Holy Saturday has often been neglected in the Holy Week journey of faith, perhaps as its core themes of waiting and holding loss and pain are difficult for us. Yet these are also vital parts of the human and divine experience.
We therefore warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection on this unusual Holy Saturday. Here are some brief resources to assist. They can be used all in one go, bit by bit, or selectively, as suits your needs (privately, or with others).
May God bless us all on this special day in our own times of waiting and holding..
We therefore warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection on this unusual Holy Saturday. Here are some brief resources to assist. They can be used all in one go, bit by bit, or selectively, as suits your needs (privately, or with others).
May God bless us all on this special day in our own times of waiting and holding..
Acknowledgement of Country
Firstly, as we gather in God's presence, we acknowledge the land which is covered by the Milton parish, its traditional custodians, elders past present and emerging, and all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in our communities. May we honour and share more deeply the wisdom of all, and walk in paths of just reconciliation and renewal of all Creation
Firstly, as we gather in God's presence, we acknowledge the land which is covered by the Milton parish, its traditional custodians, elders past present and emerging, and all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in our communities. May we honour and share more deeply the wisdom of all, and walk in paths of just reconciliation and renewal of all Creation
Opening Reflections
Take a moment to breathe in God's peace as we begin our journey through Holy Week. Rest in the love which gave Jesus strength to share life and hope in the midst of the huge challenges of Jesus' own day. That love can give us peace and courage too to live and praise God in all that we face and feel.
This is the Time to Be Slow
(with thanks to Christine Howard for the following two items, and her wider contributions to our spiritual nurture at the time)
You may like to read and/or listen to, and reflect upon, a helpful prayer by John O'Donohue, words which helped the notable BBC journalist Feargal Keane get through PDST - click here to access
Take a moment to breathe in God's peace as we begin our journey through Holy Week. Rest in the love which gave Jesus strength to share life and hope in the midst of the huge challenges of Jesus' own day. That love can give us peace and courage too to live and praise God in all that we face and feel.
This is the Time to Be Slow
(with thanks to Christine Howard for the following two items, and her wider contributions to our spiritual nurture at the time)
You may like to read and/or listen to, and reflect upon, a helpful prayer by John O'Donohue, words which helped the notable BBC journalist Feargal Keane get through PDST - click here to access
A Prayer for Waiting
You might like to say this prayer,
perhaps holding out the palms of your own hands as you read it and asking for God's blessing...
God of holy waiting
we remember how on Holy Saturday
Christ's followers felt fear and despair,
as they experienced the loss of Jesus among them.
Bless us as we wait this day .
May the trials of your faithful ones down the ages
remind us that you are always with us in the worst adversities.
Bless and wait with us as we bear what is hard to face.
May the knowledge of your presence give us courage
and may we trust your love even as we feel great absence.
Bless and support us in this time. Amen.
(Jo Inkpin & Penny Jones)
A Reflection (by Penny Jones)
The Hallowing of Hell
click on the YouTube link below...
The Hallowing of Hell
click on the YouTube link below...
Prayers of Intercession
Hope-bearing God,
you descended into hell
to redeem all that was lost and buried
Give us grace and strength
to wait this day
and to trust to your unseen possibilities
Hope-bearing God,
hold us as we wait
We pray for ourselves and the wider Church:
that we may wait with patience and courage,
be renewed by your strength and peace,
and offer prayer and comfort to our world.
Hope-bearing God,
may your enduring love prevail
We pray for our nation:
that we may stand strong together,
remembering all waiting for new life this day
Hope-bearing God,
may your enduring love prevail
We pray for our world:
remembering especially all in greatest pain.
Hope-bearing God,
may your enduring love prevail
We pray for those who are ill or greatly burdened:
remembering, in a moment of silence,
those known to us
and for whom our prayers have particularly been asked...
Hope-bearing God,
may your enduring love prevail.
We remember those who have died recently,
and those who mourn their loss,
Hope-bearing God,
may your enduring love transform our waiting
in Jesus' Name, Amen.
(Jo Inkpin)
Prayer of Commendation
Let us ask God to give us grace to continue to live our lives in faith hope and love:
God of the onward journey
Amid uncertainty, give us courage
Amid darkness, give us light
Amid fear, give us hope
Amid instability, give us balance
amid conflict, give us peace
and in all things accompany us
along the Way.
(Penny Jones)
A Blessing for the next stage of our journeys
Creator of the groaning universe,
wrenching change,
and all that struggles
Bless us and keep us
Redeemer of the depths of hell,
of fearful disciples,
and all that we suffer
Bless us and keep us
Transformer of death,
of pain and despair,
and all that destroys
Bless us and keep us
This day and always, Amen.
(Jo Inkpin & Penny Jones)
Creator of the groaning universe,
wrenching change,
and all that struggles
Bless us and keep us
Redeemer of the depths of hell,
of fearful disciples,
and all that we suffer
Bless us and keep us
Transformer of death,
of pain and despair,
and all that destroys
Bless us and keep us
This day and always, Amen.
(Jo Inkpin & Penny Jones)
Offertory
In our usual worship, we include an opportunity to offer monetary and/or other gifts to God.
If you would like to contribute to the work of Milton Anglicans during the COVID-19 crisis, please feel to do so via electronic means -
via BPoint
or by contacting the parish office
In our usual worship, we include an opportunity to offer monetary and/or other gifts to God.
If you would like to contribute to the work of Milton Anglicans during the COVID-19 crisis, please feel to do so via electronic means -
via BPoint
or by contacting the parish office