Lent and Holy Week at St Philip’s

Roy thinks I should be wearing a T-shirt that says “I survived Holy Week’.  Michael (my vicar) refers to it as ‘a marathon’.  Yet I confess that in spite of all the services, the planning and the delivery, I feel more refreshed than tired.

It all begins weeks ago at one of the staff meetings.  Who is going to do what?  We divvy up the various roles: each of us will write and deliver a bible study.  I do Psalm 37 and focus on Trust (Michael takes Obedience with Jonah, and Nyasha Forgiveness, with Philemon).  An interesting exercise.  Twenty people turn up for a 7pm Sunday start and we explore the history of the book of Psalms before focussing on No 37 specifically.

At Bible in Schools we take two sessions to tell the Easter story to our classes, bringing to life the Passover gathering in Jerusalem and the Last Supper, and then the empty tomb and the joy of discovering a risen Jesus.

Normally I preach around every 5-6 weeks.  My usual slot falls on 11 March – haha, I think, that’ll be me until I return from UK, then.  Not so.  Michael decides we should also share the Easter sermons.  I get Palm Sunday.  The church looks magnificent with 12’ fresh palm fronds forming gateways into the church and aisle, and framing the sanctuary.  (Why didn’t I take photos?)  Palm Sunday turns out to be a lovely day.  We process into the church with our palm crosses (also freshly made), singing lustily.

And then Holy Week begins in earnest.  I am ‘given’ the Evening Prayer slot, Mon-Wed.  ‘A chance to be creative’, says Michael.  Right.....  That means liturgy – and also dressing the chapel altar.  My resources are limited, as is my artistic flair.  But I’m quietly happy with the end result:

Following the end of daylight savings (it is now Autumn here, after all) it is dark at 6 pm.  Spectacular sunsets from St Philip’s as people quietly gather for contemplative worship at 6.30pm.  The timing plays havoc with supper (Roy and I pass each other daily, leaving messages and occasionally plates of food…..)  But the Evening Prayers each day help us on our Holy week journey.

Maundy Thursday dawns, another beautiful St Heliers day.  At ‘mainly music’ (lower case official) I use a large hollow Easter egg and a poem to explain the true meaning of Easter to over 50 small children at 2 consecutive sessions.  Surprisingly they are quite still and silent as the story is told.  We eat hot cross buns to celebrate.  In the afternoon Nyasha and I visit both Rest Homes to take them Easter Communion; both services are double the size we normally have.

Then it’s back to St Philip’s and time to move furniture.  No-one tells you that as a minister you will become adept at furniture removal.  The three of us remove all the heavy chairs and kneelers in the sanctuary in preparation for the evening service.  It is heavy work. I return home to find Roy sitting with his laptop on the balcony, having 'broken up' for Easter.  We decide a swim is called for before I return to church at 7 pm to prepare for the evening service.  A good move – just the refreshment I need.  The seawater is still delightfully swimmable.

The service is moving and sombre, with hand (not foot) washing, breaking bread together and then the stripping of the altar.  All the lights go out.  There’s just the candle in front of the altar, and people quietly praying as the all-night vigil begins…..

It’s now Good Friday.  We meet at church at 7.30 am for morning prayer, then foregather at the Presbyterian church up the road to begin our joint service, around 200 of us.  We process behind the cross down to St Philip’s.  The service is incredibly moving.  Some are in tears.  We are all reminded once again of the horror of crucifixion and of the sacrifice made by Jesus on our behalf.

And then the period of waiting…waiting for Easter Sunday.  And it begins with an ecumenical 6am service on St Heliers Beach.  Around 80 of us, in the pitch black, gathered round a wooden cross with some candles, and someone with a guitar. 

As the sun rises we begin to see each other’s faces, some familiar some not. And then it's time for 'breakfast'; someone cooks large fish fingers on the beach griddle, and we stand around chatting, munching, and drinking hot cups of tea and coffee, as the sky lights up.

[Dawn at St Heliers bay: that's a full moon in the sky]

[Rangitoto makes an appearance in the early morning light]

Then it's off to the church to prepare for the 8am service. Michael and Nyasha have already restored the furniture and replaced the altar curtain.  There are flowers once again. Our Margaret Harvey banners take pride of place either side of the cross...

Jesus Christ is risen - HE IS RISEN INDEED.  HALLELUJAH!  Only one service to go, the 9.30, and more than 170 people come to celebrate with us.  Hooray - we did it, we completed it all together. 

I celebrate with another swim : )

Happy Easter to you all!

PS.  New Zealand continues to have strict trading laws surrounding Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  More than 30 businesses are fined over the weekend for remaining open on Good Friday.  Restaurants and cafes, however, are exempt. It seems a strange anachronism in what is now essentially a secular society - but I, for one, am glad.