Maundy Thursday

Dear Friends in Christ,

The challenging times go on and for some that sense of challenge is increasing.  Separation from family and friends is proving increasingly difficult; concerns over tasks that cannot be carried out are rising; the challenges of staying in touch with the world solely through the use of modern technology continues to cause bewilderment.  For others, of course, this has become a time of rethinking and realignment.  One of the great causes of sadness at the moment, though, has been our physical separation from the Church.  During this most holy of weeks in the Christian calendar our church doors continue to be locked, although we have now been able to reopen our churchyards.

Today is the beginning of the final stages in our journey towards the joy of Christ’s triumphant resurrection.  This evening we would have been gathering to recall the words and actions of Jesus at the Last Supper, and then we would have been passing into a time of prayer and vigil as we recalled his Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Tomorrow we would have been gathering at the Cross to remember the moment of his ultimate sacrifice made for each and every one of us.  Then, on Saturday evening, we would have been lighting the new fire and blessing our Easter Candles – those symbols of Christ’s resurrection that burn in our churches throughout the year.  That is all what we would have been doing.  This year it is different.  This year we are having to rethink our connection with Holy Week in a way that has never been experienced by any of us before, no matter how long we have lived.

So, how can we journey in faith during these days?

There are services on our church website that have been specially prepared and recorded to help you on your spiritual journey through the coming days.  While these continue to be ‘remote’ experiences I thought you would like to know how much positive feedback we are getting for these resources – even other churches are linking into our website now, not to mention the possibility of downloading podcast versions of the recordings.  It had also been encouraging to hear so many stories of people persevering to master those previously underused technological devices.

In case you are not aware, our church website address is https://corbyglenchurches.uk

This is going to be a ‘strange’ Easter and one that will certainly live on in our memories.  The important thing for all of us to remember is that it is still a time of celebration – the celebration of Christ’s joyous and triumphant resurrection.  Let us remain steadfast in our faith; let us remain constant in our prayer; let us all make time to shout for joy: Alleluia! Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!

With every blessing to you all,

Revd Stephen

Listen to a short service of prayer for Wednesday of Holy Week, 8 April 2020

Listen to a short service of prayer for Tuesday of Holy Week, 7 April 2020

Order of service: https://corbyglenchurches.uk/2020/04/07/prayer-for-tuesday-of-holy-week/

Listen to a short service of prayer for Monday of Holy Week, 6 April 2020

Listen to the Passion narrative from the Gospel according to Matthew, recorded by Revd Stephen Buckman

In recent days we have been encouraged to stand on our doorsteps and clap loudly.

Every time we stand and clap (or cheer) we are expressing our overwhelming gratitude for a ‘job well done’.

If we watch a play or listen to a concert, we applaud (and sometimes cheer) to show our appreciation for the skill of the actors and musicians.

We applaud as a way of saying ‘Thank you’ for taking us to ‘another place’ – a place beyond the reality of our daily lives; a place we can rarely define, but a place so much better, so much richer.

Our recent doorstep demonstrations of appreciation have been targeted in a slightly different way – the whole population is being encouraged to say ‘Thank you’, but for something very specific.

We are being asked to say ‘Thank you’ to those who, through their various occupations, regularly put themselves in danger of contracting the Coronavirus in order that others might continue to live their lives with some dignity, and with some semblance of ‘normality’.

On Palm Sunday we remember another moment when the crowds rushed out and loudly acclaimed the way in which someone lived out their life for the benefit of others.

Palm Sunday is, of course, the moment when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem.

For some time in the Gospel narrative we have been reading of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. We have heard his dire predictions of what is going to happen when he gets there. We, living in this post-resurrection age, know that from this moment it is all going to turn very ugly indeed. And yet, today, like those crowds of 2000 years ago, we wave our palms and we shout our Hosannas as we join in welcoming the King into the holy city of Jerusalem.

I wonder how many of you have ever stood in line as our Queen goes past. It happened for us a few years ago. The Queen and Prince Philip visited the school where Vicky and I lived and worked. The school is a royal foundation and it was a landmark anniversary in its history – hence the visit from its distinguished Patron.

For weeks before the Queen’s arrival there was a growing crescendo of eager anticipation. An amazing amount of planning, cleaning, decorating and reorganisation happened, including the arrival of the royal limousine 24 hours in advance of the monarch – and then the day came.

The royal helicopter landed, the Queen was escorted to her car, the car drove down the main Avenue of the school to enthusiastic applause. It was a great day for one and all.

But, it was so different from the arrival of the monarch we are celebrating today.

After a long journey on foot, Jesus sent his disciples to find the donkey on which he would travel. There had been no detailed manoeuvres ahead of his arrival. His entrance into Jerusalem and the acclamation he received were so different from the hysteria that is often whipped up ahead of the visit of a worldly celebrity.

Jesus, in the actions and acclamations of those crowds, was spontaneously being recognized as the true King.

And what a King!

This King knows precisely who He was, and who He is;this King comes with unbounded compassion for souls and for bodies; this King comes with news of divine judgement.

This King – this Jesus – is the rightful King, not just of the Jewish state but of the world; this is a victorious King – although the full extent of his victory is yet to be seen; this is a gentle King – a King who has healed and taught; a King who will soon wash his disciples’ feet as a model of love and service.

Gathering

In the name of the Father,and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer of Preparation

Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires known,and from whom no secrets are hidden:cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectly love you,and worthily magnify your holy name;through Christ our Lord.Amen.

Prayer of Penitence

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,we have sinned against youand against our neighbourin thought and word and deed,through negligence, through weakness,through our own deliberate fault.We are truly sorryand repent of all our sins.For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,who died for us,forgive us all that is pastand grant that we may serve you in newness of lifeto the glory of your name.  Amen.

Almighty God,who forgives all who truly repent,have mercy upon us,pardon and deliver us from all our sins,confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,and keep us in life eternal;through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God,who in your tender love towards the human racesent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christto take upon him our fleshand to suffer death upon the cross:grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,and also be made partakers of his resurrection;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death,even death on a cross.Therefore God has highly exalted himand given him the name that is above every name.Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘You say so.’  But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.  Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?’  But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted.  At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas.  So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’  For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.  While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’  Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.  The governor again said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’  Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’  Then he asked, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’  Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’  So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

The Commemoration of Our Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem

Hosanna to the Son of David.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Behold your king comes to you, O Zion,meek and lowly, sitting upon an ass.Ride on in the cause of truthand for the sake of justice.Your throne is the throne of God, it endures for ever;and the sceptre of your kingdom is a righteous sceptre.You have loved righteousness and hated evil.Therefore God, your God, has anointed youwith the oil of gladness above your fellows.

Hosanna to the Son of David.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Introduction

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s death and resurrection.

Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the Church throughout the world. 

Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour,to suffer, to die, and to rise again. 

Let us, through this act of worship,go with him in faith and love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his risen life.

The Blessing of the Palm Crosses

God our Saviour, whose Son Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as Messiah to suffer and to die;let these palms be for us signs of his victoryand grant that we who bear them in his namemay ever hail him as our King,and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life;who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Palm Gospel

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.”  And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion,Look, your king is coming to you,humble, and mounted on a donkey,and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,‘Hosanna to the Son of David!Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’ Matthew 21:1–11 (NRSV)

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

In different times, congregations would have been invited to join in a Procession of faith, bearing their newly blessed Palm Crosses.

Today, you are invited to join that Procession through your prayers as you listen to this short piece of music.

The Collect

Let us pray for a closer union with Christ in his suffering and in his glory.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human racesent your Son our Saviour Jesus Chris...

Message to Parishioners from Revd Stephen, 1 April 2020

1 April 2020

Dear Friends in Christ,

We are now journeying through the second week of the extraordinary and unprecedented social restrictions that have been imposed upon us as our nation joins with the rest of the world and struggles to reverse the effects of the Covid 19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

For some this has been a positive time: a time of re-evaluation and a time for re-aligning priorities.  Others have taken advantage of their enforced social isolation to get some ‘jobs done’.  For those who are housebound through age or infirmity, there may not seem to be much of a difference at all.  And for some, these days are already dragging and feeling like some sort of imprisonment.  However you are coping with the government’s restrictions on our lives you need to be reassured that you are not alone; there are many, many others who feel exactly the same as you are feeling right now.

Unusually for a time of crisis, the decision was taken to close down not only public worship, but our churches and churchyards as well.  This has been a cause of upset and confusion for some, while others have realized the act of social responsibility involved in this difficult decision.  The Church is leading from the front.  Instead of encouraging us to claim some sort of exception we are being encouraged to deepen our Lenten observances by rethinking just what it means to be a Christian.

To be a Christian is to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ.  To be a member of a Church is to express our Christian faith by joining together in fellowship and community.  At the moment, that fellowship and community has been taken away from us and we are having to rethink how we can be nourished and supported in our faith.

On Sunday the Church begins its journey through Holy Week.  In years past we would have been gathering to recall the moment when the crowds welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with shouts of ‘Hosanna!’’  From that triumphant moment we would have quickly turned towards Maundy Thursday and the events in the Upper Room during, what we know as, The Last Supper.  At that momentous event we witness Judas leaving the company of the disciples to betray Jesus; we see Jesus get down on his knees and model love and service by washing the feet of his disciples; we join in Jesus’ institution of Holy Communion and we hear him telling us all to ‘do this in remembrance of me.’  From the Upper Room we journey with Jesus to his time of Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.  When I went on my Holy Land pilgrimage at the end of 2018, I recall the moment when one of our guides pointed to two olive trees and told us that the root stock of those trees is over two thousand years old – they were there when Jesus knelt in prayer on that night!

After the events of Maundy Thursday we travel the road to the cross.  We come to know the desolation of Jesus hanging and dying an ignominious and excruciating death – for us!  Then we are in the limbo of Holy Saturday.  We sit with his disciples, and we wait for the moment of Resurrection.

All of this journey begins on Sunday.  But … for the first time in any of our lifetimes we will not have the opportunity to physically gather and experience the journey in a spirit of fellowship and community.  

Of course, there is no way round the restrictions that have been imposed upon us, but that does not mean that we cannot support each other in prayer and Christian love. 

Evening Prayer for the 5th Sunday of Lent, 29 March 2020, recorded by Revd Stephen

Readings: Psalm 30; Matthew 20:17–end