Holy Week and Easter are almost upon us. Every year we have the wonderful opportunity to spend a week walking alongside Jesus and the disciples as they approach Jerusalem and ultimately the cross on Calvary.

This year in Holy Week we will be reflecting on the Passion of Jesus Christ through some of the less well-known characters who were there at Calvary: Nicodemus the Pharisee, Veronica who wiped Jesus’ face on his walk to Golgotha, Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus’ cross by the Roman soldiers and Pilate’s Wife who had a disturbing dream about this Jesus of Nazareth on the night before his trial.

These are the services to which you are warmly invited during Holy Week and Easter, do try and come to as many as you can, it’s an experience not to forget:

Holy Monday

2pm – Mothers’ Union Easter Readings Service – Why did Jesus die?

7pm – Eucharist with sermon on Nicodemus

Holy Tuesday

7pm – Eucharist with sermon on Simon of Cyrene

Holy Wednesday 

7pm – Eucharist with sermon on St Veronica

Maundy Thursday

This is the day we remember Jesus’ last supper with his friends, his journey to the garden of Gethsemane with the disciples, their falling asleep while he prayed and then his betrayal by Judas. After a powerful service of the Eucharist the altar and church are stripped of all their decoration as a symbol of the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers. We then gather in the side chapel (representing the garden of Gethsemane) in silent prayer – a time called the ‘watch’ where we remember how the disciples fell asleep and Jesus’ words: ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour?’ (Matthew 26:40) Following our silent prayer we finish with Night Prayer – Compline at 10pm.

10am – Eucharist

7.30pm – Parish Eucharist, followed by the stripping of the altar with the watch (silent prayer) until 10pm

10pm – Night Prayer – Compline

Good Friday

Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and meditate on what this means for us. It is a time when we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness.

11am – Service of Reflections and Confession

2pm – Liturgy of the Cross

Holy Saturday

On Holy Saturday in the evening we celebrate the Easter vigil. Our new Easter (Paschal) Candle is lit from a fire outside, blessed and brought into a dark church representing the light of the Risen Christ. The first Easter song of praise, the ancient chant of the Exsultet is sung by a minister to greet the Risen Christ and bless the new candle which is then used at baptisms all through the year. We then hear a range of bible readings starting with the Old Testament and leading all the way to the accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus.

7.30pm – Easter Vigil Houghton Deanery Service

People of all the churches in Houghton Deanery are invited to attend this special Easter service.

Easter Day

This is the most important festival in the church year – the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year is extra special for us at St Michael’s because our Festival Eucharist at 10am will include the baptism of Rosie and also our children will be receiving communion for the first time in the service. Do come along and celebrate the greatest festival with us!

8.30am – Eucharist

10am – Parish Festival Eucharist

6pm – Celtic Eucharist