March 22nd - Easter Eve

A dark day in the story of Holy Week. The disciples, having seen Jesus die, are scared and scattered. But there is also a great sense of anticipation - tomorrow is Easter Day!

This morning was the first 'Healing in the Streets'. It started off as 'healing in the sleets' as the weather was less than ideal, but we set out our chairs and signs, and put the kettle on.

Rt Revd Bishop Mike of Bristol joined us and we gave out leaflets letting people know that for the next two hours we were waiting in Birdcage Walk happy to pray with anyone who wanted prayer.

We had a wonderful 2 hours, praying with over 20 people and enjoying a cup of tea and a chat with many of them.

Not only that but the Easter Bunny turned up!

So we took him inside to meet Bishop Mike.

From now on we will continue to be in Birdcage Walk in Malmesbury on Saturday mornings 10am-12noon to pray with anyone who wants prayer.

After 10pm evening prayer in the Abbey the lights were nearly all extinguished and the all night Vigil began at 11pm. About 16 people stayed all night - watching and waiting for Easter morning and the rising of the sun and the Son of God.

Every half an hour we met in a circle of chairs and light around the font for a Bible reading. Through the nightly readings we worked our way through the whole Bible story from Genesis.

Between half hourly readings we dispersed into the dark Abbey to think, pray, and the occasional snore was heard too! The 212 hour non-stop prayer continued in the prayer room, and many of us had signed up for one of the hours in there during the vigil.

From 3am more people began to arrive and by 5am our numbers had swelled to nearly 50, for the Service of Light which begins in the first light of dawn on Easter Day.