Ideas for services
Here are a variety of resources that you can use as they are, adapt or use the ideas for your own services through this season. They are easily transferrable between physical and online services and can be adapted for home worship services too.
Live Streaming Guide
Dwayne Engh has prepared a helpful guide on live-streaming (thanks also to the Reverend James Pacey). View it here.
An Emmaus Conversation on Easter Day Night
'On the evening of the first Easter, two disciples walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were crestfallen - until a stranger joined them, and opened their hearts. He was revealed to them as the risen Christ. We invite you to walk a similar journey on Easter Day night - in the comfort of your own home, via the telephone. Agree in advance to phone someone from your church at 8.00 pm, and take part in an Emmaus Conversation for Easter Night.
After your initial chit-chat, we suggest you both:
- Light a candle at the beginning of the conversation and say: 'In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.'
- Have some bread ready, and a glass of wine, if you would like one.
- Share the reading of Luke 24:13-35 (each person reading alternate verses).
- Ask each other when you first become a disciple and say what does this mean to you.
- Discuss your hopes for the world and for yourself this Easter Day.
- Discuss your fears for the world and for yourself this Easter Day.
- Reflect together on the Resurrection means to you now, in your Christian journeys.
- When you have reached this part of the discussion, break your bread and eat it as you continue to talk and be present to each other over the phone. Drink and enjoy your glass of wine, or some other drink.
Please speak confidentially to each other. Listen carefully to each other and try not to interrupt. We recommend you take at least thirty minutes properly to engage with this Easter Day Emmaus Conversation.
May the Peace of Our Risen Lord guide you and be with you as you converse as fellow disciples.
Reflections for Holy Week and Easter
Andy March has prepared some Reflections for Holy Week and Easter. Click here to download it.
Poems
Paul Edmondson has recorded some poems for Maundy Thursday through to Easter Day via We Transfer as wav files. These are now available.
For Maundy Thursday
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/prayer-by-george-herbert
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/holy-sonnet-10-by-johndonne
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/woman-to-child-by-judith-wright
For Good Friday
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/i-wake-and-feel-by-gerard-manley-hopkins
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/requiem-by-elizabeth-jennings
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/the-parable-of-the-old-man-and-the-young-by-wilfred-owen
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/the-airy-christ-by-stevie-smith
For Easter Eve
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/time-does-not-bring-relief-by-edna-st-vincent-millay
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/sonet-146-by-william-shakespeare
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/the-kingdom-by-r-s-thomas
For Easter Day
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/most-glorious-lord-of-life-by-edmund-spenser
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/an-easter-carol-by-christina-rossetti
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/river-by-carol-ann-duffy
St John's Gospel
Paul has also audio-recorded the whole of St John's Gospel (NRSV). It's in seven episodes from Palm Sunday to Easter Day (excluding Easter Eve). Each episode lasts around 15-20 minutes.
John's Gospel. Part 1. For Palm Sunday.
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/johnsgospelpart1chapters1to3
John's Gospel. Part 2. For Monday of Holy Week
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/johnsgospelpart2chapters4to6
John's Gospel. Part 3. For Tuesday of Holy Week.
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/johnsgospelpart3chapters7to9
John's Gospel. Part 4. For Wednesday of Holy Week.
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/johnsgospelpart4chapters10to12
John's Gospel. Part 5. For Maundy Thursday.
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/johnchapters13to17
John's Gospel. Part 6. For Good Friday.
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/johnsgospelpart6chapters18to19
John's Gospel. Part 7. For Easter Day.
https://soundcloud.com/pauledmondson/johnsgospelpart7chapters20to21
Dwayne Engh’s music
Dwayne is very happy for people to use these recordings in church services if they wish with no concern for copyright. His only request would be that people let me know (dwayneengh@gmail.com) if they’ve been used and how they were received. Please contact Dwayne directly for copies of the tracks.
it is finished… 3.07
Written for Good Friday at a church in Calgary, Canada where I was music director.
Piano: James Picken
Oboe: Sheryl Reinhardt
Requiem for a Hospice
Written for a theology class at university after a long-term hospice placement. I paired parts of the Requiem Mass with poetry from Gerard Manley Hopkins. Here are three of the movements:
Introit 2.22
Glory be to God for dappled things –
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow…
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
(Pied Beauty – Gerard Manley Hopkins)
Violin: Calum Zuckert
Sanctus 2.33
The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things…
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
(God’s Grandeur – Gerard Manley Hopkins)
Marimba: Dwayne Engh
In paradisum 3.26
In a flash, at a trumpet crash,
I am all at once what Christ is, …immortal diamond.
(That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire, and of the comfort of the Resurrection – Gerard Manley Hopkins)
Soloist: Robert Kozak
Duet: Laurence Price
Improvised Soprano Saxophone: Tim Boniface
Art
A great resource from www.christian.art - Holy Week told through 100 Paintings - click here.