The churches of the Newbury Deanery wish you a blessed Easter.
Celebrating Easter without Church? (Or changing the feel of a week at home)
Our Easter message is of hope – and don’t we need some real hope in these troubled times? Ours is a hope of resurrection, of love stronger than death and life beyond this physical life we share. We are not promised an easy life, but Jesus, “God with us”, who came at Christmas is still with us in the challenges of our lives.
In the week before Easter we remember the challenges Jesus faced – joy, betrayal, abandonment and death – real highs and lows to match our own. You don’t have to be a Christian to get a sense of that journey, with its varied feelings, so here are some things to try. Some of them involve sharing with other people, so if you are alone, do contact a church to put you in touch with someone to share with.
Palm Sunday 5 April – we remember Jesus being joyfully welcomed into Jerusalem. What will you do to make a joyful welcome for your next guest – perhaps when Covid19 has passed? If you have children at home, why not give it a practice? Or maybe you have a regular visitor who you could surprise?
Monday 6 April – we all need courage to face tough times. Think of a piece of music which lifts your spirits. Find it and play it if you can. Then share your choice with someone else and ask them what they have chosen.
Tuesday 7 April – we can easily get caught up in the worries of the moment. Try finding a picture or a photograph which means something special to you, or imagine a special scene or a special place. Spend some time with it – and if it makes sense to you, spend some time with God too.
Wednesday 8 April – sometimes we all need help, and sometimes we can give help. In the Bible Jesus told the famous story of the Good Samaritan. Think of a story, maybe a film, with a theme of helping, which has inspired you. Perhaps watch the film, or share the story with someone else. Is there anything you can do today or tomorrow to help someone?
Maundy Thursday 9 April – Jesus had a special meal with his closest friends – one we remember every week in the Church even today. Why not make a real effort to have a special meal today – and if you are on your own, try planning it with someone else, and both have a meal at the same time.
Good Friday 10 April – many people these days don’t believe in God, and in the days of a pandemic it can be hard to see where God is. This is the day when we remember that even Jesus cried out “my God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” And the Psalms are full of wholehearted rants about unfairness. This, then, is the day for telling it how it is – not taking it out on members of your family, or neighbours or pets – for Christians, have a go at God, for others some inanimate object will do.
Saturday 11 April – we would have been decorating the church today – why not spend a little time doing something to make your home feel special?
Sunday 12 April – the biggest surprise of all – Jesus was dead, and now is alive again. Can you do something today which will give someone else a really good surprise? And for yourself, maybe find a flower or eat some chocolate, or have your favourite food and drink – something to put a smile on your face.
Monday 13 April – and afterwards there is a story of two friends walking home talking about what happened and what it might have meant. Try finding someone to tell about your last week and what you made of it, and ask them to tell you their story too.
A prayer for Easter
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.Amen