Dear parishioners and friends,

 
Today is Maundy Thursday, the day in the church calendar when we remember the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples. As always it is marked with a service of Holy Communion. At the end the Stripping of the Altar is done and the church is made ready for Good Friday, leaving it in darkness. Unfortunately again this year we cannot be in church but we will gather online. I have recorded a service from St Luke’s Church which will be available on our Parish YouTube Channel from 6pm this evening. To get the full drama as we move from Maundy Thursday into Good Friday, please watch it to the very end.
 
For Good Friday I have also recorded a service of readings, music and meditations from St Luke’s under the title ‘Crossings’. My inspiration this year has been a simple wooden cross created by a carpenter from Lampedusa a few years ago. It was his response to a particular event. Included in this service is the reading of the Passion according to St Matthew as well as some familiar music for Good Friday. The service is less than 40 minutes long and is designed to be flexible so that you can pause it at intervals and use it in sections over the day if you wish. I hope you will find it helpful as we reflect on the meaning and impact of the cross for us today. This service will be available on the YouTube Channel from noon tomorrow. The link for both these services is here:
 
 
In addition on Good Friday evening I will be hosting a live service of Compline on Zoom at 8pm. Please do join me if you can. Compline is a reflective traditional language service ideal for use at the end of the day. We rarely get a chance to use it. You will be able to follow the text of the service on the screen as I share it with those who join me. There will also be a very short meditation for Good Friday and so the service should be no more than 20 minutes long.
The Zoom link for this service is below and I will open it a few minutes before 8pm.
 
 
I will be in contact again on Saturday morning to give you information about our Easter Sunday service. In the meantime I wish you a peaceful and reflective few days and we continue the journey with Jesus towards the cross.

Every blessing,

Adrian

 

—

Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

 
The Rectory,
Carrigaline Road,
Douglas,
Cork.
T12 A2RC