• The first Christmas, when God became a human being like us, to show us how to live
• The first Easter, when Jesus died on the cross for us, and rose from the dead to give us life and hope
• The first Pentecost, when the risen and ascended Lord sent to us his Holy Spirit, his presence, strength and support, to be with us always
These three parts of our Trinitarian Faith belong together, and are of equal significance.
The worship services offer us an opportunity to participate in the events of our Lord’s death and resurrection so that our own lives may be changed now and for ever by what he has done for us and for all people.
In Holy Week we enter into Christ’s passion, death and resurrection in a real way. We are neither spectators nor audience; we walk together in the Way of the Cross.
Our Holy Week and Easter programme this year repeats the major innovation we made at Easter 2006.
The Bible tells us that at the First Christmas Jesus was born while ‘shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night.’ That’s the reason for Midnight Mass. The Bible tells us that at the First Easter Jesus rose from the dead just before the dawn ‘while it was still dark.’
We are again holding this year at East Meon a Dawn Eucharist of Easter starting at 5.30 a.m., before sunrise. It will include a bonfire, a procession with candles, and the renewal of baptism vows.
There is no service quite like it, and I do encourage you as earnestly as I can, to set the alarm and come.
This service replaces the Easter Day 0800 service, though we again incorporate some of the rhythms and cadences of the 0800 Prayer Book Service into the Eucharist of the Daw
Families and children are welcome to the Dawn Eucharist, and we plan to have a hot drink and bacon sandwiches afterwards. Last year over 30 people attended the Dawn Eucharist, slightly fewer than in 2006.
How encouraging it would be to increase numbers again this year, and for this service to grow and to become our main Easter celebration!
The Reverend Terry Louden