Holy Week is the most significant week of the Christian year and there will be a range of special services and events at St Mary’s:
On Palm Sunday (29th March) we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The 10am service will feature a dramatic reading of Jesus’ Passion – bringing to life the events which show that Jesus, out of his love for all people, willingly laid down his life for us.
On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week (30th March – 1st April) there will be a short meditation at 7pm, concluding with Compline.
On Maundy Thursday (2nd April) at 7pm we will commemorate the Last Supper, at which Jesus instituted Holy Communion (‘Do this in remembrance of me’). This moving service will feature the stripping of the altar as the church is made ready for Good Friday, and then an Watch of Prayer (‘Could you not watch with me for one hour?’) at which we may each stay for as long or as briefly as we wish.
On Good Friday (3rd April) there will be an ecumenical Walk of Witness, beginning at 10am at the Catholic Church, and concluding with a short service in the Market Place – followed by hot cross buns at the Methodist Church.
Then, at St Mary’s, there will be:
12-1pm All Age ‘Whistle-Stop Tour’ of Lent,
2-3pm Meditation for the Last Hour,
7pm A Sung Meditation with readings.
On Holy Saturday (4th April), as we contemplate the reality of Christ lying dead in the tomb, there are traditionally no services.
However, with the arrival of darkness and Easter Eve we will hold our first service of Easter: the Easter Liturgy, at 8pm. This wonderful service features the new Paschal Candle being lit from a fire outside and then brought in to the church. As we each hold a candle lit from the Paschal Candle the dark church is illuminated by the light of Christ. A Vigil follows in which we reflect upon key Old Testament passages which tell the story of the history of our salvation in the light of the Resurrection.
On Easter Day (5th April) there will be three alternative special celebrations:
6:30am Dawn Service at Easby Abbey (an ecumenical non-Eucharistic celebration,
led by Revd Simon Dowson, vicar of Easby, Skeeby, Bolton- and Brompton-on-Swale).
8am Holy Communion at St Mary’s.
10am Parish Communion at St Mary’s –
followed by our traditional egg rolling competition!
There will also be services of Holy Communion at Downholme and Marske (at the usual times of 9:30am and 11:00am).
All are welcome!