During the run-in to Easter I have been engaged with an absolutely great lent course which used the excellent Mustardseed stories to enthuse and encourage those who attended to look at what others are doing in terms of being missional and then, having realised it was something they could do, they got to thinking about how they could do it too. This is something that I wouldrecommend to every church in their journey towards developing a missional congregation:
Then Holy Week arrived and it got even better as:
Monday saw our little church do a wonderfully moving and challenging stations of the Cross service
Tuesday saw us engage in a most amazing Tenebrae service
Wednesday brought us together as a Parish and a Seder meal
Thursday brought the washing of feet and an amazingly gentle communion service
Friday saw something around 500 people turn out for the town centre act of witness
Followed by a watch service and a sublime musical journey through the Passion in the shape of 'Lift High The Cross':
Saturday didn't exist but
Sunday did as Easter started with a dawn communion service followed by bacon roll and hot drinks
and then the 10:30 Communion service (which, as ever, saw those present staying on for ages afterwards as we enjoyed each other's company - and as ever, the biscuits for the children (they get them when they come up for a blessing) had an Easter 'He is risen - the tomb is empty') theme.
All in all, a great Easter
He is risen!
