So. Its Easter.
If you have a spare hour over the weekend, you could do far worse then checking out The Manchester Passion from a few years ago.
Archives For Easter
A story about being behind the scenes at Palm Sunday…
Zac trudged round the corner of the house with the kind of barely concealed rage that only a 15-year old can manage. This was all so embarrassing. Nobody else in the whole street tied their donkey at the front of the house instead of the back. Nobody else in the street had to do it religiously every morning like it was some kind of sacred duty. Nobody else got a lecture from their dad, or their grandad, or whoever else was up, about how this was a ‘sacred duty’. And nobody, but nobody, had to repeat the words just to prove they hadn’t forgotten them. It had been his dad this morning. ‘Say them out loud son’, he had said. ‘Say them out loud so I know you’ve got them’. In a monotone intended to convey his fury at this ridiculous ritual, Zac had intoned them once again . ‘If someone says’ the Lord has need of it’, I am to hand the donkey over without any further thought’. ‘Why’ asked his father. ‘Why does that matter in the name of all that’s holy’? . Zac resisted the temptation to say that he couldn’t care less, and gave the official response – ‘because we are sleepers dad, put here for this one sacred duty, this one single moment,and today it may come’.
He repeated the words in his head once again as he leant against the donkey’s warm and dusty flank and tied up its rope. Except, incredibly, they were NOT in his head. There, behind him, a stranger was uttering them. He looked as awkward as the boy felt, but there could be no doubt he was saying the ‘magic’ words. ‘The Lord has need of it’. Zac tried to reply, but his throat was constricted beyond speech. He simply handed over the rope, and watched the receding figures of man and beast as they disappeared off up the road.
Whatever would he tell his dad?
With Thanks to Richard Littledale
A long time ago. In a Lego galaxy far far away. Two warring groups declared a cease fire, came together, and put on an Easter play.
Well. That was the concept anyway.
And it was’t that long ago, only two years.
As part of EasterLive, the Church Sofa Team used Lego to create a number of a number of scenes from the Easter story, while asking “What would happen if the Star Wars Rebel Alliance, and the Empire decided to put aside their differences for one moment, and put on an Easter play? How would that go?”
Well, as a few people have come across The Sofa recently looking for star wars / Lego / Church / Easter type things recently, I’ve figured I should remind everyone of the special Lego Easter page hidden within the “youth club ideas” pages.
Hope you enjoy.
Good Morning one and all, and welcome to the weekend! If you get a moment to rest, take a moment and check out the following:
- @Rev_Gareth looks at the negative press over taking a rest over Easter on The Big Bible.
- Would you like your church to be part of Mars Hill?
- Richard Littledale finds Hope next to Chocolate…
- The
@CVMen blog looks at what happened when Nicks wife tried to kill him… - Tony Morgan asks “Is it Starbucks or is it church?“
- Dan Haseltine – lead singer of Jars of Clay takes a really interesting look at why Jars of Clay are touring, and exploring the middle space…
- … and finally… Carl Beech: Godly Church Irritant.
Happy Easter Everyone…
Here’s our weekly round up:
- @cathtechtalk looks at setting up a social media strategy for your church / parish.
- The Big Bible looks at “Notebooks and iPads: Tearfund’s Digital Day“.
- Christian.co.uk looks at The Christian Fame Culture…
- The Telegraph reports that “Cameron tells Christians he doesn’t want a fight over gay marriage“.
- Richard Littledale ponders the photographer’s gospel…
- … and finally… In Youth Work? Want to get fired? Here’s some help…
Not seen it? Its worth a watch…
Continue Reading...
Available at: http://www.twelvebaskets.co.uk/view/images/the-exeter-easter-cross
We interrupt the normal madness for the following advert from Exeter Diocese:
THOUSANDS of people are expected to line Exeter’s street for a dramatised account of the death of Jesus this Good Friday.
Last year over 1,200 people attended a short service in Exeter Cathedral and several thousand watched the drama unfold on the streets.
Organised by Christians Together across Exeter (CTaX), the play, which ends in a silent walk behind the cross through the city centre, have become a highlight of the Easter weekend…
The key points of the morning will be:
• 10am – worship in the Cathedral before the walk. The service will be led by Revd Simon Taylor of South Street Baptist Church and the speaker will be Revd Canon Anna Norman-Walker
• 10.30am – the play starts with the first scene on Cathedral Green, progressing to further scenes in Princesshay Square and Bedford Square
• From Bedford Square the walk will continue in silence as Jesus carries the cross down the high street, ending back on Cathedral Green with the crucifixion scene
• After the final scene, the Right Reverend Jonathan Draper, the Dean of Exeter Cathedral, will reflect on Good Friday and Jesus’ resurrection which is celebrated on Easter Day, and give a blessing on the Cathedral Green.
• After that, hot cross buns will be distributed and the Cathedral doors opened for all who wish to come in for prayer and reflection.
Further details available on The Exeter Diocese website.
While Team Sofa still doesn’t think that “The Walk of Witness” is the most catchy name ever, its always been worth going along to, and taking part in.
Welcome to Saturday, and the Weekly Roundup of what we’ve seen online this week:
- Jon Butler is under pressure…
- Here’s something a little different – an Advert on Oxford Street is shown only to women.
- Mike Rimmer shares his reflections on the death of Whitney Houston.
- Vicky Beeching looks at giving up social media for Lent
- Will shares a reflection on Ash Wednesday.
- ..and… finally… Vic The Vicar has tickets for Ash Wednesday…
How Good At Lent Are You?
In case you’ve not noticed. Its Pancake day today, therefore tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
What are you giving up?
Use our below tick list for inspiration, and give yourself a tick for each item you’re giving up:
| Giving up item | Points |
|---|---|
| Chocolate | | | |
| Beer / Alcohol | | | |
| Crisps | | | |
| Ice Cream | | | |
| Coffee | | | |
| Biscuits | | | |
| Television (Worth 2 Points) | | | |
| Your Computer / Playstation (Two Points) | | | |
| Smart Phone (2 points) | | | |
| Your house / flat (Worth Three Points) | | | |
Got one tick: You’re doing alright.
Two – Seven Ticks: You’re doing well. Keep it up!
Seven or more: You are indeed a saint!
- Are you giving anything up for Lent? If so what?
- Why are you doing it anyway?