March 23rd - EASTER DAY
'On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ''Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!'' ' Luke 24.
In the first light of dawn, about 50 people met in the Abbey to celebrate the rising of Jesus from the dead. One by one they renewed their baptismal vows, pouring water on their own head 3 times from the font and having the sign of the cross made in oil on their forehead by the Vicar. Then we all lit a candle and processed up to the altar - newly decorated in gold cloth.
After taking communion and celebrating the victory of Jesus over death, we walked out the Abbey into the cool morning air shouting...
ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!
It has been the most amazing journey!
I loved renewing our baptismal vows, lighting a candle each, and sharing communion together early on Easter Sunday. Perhaps my favourite bit of the entire week was everyone marching together with our little candles out into the abbey grounds, singing that Jesus was alive, and being excited about sharing this good news...
...I think it should be Holy Week every week!
Posted by: Claire Gardner | March 26, 2008 at 11:11 PM