Holy Week and Easter 2025

In the days of Holy Week we will make a pilgrimage with Christ from the joy of his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through his suffering and death on Good Friday, the waiting and emptiness of Holy Saturday to the triumph of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

You are warmly invited to join with us for as much of this journey as you can manage. All services will be held in church unless otherwise stated.

 You can download a leaflet with details of these services here

Palm Sunday 13th April

Sung All-Age Eucharist

Gather in the hall from 9:45am to sing joyful songs before the service begins at 10am. Palm crosses will be blessed and we will make a joyful act of witness as we process into church singing and waving our palms.

As our worship continues the mood changes as we participate in reading the Gospel of Christ’s passion during our celebration of the Eucharist.

Morning Prayer

Monday to Friday, 9 – 9:30 am, and Saturday at 9:15

Morning Prayer will be said online by Zoom. Please do join us as we begin each day in prayer for the church, the world, ourselves & those in need.

Monday 14th, Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th April,7:30pm

Reflections on the events of Holy Week

The church will be open for private prayer from 6:30pm.  Themes for these services will be:

Monday: Walking the Stations of the Cross. We jpurney around the church, pausing at selected Stations to refelct on Christ's journey to the cross.

Tuesday: Praying with images of the Passion. Members of the congregation guide our prayer with personal reflections on works of art.

Wednesday: Reflections with Sung Prayer by Candlelight. Words, silence and sung rayers from Taize

Maundy Thursday 17th April,  8pm

Eucharist with footwashing followed by the Watch

We recall the events of the last supper as we join with the first disciples of Jesus in accepting his hospitality through the washing of feet and the sharing of communion. We join with Jesus in his desolation as the sanctuary is stripped. We are invited to take part in a Watch with readings and times of silence for one hour after the service ends.

Good Friday 18th April,  10:30am and 1:30pm

10:30 am: Worship and Procession of Witness

We gather for worship at St Oswald's at 10:30am where we reflect on the meaning of Good Friday before making our procession with the cross to Downsview Methodist Church. There we will have a short act of witness on the green before sharing refreshments.

1:30 pm,  Around the Cross

We wait at the foot of the cross as we reflect on Jesus’ last hours with music, readings and silence. At the end of the service there is the opportunity to receive communon bread reserved from Thursday evening.

Those who wish to are welcome to use the church and grounds for personal prayer from 12:30pm.

Easter Sunday 20th April,  5:45am, 8am and 10am

At 5.45am, a morning vigil with readings as we wait to celebrate the dawning of Easter Day. We begin outside, warmed by the Easter fire, then move into the church with the newly lit paschal candle as we greet Easter morning before enjoying breakfast together!

At 8am there will be a said Holy Communion

At 10am our celebration of the resurrection continues with a Sung Eucharist for people of all ages including the renewal of baptism promises. Children (and adults!) who have baptism or confirmation candles are invited to bring them to  be lit at this service.

Photos: (from top): Thanti Riess; Random Institute; Aachal; Shawn Pang; Yannick Pulver; Eberhard Grossgasteiger; Bruno van der Kraan/all at Unsplash.