Holy Week & Easter 2015
Tuesday, 31st March
12 noon Chrism Mass at Worcester Cathedral
Wednesday, 1st April
10 am Mattins
10.30 am Low Mass
6.45 pm Stations of the Cross
7.30 pm Low Mass
MAUNDY THURSDAY 2nd April
9 am Mattins
7.30 pm Evensong
8 pm - Solemn Mass
We recollect the events of the night before Jesus died when he gave His disciples bread and wine with a command to ‘do this in remembrance of me’ and was then betrayed. Jesus called his close followers – disciples – together to celebrate a very special meal. This is the meal of the Passover, celebrated by Jews since the time of Moses and recollecting the night that God ‘passed over’ Egypt as part of his plan to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. During the meal Jesus ‘changed the rules’ and initiated a new meal, one Christians call, amongst other things the Mass, Holy Communion and the Eucharist. This is to ensure we remember his sacrifice which saves us from slavery to the rules and habits of this world.
The service will last about 90 minutes and is followed by a period of watching until midnight which recalls the time when Jesus was actually betrayed.
Gethsemane Watch until Midnight
GOOD FRIDAY 3rd April
9 am Mattins
3 pm - Liturgy
We recollect Jesus’ death on the Cross
This liturgy recalls the actual day of Jesus’ death: we gather together to hear the story read to us; we venerate the Cross on which Jesus died, we pray for the entire world and its peoples Jesus died to save and we partake of the Bread of Holy Communion kept in reserve since the night before.
This service can last up to 2 hours.
HOLY SATURDAY 4th April
9 am Mattins
8 pm Evensong
9 pm - Vigil and First Mass of Easter
We celebrate Jesus coming back to life sometime between dusk and dawn on Easter Day
Jesus was buried in the late afternoon and at some point between sundown (the beginning of the ‘new day’ in biblical times) and dawn (when the empty tomb was discovered) He rose from the dead. That’s why we have this service in the late evening, the exact time will never be known, but in keeping with Tradition we make our celebration at this time. The service starts with celebrating new life by kindling a new fire to symbolise the Light that Christ brought to the world. We celebrate the Light of Christ as we enter Church and there follows the renewal of the promises made at Baptism and then Holy Communion.
Again this service can last up to 2 hours.
EASTER SUNDAY 5th April
10 am Mattins
10.30 am: Parish Mass
This celebration follows quite closely to our usual format and will last 75-90 minutes.
5.30 pm Evensong
6 pm: Low Mass
This service takes about 30 minutes.
Tuesday, 31st March
12 noon Chrism Mass at Worcester Cathedral
Wednesday, 1st April
10 am Mattins
10.30 am Low Mass
6.45 pm Stations of the Cross
7.30 pm Low Mass
MAUNDY THURSDAY 2nd April
9 am Mattins
7.30 pm Evensong
8 pm - Solemn Mass
We recollect the events of the night before Jesus died when he gave His disciples bread and wine with a command to ‘do this in remembrance of me’ and was then betrayed. Jesus called his close followers – disciples – together to celebrate a very special meal. This is the meal of the Passover, celebrated by Jews since the time of Moses and recollecting the night that God ‘passed over’ Egypt as part of his plan to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. During the meal Jesus ‘changed the rules’ and initiated a new meal, one Christians call, amongst other things the Mass, Holy Communion and the Eucharist. This is to ensure we remember his sacrifice which saves us from slavery to the rules and habits of this world.
The service will last about 90 minutes and is followed by a period of watching until midnight which recalls the time when Jesus was actually betrayed.
Gethsemane Watch until Midnight
GOOD FRIDAY 3rd April
9 am Mattins
3 pm - Liturgy
We recollect Jesus’ death on the Cross
This liturgy recalls the actual day of Jesus’ death: we gather together to hear the story read to us; we venerate the Cross on which Jesus died, we pray for the entire world and its peoples Jesus died to save and we partake of the Bread of Holy Communion kept in reserve since the night before.
This service can last up to 2 hours.
HOLY SATURDAY 4th April
9 am Mattins
8 pm Evensong
9 pm - Vigil and First Mass of Easter
We celebrate Jesus coming back to life sometime between dusk and dawn on Easter Day
Jesus was buried in the late afternoon and at some point between sundown (the beginning of the ‘new day’ in biblical times) and dawn (when the empty tomb was discovered) He rose from the dead. That’s why we have this service in the late evening, the exact time will never be known, but in keeping with Tradition we make our celebration at this time. The service starts with celebrating new life by kindling a new fire to symbolise the Light that Christ brought to the world. We celebrate the Light of Christ as we enter Church and there follows the renewal of the promises made at Baptism and then Holy Communion.
Again this service can last up to 2 hours.
EASTER SUNDAY 5th April
10 am Mattins
10.30 am: Parish Mass
This celebration follows quite closely to our usual format and will last 75-90 minutes.
5.30 pm Evensong
6 pm: Low Mass
This service takes about 30 minutes.
