easter eggs! Easter Sunday (20th April) 10.00 am: Sung Mass of easter followed by morning tea. On Easter Day, we gather as God’s family in Gisborne to rejoice in the resurrection to eternal life in word and sacrament, with a joyous time of fellowship after. |