Experience Easter

Experience Easter was an opportunity at the beginning of Holy Week (April 16, 2011) to make a personal journey through the story of the last week of Christ�s earthly life. The St Martins church was laid out with six stations prepared by members of our congregations. There were six points in the story to stop and ponder: 1. Palm Sunday ~ �Hopes and Dreams� 2. Jesus washes the disciples� feet ~ Servant King 3. The Last Supper ~ �Remember Me� 4. The Garden of Gethsemane ~�Alone� 5. The Crucifixion ~ �Sharing our Sorrows� 6 The Empty tomb~RESURRECTION The church was open 10.00am to 4.00pm�
Welcome to EXPERIENCE EASTER your own journey through some of the events of Holy Week. You can travel quickly or slowly, you can re-visit places or stop on the way for a cup of coffee. The journey moves in a clockwise direction When you are ready to begin your journey starts in the centre aisle with Hopes and dreams
1. Palm Sunday ~ �Hopes and Dreams�
Hopes and Dreams Palm Sunday People in Jesus� land were dreaming of a time when they would be free from the Romans who ruled their lives and their country. They were waiting for a leader who would help them to overthrow their enemies When Jesus came to Jerusalem the crowd were restless and excited. They had heard of Jesus� teaching and miracles and they hoped he would be the one to free them from Rome rule. The crowds cheered and waved palm branches as he rode into the city on a donkey. To the religious leaders who grumbled he said that if the crowds were silent the very stones would cry out. Reflection We all have hopes and dreams for the future � I wonder what yours are? Choose a stone and draw a symbol or a tiny picture that represents your hopes and dreams. You can place it at the cairn beneath the cross at the end of the road. When you have finished move to the Lady Chapel on your right to the Servant King



2. Jesus washes the disciples� feet ~Servant King
Servant King Jesus washes his disciples feet Jesus lived in a hot and arid land. Most people travelled from place to place on foot. It was the custom to welcome visitors by washing their feet in cool, clean water. Normally a household servant did this. But the night before he died Jesus took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a bowl and began to wash and dry his disciple�s feet. He said �I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you�	Reflection A prayer by St Teresa of Avila Christ has no body now on earth but yours: Yours are the only hands, with which he can do his work, Yours are the only feet with which he can go about the world Yours are the only eyes through which his compassion can shine forth upon a troubled world Christ has no Body now on earth but yours. Dip your fingers into the water and make the sign of the cross on the palm of your hands and ask God to help you to serve others in a special way this Easter. When you are ready move into the chancel to the table Remember me

3. The Last Supper ~ �Remember Me�

Remember me The last Supper Sit down at the table and light a candle. You are very welcome! The night before Jesus died he had supper with his friends. What they did not know, but Jesus did, was that this would be their last meal together During the meal he took some bread and thanking God for it he broke the bread and gave it to them saying � Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you.� He then took the cup of wine and said � Drink this all of you for this is my blood which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins�	In the next few hours Jesus was Betrayed and arrested Accused and tried Rejected by the masses and abandoned by his disciples Convicted and sentenced to death Flogged and Humiliated CRUCIFIED He was crucified along with two criminals One of them begged � Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom� And Jesus replied � truly I tell you , today you will be with me in paradise� Reflection As you eat some bread and drink some wine remember Jesus . Remember his stories, his life, what he means to you. Is there something you would like to tell him? As you remember the sacrifice he made you might like to ask him to remember you too. Take a Remember Me card and place it in the sand � Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom� When you are ready blow out your candle and move on to Alone


4. The Garden of Gethsemane ~ �Alone�

Alone In the garden of Gethsemane Find a seat and sit down in the garden. Jesus knew that soon the soldiers would come to arrest him and he would be sentenced to death. He went with his friends to a garden called Gethsemane and asked them to keep watch for him while he prayed. But they were tired and fell asleep. In the darkness Jesus felt very alone. Even so, he trusted himself to God�s care.	Reflection Often we feel most alone in the dark and when it is very quiet. Think of a time when you have felt very alone. Take a piece of Play �do and create a shape or a figure that reminds you of a time when you were lonely or afraid. Hold it in your hands and hear Gods words �I have called you by name, you are mine� Isaiah 43v1 � I have loved you with an everlasting love�� Jeremiah 312v3a � Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid� John 14 v27 Place your shape in the garden and leave it there with Jesus. When you are ready move on to the cross

5. The Crucifixion ~ �Sharing our Sorrows�

Sharing our Sorrows The crucifixion Find a place to sit and �survey the wondrous cross� The soldiers led Jesus outside the walls of Jerusalem to Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. A crown of thorns had been place on his head. They nailed him to the cross and fastened a notice to it that read �Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.� While they waited for Jesus to die the soldiers threw dice to see which one of them would have Jesus� robe for themselves. As he hung there he became thirsty and they offered him a sponge soaked in vinegar. At three o�clock- Jesus died. Refection On the cross Jesus shared our sorrows. Look through the newspapers and find a person or a situations that you want to pray for, that you want to bring to Jesus . Cut it out and as you pray attach them to the cross and leave then there When you are ready move on to Resurrection by the main door

6 The Empty tomb ~ RESURRECTION

Resurrection The Empty Tomb Angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus and after his death on the cross it was an angel who told the women that Jesus was alive. It happened very early in the morning when Mary Magdalene and two other women came to Jesus tomb. As they reached the entrance they were startled by the dazzling figure of an angel who said �do not be afraid, for I know that you have been looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen, just as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay.� The gospels don�t not try to explain the resurrection. The resurrection explains the gospels! Belief in the resurrection in not an addition to the Christian faith ; It is the Christian faith. Without the resurrection the Christian faith doesn�t make any sense. He has left the grave behind and changed forever the way we feel about death. Of course it�s baffling and unexpected. It confounds the wisdom of the wise and the piety of the religious. You can�t pin Jesus down � I don�t live in boxes . I jump out of tombs��..�	Reflection Imagine what it had been like for the disciples to have put such faith in Jesus, only to see it all go so badly wrong. We need to imagine ourselves at a point of complete emptiness and hopelessness, where it appears everything is over. Only then can we be ready to receive the absolute surprise of the new beginning, which is the resurrection of Jesus There is now a new hope and the promise of a new life for the whole of God�s beloved and broken humanity. Help yourself to a mini egg a symbol of new life and hope for the future. Alleluia Christ is risen He is risen indeed Alleluia!