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.
We received a message last week when we asked how everyone is staying in touch with others. Judith writes:
Telephoning and being able to hear people’s voices feels so very important now. I’m phoning family and friends far and wide, as I expect most of us are doing. Am in touch with the “card-making” team and other church friends, and nearly every day with R. – she had her 100th last week and had a letter from the Bundespresident. I’ve also been able to speak to J. several times and yesterday with H. too.
We were asked about suggestions for staying connected, also spiritually – one of my far away calls last Saturday was to N., an American friend in New Jersey on her birthday. P. may remember her and her husband F. – they were very regular members of the St Thomas Becket congregation before they went back to the States in 1987. I mentioned to her that I hadn’t been able to find an actual Diocesan service – though I’d heard and seen Bishop Robert’s video message. Anyway she guided me to the Canterbury Cathedral website, with morning and evening prayers via YouTube mostly said by the Dean of Canterbury in his garden. We all have different needs but this very much resonates with me – and there’s the cathedral in the background with spring blossom, magnolia, birds singing and so far blue skies. I also sometimes listen to the BBC Radio 4 Sunday morning service – ca. 10.15 German time – or on catchup I-Player – and last Sunday the sermon was about Oscar Romero, (24th March being the anniversary of his death} and connecting his life and martyrdom with St. Thomas a Becket and his 850th anniversary this year, with services and events planned in Canterbury Cathedral. And my other recommendation is BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day for about 3 minutes either on Catchup, or live sometime between 8.45 and 8.50 German time
With love and very best wishes to you all, and keep safe and well,
Judith
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
We asked you how you stay connected and what you are doing to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Here’s what Madeleine Herring has to share:
Following notes might be helpful when you have listened to the talk:
Symptoms one might wish to manage:
Resources
David´s 3MM course
Other helpful sites/publications
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:
Every day during Holy Week, starting on Monday, BBC Radio 4 is broadcasting a 15-minute programme on wild plants and flowers associated in history and folklore with the key moments of Christ’s Passion. Broadcast daily at 10:45 (9:45 in the UK), ‘The Passion in Plants’ can be found on BBC iPlayer Radio.
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! 🙂