Preparations for Easter at BORA by Owen Smith, Chaplain
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A passage to India - Rev Canon Dr Phil Hesketh speaks about an enriching Cathedral link in Chennai India p6 - 7 APRIL 2011 Preparations for Easter at BORA By Owen Smith, Chaplain Anyone who has ever done a emotive than the story of the events school assembly will know that surrounding Easter. The challenge for churches is to find new opportunities to tell no matter how good the this story to a generation who just illustration, no matter how good don’t know it. the gimmick, nothing beats a As part of our preparations for Easter at the Bishop of Rochester Academy, we asked a good story! Halls full of pupils sit small group of Year 8 and 9 pupils to work transfixed, entranced as they together to think about how they might depict follow the narrative, waiting to the events of the Easter story – a modern day 12 Stations of the Cross. Here are some of find out what happens, or how it the photographs they took. ends, or who wins! The photographers were Nadine Gordon, Luckily for us, one of the things Des French, Katie McGarrigle, Taylor Rafferty, Christianity has is good stories – none more Richard Gatter, Jordan Bell, and Nathan shocking, more controversial, and more Speed This photograph shows Jesus dressed in purple. They dressed him in purple to make him look like a king, and to belittle him. Standing in the corridor one morning one of my Year 8s pointed to the cross on the wall and asked me, “Why’s it not got that bloke on it?” It took me a moment to understand what he was asking but it soon struck me that somewhere along the line he’d seen a crucifix and had assumed that all crosses This photograph shows Pontius Pilate voting to kill Jesus. Although it was the crowd that looked like that. had chosen to save Barabbas and kill Jesus, Pilate had the final say. He was worried that I tried my best to explain that the cross the crowd might rise up against him if disagreed with them. was empty as a reminder that Jesus rose from the dead – that He is no longer on the cross. However, this answer clearly did not satisfy him. My questioner was then confused about why Christians should place such importance on an empty cross – on something where someone used to be. I once again tried to explain that Jesus’ absence from the cross represented something very important to Christians but he was not to be swayed. For him, the symbol was only complete with Jesus hanging upon it. And maybe, in many ways, I could see what he meant. Perhaps a balance is needed, especially at Easter. We need to recognise that it was our sins that placed Jesus on that cross – that it was for us that he hung there. Yet we need to remember that that was not where This photograph represents the crowd voting the story ended. We must not be too quick to save either Jesus or the murderer Barabbas to take Jesus off the cross but we should from crucifixion. We imagined that today this always be ready with an answer to the decision might have been made by a vote. question “Why’s it not got that bloke on it?” This photograph shows Jesus being put onto the cross. His hands and feet were nailed onto the cross. They did this to Him because he had been saying he could talk to God, and they thought he was a criminal. He was crucified next to two thieves. PLEASE NOTE: Copy deadline for the May issue of The Link is 4pm Thursday 7 April 2 ochester Link Out and about The Bishop of Rochester, What’s on The Rt Rev James Langstaff Fri 1 & Sat 2 Deanery Visit: Erith April Various Sunday 3 AM Mothering Sunday Service: Crayford Saturday 2 April ROCHESTER –Annual Exhibition by local residents of Monday 4 All Day National meeting with Roman Catholic BROMLEY – Stellar String Quartet play a programme of memories of this corner of England. St Margaret’s Church Bishops works by Haydn and Smetana at 1930 at St Mary’s from 30 April – 2 May 1000 – 1700. Admission £1. Tuesday 5 AM Meeting Bexley Borough Council Church. Admission £6 on the door. BECKENHAM – ‘The Experience’ at St John’s Church from 19 April – 22 April. A unique way to experience Wednesday 6 All Day Bishop’s Staff Meeting Sunday 3 April ROCHESTER – Soup and line dancing at St Peter’s peace, calm and stillness. 1000 – 2200. www.sjep.org. Thursday 7 AM Employed Youth & Children’s Workers Church 1830 – 2100 to raise funds for First Step Drop in Commissioning WATERINGBURY – Lunches for Lent at the Church of Centre and Emmaus Medway. Bring own refreshments. St John the Baptist on Wednesdays 6, 13 April 1230 – Sunday 10 AM Confirmation: St John, Hildenborough Saturday 9 April 1400. Soup, sandwiches and drinks available. Contact Tuesday 12 PM Bishop’s Council ROCHESTER – Lost Voices: Transforming broken 01622 813032. Thurs 14 & Fri 15 Deanery Visit: Rochester relationships through listening, healing and reconciliation MEOPHAM –A Meditation Service at 1330 on Good Sunday 17 AM Preside & Preach: St Peter & St Paul, led by Rev Dr Russ Parker at St Justus Church 0930 – Friday, an Easter Sunday Dawn Service plus Holy Aylesford 1600 Tickets £10 from Maggie Curtis 01634 400104. Communion at 1130 followed by an Open Day to PM Service of Penance & Reconciliation: HAYES – Hayes Philharmonic Choir will perform Bach, celebrate Holy Week at St Mildred’s Church. On Easter St Luke, Gillingham Handel and Boyce at 1945 at Hayes Free Church. Tickets Monday the church is open 1100 - 1500 for quiet prayer Thursday 21 AM Maundy Thursday Service: Rochester £10, concessions £8, children £2 from 020 8654 6712 and reflection. Cathedral or on the door. www.hayeschoir.com. SEVENOAKS - Lunchtime Recitals at St Luke's Church Friday 22 PM Good Friday Liturgy: St John, BROMLEY – Singing workshop at St Mary’s Church Wednesdays at 1230 - retiring collection Sevenoaks 1430 – 1730. Suitable for regular and new singers. 6 Poetry and Music for Lent Sunday 24 AM Easter Vigil (and Baptism), Confirmation Contact Peter Fall 020 8464 1239. 13 Emilie Capulet - Piano 20 New Benedict Singers - a programme for Lent and Eucharist: Rochester Cathedral Saturday 16 April 27 Dave & Gay Rae, aka Galliard – Acoustic Jazz PM Preside & Preach: Borstal KIPPINGTON – Rochester WATCH sponsors a Guitar and Vocals Tuesday 26 AM Meeting the Chaplaincy Team at symposium at St Mary’s Church at 1030. Four couples will HMYOI Rochester share their experience of ordained ministry. Starting at May Weds 27 & Thurs 28 Deanery Visit: Sevenoaks 0930 with a Eucharist. Saturday 14 May WELLING – BCU Life Skills Centre 18th Annual KEMSING – St Mary’s Church challenge walk in the Churches Walk starting at 1000 at St John’s Church, North Downs. Walk 11, 15 or 20 miles. Entry is £12 Welling. Final refreshments at Pincott Hall. Lunchtime stop adults, £5 under 18s including light refreshments and a MARTIN ORGANIST at Holy Redeemer, Sidcup. Contact George or Rheta sandwich at the finish. Closing date for entries: 24 April. CHAPMAN Birchall 020 8303 8089. Contact Mike Cursons 01959 523135. Jay Ford available as relief Palm Sunday 17 April Electronic Church/Home SE London/ Kent ORPINGTON - ‘Fatal Embrace’ a conference exploring Organs & Digital Pianos Sundays & Weekdays ROCHESTER – ‘Follow that Donkey’ – a procession with the role of Christians in pursuing peace in the Holy Land Professional Counsellor Repaired & Serviced a real donkey starting at St Margaret’s Church at 1020 at Christ Church 0930 - 1530. Cost £15, closing date 1 MACC (Accredited) Traditional & Also available to Installation of Audio & Modern Music and finishing at St Peter’s Church. Contact 01634 May. Contact the training department on 01634 560000 under 16’s with consent Hearing Loop Systems 848900. or [email protected]. Tel: 07788 972623 Contact Ron Smith GILLINGHAM – Service of Penance and Reconciliation at Please email all What’s On information to Tel: 020 8310 3550 TEL/FAX: 020 8300 1527 Fee & Mileage St Luke’s Church at 1700. All welcome. [email protected] by the 7 April for May Good Friday 22 April Link. ROCHESTER – Family fun and crafts at Easter-Fest, St Margaret’s Church 1100 – 1300. Contact 01634 Churches launch website 848900. Three churches in Blue Bell Hill, Walderslade and FARNBOROUGH - Performance of Faure Requiem at Lordswood have launched a new website St Giles' Church at 1930. www.importantinformation.info to assist residents in the BROMLEY – St Mary’s Festival Singers perform Arthur area, as part of their service to the local community. Somervell’s ‘The Passion of Christ’ at 1930 at St Mary’s Useful information about schools, travel, doctors, Church. Admission is free. police, community and much more has been collected and is presented in an easy-to-use way. Wednesday 27 April ANERLEY – ‘Behold the Man’ a challenging series of teachings on Jesus over 12 sessions consisting of a 40 Art and Christian Spirituality minute DVD by the late Dr Pryor on Wednesday evenings On Saturday 4 June at Christ Church Orpington 10am 1945 – 2145 at Christ Church. To book contact Teresa – 1pm poet Sarah Fordham will share how she has Cottrell 020 8680 9282. experienced art and spirituality as ‘companions along Saturday 30 April the way’ of her own life. The talk will be followed by a BROMLEY – Lewisham Concert Band present ‘Y Viva practical poetry and art workshop with Sarah and artist Espana’ at 1930 at St Mary’s Church. Programme of Sue Orange. For bookings contact 01634 560000 or Spanish and Iberian music.