This year Holy Week begins on Sunday 28th March. Unlike last year, when we were unable to have any services in church during Holy Week (due to the national lockdown we were in at the time) this year we will be able to come together, in church, to worship the Lord through our celebration of the central events of our faith, the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. That said, we will have to make some changes to our services so that we can comply with the Covid-19 restrictions we’re still living under. These changes will be kept to a minimum, and are as follows:
Palm Sunday – both churches
Palm crosses will be available on entry to church. Please collect one and make your way to a pew. The crosses will be blessed and sprinkled with holy water in the pews. There will be no Palm Procession. The rest of the service will be unaltered.
Maundy Thursday – St Mark’s
There will be no foot washing . The rest of the service will be unaltered until the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose. The Altar of Repose will be in the main worship space of church. The Watch will last for one hour.
Good Friday – St Gabriel’s
The liturgy will be as normal until The Veneration of the Cross. At the veneration, no physical contact with the cross will be allowed. Bowing, genuflecting or standing for a few moments in silence before the cross are admissible, kissing or touching the cross are not. As you make your way back to the pews after venerating the cross, hosts from the reserved sacrament will be available to collect. Please take one and return to your pew.
At the invitation to Communion, consume the sacrament whist in your pew, as you have on Sundays during the pandemic.
Holy Saturday – St Mark’s
The Easter Vigil will begin as normal. After the Easter Candle has been lit*, a second candle will be lit from it. Please light your own candles from this as you file into church. Once in your pew, light the tea-light there: you will need this to re-light your candles for the Renewal of Baptismal Vows. Please remain in your pews and turn to face the font for the renewal of vows, there will be no procession to the font. The rest of the service will be unaltered.
* The Easter Candle for St Gabriel’s will be lit during the Service of Light which will begin the Eucharist on Easter Day. The Service of Light will follow the same order as the opening of the Holy Saturday service at St Mark’s, as detailed above.
Parish Church of St Mark Chadderton 