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The Easter triduum, marking the days of Jesus’ passion and resurrection, is the most important time of the church year. It begins with the evening service of Holy Communion on Maundy or Holy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes on Easter Sunday evening. Prepared by the days of Lent, Christians celebrate on these holiest of days the saving work God has accomplished in Christ. From the events remembered on these days, so sorrowful and so joyful, the church learns the deepest lessons. In rites and words the mysteries of Jesus’ final hours are with us again, his passion, his cruel suffering, his rising from the dead. And we discover the answer to age old questions: Does God love us? Is God merciful? Does God care for us? We have only to look and learn from Jesus Christ. These are days for fixing our eyes on the holy mystery of his cross and filling our ears with the words of his gospel. Nowhere else does God’s love appear so vividly. In the love Christ showed for a sinful world we find the beginning of our church, the source of our sacraments, the key to understanding the human story, and our hope for eternal life. |
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| Holy Thursday 28th | 11.15am | Holy Communion | |
| Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Triduum with a service of Holy Communion. On this night, we recall through scripture and liturgy, when Jesus sacramentally anticipated the gift he would make of himself on the cross. His command to serve others is dramatically recalled this night in the ceremony of the washing of the feet, which he performed in the supper room for his disciples. Like the Paschal lamb, killed and eaten by the people, according to the Old Testament account which read from the book of Exodus on this evening, we realise that he is a sign of God’s salvation. | |||
| 7pm |
A Service of HC to celebrate the Institution of the HC, with Foot Washing & Stripping of the altars. Afterwards, the Vigil "Watch and Wait": the Church will be open until 11pm. Come and go as you please. |
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Good Friday 10.45am |
 Churches Together: Procession of the Cross through Bingley. [Starts at All Saints] |
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| The Good Friday rites centre around the reading of the Passion of Jesus. With simple dignity the story is retold, followed by prayers for the entire world, for this powerful mystery brings blessings to the world. According to ancient tradition, an image of the cross is venerated this day, and the sacrament of Christ’s love for his church is received. It is a day of fasting and quiet mourning. | |||
| 3pm | Veneration of the Cross with Holy Communion | ||
| Holy Saturday | 10am | Morning Prayer followed by Dressing & Decorating the Church for Easter | |
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The Easter Vigil is the high point of the Easter triduum celebrating the passion and resurrection of Jesus. With a rich display of symbols, rites and readings, the church in worship expresses her faith in the mystery that brings her into being. The vigil opens with a service of light. Like the Jewish Passover, our Easter celebration coincides with the beginning of spring, when the sun offers new warmth and earth is ready to flower again. Our words “lent” (from the Middle-English word for spring, “lengthening days”) and “Easter” (possibly Germanic or Anglo-Saxon in origin, signifying “the east”, “the rising sun”) point to the long tradition of seeing this holy mystery through signs of the natural world. The lighting of the fire and the Easter candle go back to rites that long preceded Christianity. The candle, carried with loving reverence and lyrically praised in word and song, is a sign of Christ, “the light of the world,” and celebrates the victory of light over darkness that humanity has ever longed for. A series of readings recalls the great interventions of God in history, from creation to the redemption of Israel from Egypt, and ends with the story of Jesus’ resurrection. The great “alleluia”, so absent throughout Lent, proclaims with joy the triumph of God’s Son. Those preparing for Baptism then receive the sacraments of initiation and the faithful renew their baptismal promises. The sprinkling of the blessed water signifies the blessing of new life. Rejoice! This night says as it brings before us the deepest symbols of our hopes and fears. The darkness, sign of evil and death, has been overcome by light. A lamp, a candle has been lit; a fire is enkindled in our hearts; a nourishing water flows through our lives; a baptism destroys what is unclean and brings to life again. Rejoice! this night says to all creation. The Word who made all things, as a new Adam, freshly proclaims God’s promise of life. All creation celebrates God’s love. |
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8pm |
The Easter Vigil - a service of Light. | |
| EASTER DAY |
8am REMEMBER: CLOCKS GO FORWARDS! |
Holy Communion (BCP) | |
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10.30am REMEMBER: CLOCKS GO FORWARDS! |
Family Communion Service to celebrate the Resurrection with Resurrection Cocktails & Easter Egg Hunt. | |