St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Holy Week and Easter

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This last week has been Holy Week, one of the most intense times in the church year. During it we trace the final week of Jesus’s life from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through his daily teaching in the Temple in the early part of the week to Maundy Thursday when he celebrated the first communion and was betrayed to the authorities. On Good Friday Jesus was tried and then executed by crucifixion. On Easter Sunday we rejoice in Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the knowledge that through his sacrifice He has offered salvation to all who choose to follow Him.

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On Thursday clergy and lay minsters from all over the Diocese of Oxford came to Christ Church Cathedral to celebrate the ministry of the whole people of God and to reaffirm our commitment to worship and to service. On the threshold of the holiest days of the Church’s year, those of us at the service dedicated ourselves afresh to our life of service. 

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On Good Friday morning, starting at 11.00, there will be a Walk of Witness by the churches of Bicester from the Church of the Immaculate Conception to the Methodist Church to recall Christ’s trial, journey to Golgotha and his crucifixion. All our churches will be open from midday to three in the afternoon, the traditional time of the crucifixion, with led meditations from 2.00 to 3.00 pm.

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On Easter Sunday we shall proclaim the Risen Lord and rejoice that He has conquered death and offered salvation to all. Our celebration on Easter Sunday provides all of us with the chance to rededicate ourselves to God’s service. For those attending the Dawn Eucharist at 5.30 am there is the opportunity to renew the vows made by us or by our godparents on our behalf at our baptism. For all of us whether or not we attend a service, Easter Sunday is a time to renew our decision to work to follow Christ’s two great commandments to love the Lord Our God with all our strength, and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.

 

Christopher Young