Please join us this in celebrating this Easter Day with the help of our virtual service, again put together by Father Pete and made possible with the support of his wife Penny and many contributors from the congregation – enjoy and Happy Easter, everyone! 🙂
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is to lead a digital Easter Sunday service from the kitchen of his flat in London.
The service will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and on the Church of England’s website and Facebook page from 09:00 BST (10:00 CET) on Sunday.
Father Pete invites you to again come together as a community online and attend his virtual service for Good Friday:
A Message from Father Pete.
Unfortunately, we can’t meet together in the church today. Please use this Youtube link to join us at 07:00 pm today (9 April, 2020). YOU CAN USE THE LINK AT ANY TIME, but knowing that all the Christians at St.Thomas’ are worshipping at the same time adds a powerful dynamic to the notion of “community.”
As you recall, it is on this day that we commemorate Jesus washing the feet of his apostles It was also the day he left us Holy Communion, that special encounter with the Divine. Therefore, I would like to suggest a way to make the Maundy Thursday online liturgy more alive and “hands on,” especially if you have children. Involving children’s senses helps them to more easily understand, feel, and retain what is being taught. And guess what: sensory is also good for adults!
Here’s what to do!
FOR THE WASHING OF THE FEET
1) Before Thursday, get a large bowl big enough into which your foot will fit.
2) Get a pitcher into which you will put some warm water prior to the service.
3) Get a towel.
4) Designate someone in your household who will WASH feet, and someone whose feet will BE washed. Or you can wash each other’s feet!
FOR THE LAST SUPPER REMEMBRANCE
1) Get a piece of bread and place it on a dish.
2) Get a cup or glass for each person who will be present.
3) Get some wine or grape juice (in a pinch, any juice will do)
Since we cannot share in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) that day, we will instead have an “agape” meal, where I will explain what happened at the Last Supper. The elements you will have before you and that you will eat and drink will be a reminder of fellowship and happiness that comes from knowing, loving and serving Jesus.
Fr. Pete Wright, Chaplain
Thank you to everyone who has sent in pictures of their “palm crosses” (some quite literal and some creative substitutes)! 🙂
They made two nice collages:
We have received a new booklet from the Diocese in Europe. It contains the full complement of readings, intercessions and hymns and is meant to support each one of us in our common prayer during Holy Week.
You can download it here:
A message from Father Pete:
Unfortunately, we can’t meet together in the church today. Please use this Youtube link to join us at 10:30 today (5 April, 2020). YOU CAN USE THE LINK AT ANY TIME, but knowing that all the Christians at St.Thomas’ are worshipping at the same time adds a powerful dynamic to the notion of “community.”
Many people from St. Thomas’ have participated in preparing this liturgy. For their hard work, we thank them. The Lord has blessed us to have them and all of you in our congregation.
Of course, not only our “regular” service currently cannot take place in person, but our Junior Church group also can’t meet for their weekly get-together.
To fill this gap at least a bit, our Junior Church Leader Miriam recorded this video where she explains what happened on Palm Sunday – with the help of her friend Billy, the kiwi!
Also, Wendy, another one of our Junior Church leaders, recommends this YouTube video – another fun way to learn about Palm Sunday:
Enjoy and happy Palm Sunday to you at home! 🙂
The social distancing recommendations to reduce the risk of
contracting Covid-19 have meant that most of us don´t have our
regular work, social, fitness or church commitments. However most
of us do have access to a computer, and a few minutes to learn about
safeguarding at church.
The C0 safeguarding course is available online, takes about an hour
and is a meaningful and important way to support our church and
our vulnerable people – without having to leave home.
Go to:
https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org/
Log in and go to the C0 course.
Any questions, contact Madeleine Herring, Co-Safeguarding Officer on madeleineherring (at) t-online.de
One of the things we all miss the most about not being able to meet at church is certainly the music, especially the singing together.
And while we currently cannot do that as a congregation, you can still do so at home. To help you with that, our choirmaster Yotin is going to teach you a simple song from the Taizé song book today.
Just click on the video below and start singing! 🙂