Maundy Thursday service was well attended and the Easter morning service was led by Rev Chris Giles. The church looked lovely with the Easter decorations.
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Our service was led by Rev Chris Giles who reflected on the Easter day happenings reminding us of what an exciting encounter the women had, who went to the tomb early on the first Sunday. Fiona led our worship but the service was dramatized by some of the open the book team who presented Jesus and the Palm Sunday story complete with a donkey. Fortunately the group do not work with animals so the beast was well behaved! Easter service saw the chapel organ being played before the service for the first time in over a year. The communion service was led by Rev Farai and afterwards the Easter display was much admired as we left through the "tomb" exit. Easter Sunday also sees our now traditional Easter lily flowers. These are bought by the congregation often in remembrance of loved ones departed.  Whitacre Chapel has created especially for Easter week; a display of the risen Lord appearing to Mary Magdalene in the Garden of Gethsemane. The round stone stone has been rolled away from the tomb with the reminder in the background of the victory over death on the Crosses of Golgotha on the porch roof. Many thanks are due to Anne and Mike for the tomb, Carol for the characters, Arthur for the flowers and Pauline and Phil for helping setting up such a lovely display. Do make sure that you admire the diorama over the Easter festive period. Rev Farai Mapamula says "Happy Easter everyone! Good wishes to you all and your families. I hope this finds you well. I am very well and loving the weather.
Easter was a really beautiful time for reflection for me. I appreciated the quiet, the almost forced sense of 'slowness'. But I also appreciate that some of us may have found this really difficult. I mentioned to my family that this was a very strange Easter for me. The response from my daughter was not one I had expected. She asked me what was strange about almost relieving the Gospel experience of being huddled behind closed doors and fearing for our lives? What was strange about not being at the synagogue but breaking bread and sharing in our own homes? I don't know what you think but this gave me pause for thought, because this is not what I'm used to - usually I am worshipping together in communion and loads of hot cross buns. But the essence of the cross and death and resurrection remain the same - light over darkness, righteousness over evil - life over death - hope over despair - death conquered and resurrection into new life! We remain Easter people who hope, and love, and pray. Because we see Easter hope around us in many ways, only if we dare to stop, listen, observe and reflect." You can download her further reflections on Easter week here  Easter Sunday would have seen a Bicentenary service being led by Rev Warren Bardsley who was our minister here in Whitacre Chapel from 1977 to 1982. He has sent us his blessing and a service outline sheet for the day.
Please download and read the service and enjoy. The Methodist Messy Church Team were very pleased to welcome 20 children, their parents and some grandparents to an Easter Egg Hunt. The children made and decorated Easter Baskets and then were let loose to find tokens that they could exchange for chocolate eggs. The weather was kind to us so that we were able to use the garden and the Chapel. While some cleared up for Tea, Jacky told the children the amazing Easter story. We hope that everyone enjoyed the afternoon as much as we did, everything seems brighter if it involves chocolate, doesn’t it?
Please pencil the date of Saturday, July 28th in your diaries because we would love to invite you to a Picnic in the Park on Birmingham Road. Let’s hope that the sun will shine for us. Easter day broke with lovely sunshine. The chapel looked lovely with Easter lillies bought but members of the congregation in memory and celebration of loved ones. Farai reminded us during the service that whilst we should remember Easter is also about new life and renewal. Farai had done a lovely altar display which was rapidly dismantled but it included candles which were lit at the start of the service when the lillies were highlighted. After the service chocolate biscuits were enjoyed as a first taste for many who had given chocolate up for Lent.
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