Easter

Easter 2020

The coronavirus shutdown of places of worship has come at a particularly significant time for Christians. On April 5^th we would have marked Palm Sunday – the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to cries of ‘Hosanna!’ Palm Sunday begins what we call ‘Holy Week’, which would have culminated in the most painful day of the Christian year. Good Friday [this year April 10^th] marks the day of Jesus’ appalling execution by crucifixion.  

Then the pain and the darkness of Good Friday give way to the astonishing joy of Easter Day. Jesus’ friends met him, alive again from the dead. And the church exploded into life. 

For the record, here is how Holy Week and Easter 2020 were to have been celebrated at St Alban’s and St John’s…

 Holy Week and Easter 2020 at St Alban’s and St John’s

Sunday April 5th 

Palm Sunday 

8.30am            Worship at St John’s, Backworth

10.00am          Worship at St Alban’s, Earsdon

Monday April 6^th

The Monday of Holy Week

7.30pm            Short, simple communion at St Alban’s

Tuesday April 7^th

The Tuesday of Holy Week

7.30pm            Short, simple communion at St Alban’s

Wednesday April 8^th

The Wednesday of Holy Week

7.30pm            Short, simple communion at St Alban’s

Thursday April 9^th

Maundy Thursday – the church remembers the last supper

7.30pm            Sung Eucharist at St Alban’s

Friday April 10^th

Good Friday – the church remembers the death of Jesus

10.30am          Children’s activity morning, in the Eccles Hall [ends with lunch at 12noon]

2.00pm            At the Foot of the Cross, in St Alban’s

5.00pm            Compline at St John’s

Sunday April 12^th

Easter Day – the church remembers Jesus, alive again from the dead

8.30am            Worship at St John’s, Backworth

10.00am          Worship at St Alban’s, Earsdon