Good Friday Walk of Witness

A Personal, devotional walk replacing the usual, communal

This Walk begins and ends at the Parish Church of St. Nicholas; along the way it visits the War Memorial, St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church, the Dersingham Methodist Church, Open Common and the Village Sign.

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6 On each of the following pages you will find prayers and hymns for each of the seven stops on your Walk of Witness. To add to the experience, on each page you will find a QR code – scanning this will bring up a youtube video of the hymn in question, chosen from the vast range of music made available by choirs and individuals from around the world. (Please remember this will use your 3G/4G data whilst you are around the village) 1. Start at the Parish Church

You may wish to say one of these prayers before you start, or say The Lord's Prayer.

You may also wish to light a votive candle now, or at the end of your walk.

Please note that if you are doing this walk on a day other than Good Friday, you may find the Parish Church locked, as we have to close on certain days during the pandemic to ensure that seating and doors are given a thorough deep clean.

Lord Jesus, we praise you for your redeeming love and all that you have done for us. As we bow in penitence before the cross we gratefully acknowledge the debt we owe. For ours was the sin you bore, ours the ransom you paid ours the salvation you won. Lord Jesus, accept our thanksgiving and make us more worthy of your love; for your love's sake. Amen. (Frank Colquhoun, “Contemporary Parish Prayers”)

From the foot of the cross I look up to Thee O Jesus bow down to me. For I stand in the faith of my God today Put love in my heart and hope alway. Amen. Source unknown (early Scottish)

2 Leaving the church by the west gate (by the Tithe Barn) cross the road and go right for Chapel Road and proceed to the War Memorial at the top of Station Road 1/7

2. At this memorial of sacrifice, we recollect our Lord's most unique sacrifice for us all. A hymn which can be read as a poem Here is love, vast as the ocean,

loving-kindness as the flood, when the Prince of Life, our Ransom, shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He can never be forgotten throughout heav'n's eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion fountains opened deep and wide; through the floodgates of God's mercy Scan to hear this Hymn sung by our own Steve & flowed a vast and gracious tide. Melanie Grace and love, like mighty rivers, poured incessant from above, and heav'n's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me by Thy Spirit through Thy Word; and Thy grace my need is meeting as I trust in Thee, my Lord. Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring Thy great love and pow'r on me without measure, full and boundless, drawing out my heart to Thee. William Rees tr. William Edwards

A prayer: Jesus, Saviour of the world, come to us in your mercy. We look to you to save and help us. By your cross and life laid down, you set your people free. We look to you to save and help us. When your disciples were about to perish, you reached out and saved them. We look to you to come to our help. In the greatness of your mercy free us from our chains, Forgive the sins of all your people. Come now, and dwell with us, Lord Jesus Christ. Hear our prayer and be with us always, and when you come in your glory Make us one with you, to share in the life of your Kingdom. Amen.

Proceed south along Hunstanton Road to St Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church forecourt in Mountbatten Road

3. Continue at St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church

A hymn which can be read as a poem

O for a closer walk with God, Return, O holy Dove, return, a calm and heav'nly frame, sweet messenger of rest; a light to shine upon the road I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, that leads me to the Lamb! and drove Thee from my breast.

Where is the blessedness I knew The dearest idol I have known, when first I sought the Lord? whate'er that idol be, Where is the soul refreshing view help me to tear it from Thy throne of Jesus and His Word? and worship only Thee.

What peaceful hours I then enjoyed! So shall my walk be close with God, How sweet their mem'ry still! calm and serene my frame; But they have left an aching void so purer light shall mark the road the world can never fill. that leads me to the Lamb. William Cowper . A prayer: God and Father of us all, we give thanks for the spiritual unity which is already ours as believers in the one Lord, and as members of the one body of faith. We pray that this spiritual unity may, by your grace, increasingly become a visible unity, so that your Church in every place may demonstrate the healing and reconciling power of the gospel Scan to hear this hymn and be an instrument of your peace in the world, being sung To the praise and Glory of your Name. Amen.

Leaving St. Cecilia's proceed to the Lynn Road and use the Zebra Crossing to get to the Methodist Church in Post office Road

4. Dersingham Methodist Church

A hymn which can be read as a poem When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? Scan to hear Steve & Mel singing this Hymn Were the whole realm of nature mine, to a celtic tune that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Isaac Watts A prayer: O God, we are often saddened by our world, its cruelty and corruption, its greed and aggression, and we look for a quiet corner where we can live our lives in peace. But we know in our hearts this is cowardice. Jesus our King has overcome all the dark forces of evil. This sinful world is the world He has saved, and we are called to make His salvation real, and to manifest it in our day. Strengthen us , O Lord, for this task by the indwelling of your Spirit, and build up you Church everywhere in faith and love, that the world may be released from its bondage and enjoy the perfect freedom of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Leaving the Methodist Church forecourt return to the Lynn Road, and walk south to the Open Common, and once there take the path (leaving the road just after the final house on the left) to the highest point, by the bench seats.

5. Standing at the highest point of Open Common

A hymn which can be read as a poem There is a green hill far away, without a city wall, where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell, what pains he had to bear; but we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiv'n, Scan to hear the Choir of he died to make us good, Kings College, Cambridge that we might go at last to heav'n, singing this Hymn saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin; he only could unlock the gate of heav'n, and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has he loved, and we must love him too, and trust in his redeeming blood, and try his works to do. Cecil Francis Alexander A prayer: Lord Jesus, it was on a hill that you would seek the Father's presence, and on a hill that you would speak to the multitudes, imparting words of life. We remember, with gratitude that it was on a hill that you died for us and all mankind. Accept our praises now, and may this act of witness speak to others of our commitment to your cause, and prompt others to seek you as the answer to their needs. We ask it for your precious Name's sake. Amen.

Next, take a path down to the Village Sign

6. Beside the Village Sign

A hymn which can be read as a poem From heaven you came helpless babe Come see His hands and His feet Entered our world, your glory veiled The scars that speak of sacrifice Not to be served but to serve Hands that flung stars into space And give Your life that we might live To cruel nails surrendered

There in the garden of tears We bring our lives to you My heavy load he chose to bear A sacrifice for you Scan to hear Steve & Mel His heart with sorrow was torn In view of love so true providing our final Hymn 'Yet not My will but Yours, ' He said We are changed, renewed

This is our God, The Servant King This is our God, The Servant King He calls us now to follow Him He calls us now to follow Him To bring our lives as a daily offering To bring our lives as a daily offering Of worship to The Servant King Of worship to The Servant King Graham Kendrick A prayer: O God, whose Son was content to share in the life of His village in Nazareth: Bless the life of this village with your continual presence. Grant that in every family your name may be honoured, and your will done; that our children may learn to love the faith of Jesus Christ, and that men and women may be good neighbours and live godly lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Return to the village up Heath Road, and at Manor road, turn right and head for the Parish Church

7. Once more at St. Nicholas

You may wish to conclude your walk by saying one of the following prayers, if you wish.

You may also wish to light a votive candle now.

O Saviour of the world, we praise you for the victory of the cross and for your finished work. You have done for us what we could never do for ourselves, and what we did not deserve you to do; and you have done it once and for all. Through your perfect and all-sufficient sacrifice sin is conquered, death is destroyed, man is redeemed, and heaven is opened. To God be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Frank Colquhoun “Contemporary Parish Prayers”)

And now , O Father in heaven, we entrust ourselves to you; that living or dying, joyful or suffering, we may ever be with our Lord Jesus, safe in your eternal care. Amen. (Michael Botting “Contemporary Parish Prayers”)

Finally, thank you for taking part in this thoughtful time of devotion. When the time comes when we can all meet together safely on a future occasion, we do hope that you will join us on a future walk of witness.

Sadly, for safety reasons, there can be no refreshments or comfort stops provided this year. There are several public bench seats for those needing a rest along the route.

Material & Route prepared by Neil Adams, Church Warden