CCN: Festivals

A Journey through Easter Week: Holy Saturday

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

Day 1: Palm Sunday
Day 2: Great Monday
Day 3: Holy Tuesday
Day 4: Spy Wednesday
Day 5: Maundy Thursday
Day 6: Good Friday


Today in the plastic bag: myrrh & spices

A animated reading for today can be found here: SGM LifeWords: Watch this Space

See an extended Easter Saturday reflection here.

Good Friday Extras

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the cross are a way of reflecting on Jesus crucifixion by contemplating each stage of Jesus final journey one at a time. This originates with the Catholic church, and they designated 14 of these ’stations’. Some of the stations are based more in Catholic traditon than the Gospel texts themselves, but I think there is some good stuff in there!

Ponder the cross with this Massive Attack song in the background:

A Journey through Easter Week: Maundy Thursday

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Day 1: Palm Sunday
Day 2: Great Monday
Day 3: Holy Tuesday
Day 4: Spy Wednesday
Day 5: Maundy Thursday

Also click here for Maundy Thursday Extras: Thoughts on Passover.


Today in the plastic bag: a broken piece of Matzah

A animated reading for today can be found here: SGM LifeWords: Remember Me

Maundy Thursday Extras

Thursday, March 20th, 2008


Maundy Thursday marks Jesus’ Last Supper. This last supper was a Passover feast, and had deep profound meaning for what Jesus was doing and was about to do.

For the last 3 years we have had a Jewish Christian in to lead us through a “Jesus int he Passover” feast. It really has been a wonderful experience each time.

Since we have not done that this year, I was wondering how to get the experiential, interactive nature of the Passover that I love so much. I figured that it could probably be done at home at multiple levels.

Clearly at this point a full Jesus in the Passover event is a bit late in the day to organise. Although if you do wish to do that I have a full script that I have edited to make it accessible to the “amateur”. Please to email me if you want a copy.

I have also edited down a more accessible version, and all you really need it some Matzah [although any crackers would do] and some wine [no, nothing else would do there ;o)]. This includes what i consider to be the crucial elements that is acheivable for a family over an evening meal. Why not give it a try?

You can download it here:

Jesus In The Passover For Everyone

Here are the steps:

  1. Understanding our part and Opening blessing
  2. Kiddush(Sanctification): The First Cup
  3. Yachatz: Divide The Middle Matza
  4. Magid: Telling The Passover Story
  5. The Second Cup: The Cup Of Wrath
  6. Daiyenu: It Would Have Been Enough
  7. The Symbolism of Passover Foods
  8. Shulchan Oraych: The Passover Meal
  9. Baraych: Blessing After The Meal
  10. Tzafun: The Hidden Afikomen
  11. The Third Cup: The Cup Of Redemption
  12. The Fourth Cup: The Cup Of Praise
  13. Concluding Blessing

You can also download my Passover Introduction Booklet from last years Passover here.

A more simple thing to do thise evening is to share crackers and wine over the meal and remember Jesus’ words:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, … “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and … they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

Consider the cracker’s features:

“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his stripes we are healed”(Isaiah 53:5)

“Truly, truly I say to you… it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of Heaven… I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst… I am the bread of life”. (John 6:32-33)

“I am the living bread that came down out of Heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (John 6:51)

All credit for the “Jesus in the Passover” source material goes elsewhere.

A Journey through Easter Week: Spy Wednesday

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Day 1: Palm Sunday
Day 2: Great Monday
Day 3: Holy Tuesday
Day 4: Spy Wednesday
Day 5: Maundy Thursday

Believe it or not, Spy Wednesday is a traditional name for today. It marks the day that Judas agreed to betray Jesus. “Spy” maybe doesn’t have quite the sme connotations as it used - being a spy is now a cool thing, thanks to James Bond! However I still think that it is a great name!


Today in the plastic bag: a silver [chocolate] coin

A animated reading for today can be found here: SGM LifeWords: Unchartered Territory

This takes a slightly different tack thenus today, but it is still great!