So, I pre-ordered, received and read the latest Pullman novel.  It has now begun a journey of being lent to church folk who are interested.

I'm not posting my thoughts on the novel, save to say it is a very, very easy read with equally few surprises.

That said, if it gets people reading, thinking, talking and engaging then the 'scoundrel' has done good!

It has been a very busy, and a very good, week.  The feedback has been very positive and encouraging and I am very grateful to the various folk who organised, brewed, buttered, read, acted, prayed, played and attended the activities we shared for Holy Week.

We began on Palm Sunday with a re-enactment of events from Palm Sunday to Gethsemane:

(photos courtesy & copyright Ian Sinclair)

We moved on into Holy Week with daily pauses On the Road to Calvary where we met characters in the story, meditated, prayed and shared a light lunch.  Big thanks to A (who is now cringing) for organising this.  On the evening of Maundy Thursday we had a very effective Tennebrae communion, meeting around a long table.  Good Friday was a multi-sensory encounter - a labyrinth style prayer walk with twleve 'stations', some images of Easter and the opportunity to watch part of the film Jesus of Nazareth... plus of course tea and hot crossed buns.  After a properly empty Holy/Easter Saturday we packed out the 'snug' at church for bacon (or veggie sausage) rolls and an informal communion on Easter morning.  At 11 a.m. people arrived to a church full of colour and music for our celebration of Easter (no photos yet)... our giant cross dressed in white, oceans of golden daffodils, recorded birdsong, a trumpeter and a cellist as well as the piano, the choir, lots of wonderful home baking... as we sang old hymns and new songs, as we hunted for eggs, discovered Millie Mole's secret message and sought to enter the wonder and mystery it felt good.  The day closed with our worship leader taking us for a walk around our patch, pondering how we see Jesus in those whose life intersect with ours, how we can be Jesus to those we meet.

Jesus Christ is dancing, dancing in our streets...

In the tourists and visitors enjoying the Botanics on a sunny Sunday afternoon

Jesus Christ is serving, serving in our streets...

In the retail outlets, pubs and clubs, where we stand impatient to be served on a Monday

Jesus Christ is hurting, hurting in our streets...

In the hospital where wounds are dressed, hope born and fear realised at midnight, at noontide

Jesus Christ is learning, teaching in our streets...

In the university where knowledge and understanding vie for attention in the mind of teacher and learner

Jesus Christ is with us, with us in our street...

Crucified, dead, risen, ascended... alive and active

In us, with us, through us