A report and a selection of
pictures are ...................here
Good Friday 10 April 2009 — Good Friday Walk of Witness a short report
About
300 members from the various Epsom Churches, on an overcast drizzle and
cloudy day congregated near the
Baptist Church in the Council car park, after a short prayer and
thoughts for the day from Rev.
David Winwood of the Methodist Church the walk of witness processed down
the High Street with the CROSS of CHRIST to the Market Place under the
stewardship of both CTiE fellowship in their bright yellow jackets and
the local Police who ensured the traffic behaved themselves!
The
assembled throng complete with distributed orders of service assembled
in front of the tent and platform provided by Brian Angus and his team
of helpers, then Rev. Sue Bull, Chair of Churches Together in Epsom (CTiE)
commenced this service with the greeting that:-
"The
Churches of Epsom warmly welcome you to this act of worship and
remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ, and to pray for our world.
Please stop to reflect and pray with us for this Service for Good Friday
in the Marketplace of our home town of Epsom"
This was followed
by the well known Hymn: Blessèd Assurance Jesus is Mine, well
sung including many shoppers who swelled the numbers and helped by
Robert Leach on the keyboard which was amplified for all to hear,
We continued the
service with the Reading from St Johns
Gospel 19 verses 14–18 by Rev. Andrew Facey, Vicar of Christ Church,
Epsom Common
Now it was the
Preparation of the Passover, at about the sixth hour.
He said to the
Jews, "Behold, your King!"
They cried out,
"Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!"
Pilate said to
them, "Shall I crucify your King?"
The chief priests
answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"
Then therefore he
delivered him to them to be crucified.
So they took
Jesus and led him away.
He went out,
bearing his cross, to the place called "The Place of a Skull,"
which is called
in Hebrew, "Golgotha," where they crucified him,
and with him two
others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.
Drama then
commence by the Riding Lights Theatre Company
– ‘The Light of the World’ Sue Curtis and team
This was a
dramatic mime of the actions of normal folk and a depiction of
Christ with the narrator covering the actions and reaction of the
team miming the events. The opening scene is the figure of CHRIST,
standing towards the top of the ladder, but facing away from the
congregation, whilst the six actors bend down low
NARRATOR:
No one has
seen God.
But God
became a human being and lived among us.
He was full
of truth and light. The light has come into the world, but men loved
the darkness rather than the light because they do evil things.
And anyone
who does evil things hates the pure light and will not come to the
light, because he doesn't want his evil deeds to be shown up.
The scenes
change following the narration stage by stage to the Crucifixion.
As lovingly, CHRIST attempts to make contact but he is repelled by
the PEOPLE, who freeze into positions of perverse delight in evil
and protection of their lives from the influence of CHRIST. In the
stillness, CHRIST stretches out his hands, as if to shine in the
world despite the unresponsiveness of human hearts.
The light
shines in the darkness of the evil of men's hearts -Out of the heart
of every man comes:
Evil
thoughts, Lust, Murder, Adultery, Deceit, Envy, Scandal mongering,
Pride, Foolishness, Violence.
In the
background a drum began to beat, simulating the human heart
This is why
the heart of man must be changed
Not the
world; Not history; Not governments; Not the economic situation; Not
the Credit Crunch; Not the newspaper headlines; Not the man
next door; Not your wife; Your husband.
But YOU -
YOU - YOU - YOU - YOU.
Your life
must be changed. You must start all over again. And this is possible
because Jesus, who was perfect, died in our place. He paid the
penalty for the evil in our hearts so that we might live.
He gave the
light for the darkness.
The light shines in the darkness and the
darkness has never put it out
During the drama,
the Cross was raised and later a time of silence for reflection and
prayer ensued led by Pat Dickin and Gillaine Holland, Curates of Christ
Church and St Martin’s, Epsom respectively.
Leading onto our
second Hymn
MEEKNESS AND
MAJESTY, Manhood and Deity, in
perfect harmony, The Man who is God.
Lord of eternity
Dwells in humanity, Kneels in humility and washes our feet.
O what a mystery,
Meekness and majesty.
Bow down and
worship for this is your God, This is your God.
Father’s pure
radiance, Perfect in innocence, yet learns obedience to death on a
cross.
Suffering to give
us life, conquering through sacrifice, and as they crucify prays:
‘Father forgive.’
Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible, Love indestructible in frailty
appears.
Lord of infinity,
Stooping so tenderly, Lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne.
The short service
then closed after the final hymn with a Prayer by Father Bruno Witchalls
of St Joseph’s, Epsom and Rev. Colin Holmes from the Epsom Baptist
Church concluded with the Blessing.
The service
finished with another great favourite Hymn: To God be the Glory
TO
GOD BE THE GLORY Great things He
hath done!
So
loved He the world that He gave us His Son
After the
service, those who wished moved to the Epsom Methodist Church in Ashley
Road where hot cross buns and light refreshments were available with the
proceeds for Christian Aid.
The Cross
remained erected in the Marketplace until about 1500 hours whilst the
tent remained open for prayer and contemplation.
Our grateful
thanks to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council for allowing us to use the
marketplace, The Police for accompanying us and their excellent control
of some rather impatient motorists, Robert Leach for his skill
on the keyboard and for accompanying the hymns, Richard Martin for
amplifying the service, and Epsom Methodist Church catering team for refreshing us
afterwards.
The Cross carried by Michael Arthur (EMC),
David Payne (EBC) and Andy Tompson (EBC)
Brian Angus ensuring we all kept to the
"rules"!
Rev David Winwood with Thoughts for the Day
The rains started to descend
the Riding
Lights Theatre Company
– ‘The Light of the World’ Sue Curtis and team
Below refreshments at the Epsom Methodist Church following the Good Friday Service
raised £70 towards the work of Christian
Aid. Thank you.
Good Friday 10 April 2009 — Good Friday Walk of Witness
The March of Witness is on Good Friday.
Assemble
in the car park near the fire station by 10.00 am
for 10.10 prayers
with a
view to setting off at 10.15 am.
The short service will be in the market square and afterwards there
will be refreshments at the Epsom Methodist Church.
Initial plans for the service:-
|
Prayer in car park |
Rev. David Winwood |
|
Welcome in Market Place |
Rev. Sue Bull |
|
Introduction to reading |
Rev. Andrew Facey |
|
Dramatic reading |
Sue Curtis and team |
|
Prayers |
Rev. Pat Dicken and Rev. Gillaine Holland |
|
Closing prayer |
Father Bruno Witchalls |
|
Blessing |
Rev. Colin Holmes |
Hymns: Blessed Assurance, Meekness
and Majesty, To God be the Glory
Stewarding – We require two from each Church to be stewards who
should wear the high visibility jackets provided
or
something similar to support the police in stewarding the
procession.
Good Friday 21 March 2008 — Good Friday Walk of Witness a short report
On a dry day but with a very strong and
cold gale force wind blowing about 300 members from the Churches
Together in Epsom assemble at the car park near the Baptist Church
opposite the Fire Station.
Canon Adrian Esdaile (left) addresses the
walkers, with last minute instructions and a short prayer before the
start of the walk of witness.
Good arrangements had been made by the CTiE
team in this case lead by Juliet Galipeau
(St Joseph's)
with
Brian Angus (St Martin's)
providing much of the supporting infra structure; it was good that on my
count there were at least a dozen stewards in their bright yellow
jackets from CTiE, controlled from front and rear by the walkie talkie
team from Epsom Methodist Church.
The
Churches of Epsom follow the heavy wooden cross (carried in turn by Michael
Arthur, Adrian Heafford and Chris Shee) in a walk of witness - proceeded
along the High Street to the Market Place, the stewards in conjunction with
the Surrey Police, who were evident in numbers and controlled the traffic at
the various crossings and ensured that the walk of witness had a right of
way, so a big thank you to the Force.
In the
Market Place nearThe Assembly Rooms the congregation swelled some what with
passers by. Where a Prayer Tent, platform with audio system and keyboard had
been previously erected, a most useful van had been parked as a back drop
and this acted as a useful wind break!.
The group
then enjoyed the a short act of worship led by some of Epsom Clergy, these
being Colin Holmes (Baptist), Simon Talbot (St Martin's), Michael Preston
(St Barnabas), Bruno Witchalls (St Joseph's) and Sue Bull from St Barnabas.
The assemble group sang three well known Easter Hymns, Great isThy
faithfulness, When I survey the Wondrous Cross and Blessed Assurance, it was
just as well that Brian Angus and his sub team had provided excellent
speaker systems as the wind was very strong and we needed keyboard support!
An Easter reading (Matthew 27 verses 38 to
50) was introduced by Colin Holmes which acted as a lead in for a team from
EMC who presented in a dramatic form this well loved reading.
After the service most, at least 100 moved
to Epsom Methodist Church for Hot Cross buns and refreshments, this gave
us the opportunity to see the redevelopment of EMC, most impressive. If
you missed this opportunity then click .......here
to see some pictures of the changes.
Our
grateful thanks to:
Epsom and Borough Council for allowing us
to use the market place.
The Police for accompanying us.
Robert Leach for his skills on the keyboard
and accompanying the hymns.
Richard Martin for the amplification
system.
Epsom Methodist Church for refreshments
afterwards.****
For all of the back room team from
CTiE
**** Refreshments at the Epsom Methodist Church following the Good Friday Service
raised £115 towards the work of Christian
Aid. Thank you.
Good
Friday 21 March 2008 — Good Friday Walk of Witness
Every Good Friday Christians process from the car
park opposite Epsom fire station, along the High Street, to the Market Place.
A short service is held in the Epsom market place
Good
Friday 21 March 2008 — Good Friday Walk of Witness
The Churches of Epsom follow the cross in a
walk of witness - leaving from the car park near the Baptist Church
opposite the Fire Station and concluding with a service in the Market
Place (opposite the Assembly Rooms [outside Wetherspoon's] near the
Clock Tower above). We will proceed along the High Street to the Market
Place, where a short act of worship will be led by some of Epsom Clergy
and well known Easter Hymns will form part of the worship
A
Cross will be erected and remain in the Market Place until 3pm, also
there will be a manned Prayer Tent adjacent which will be available to
meditate or leave a prayer.
Volunteers would be welcome to help with stewarding the procession and
the prayer tent.
If you can volunteer
please leave a message...............here.
Meet
in car park from 10.00am for 10.15 departure
If
walking is difficult - join us in the Market Place at 10.30am.
Followed by Hot Cross buns and refreshments at Epsom Methodist Church.
Good Friday Procession of Witness
Good Friday Procession 2007
– There was some good feedback.
More people attended than
previously. The Policing was good. The sound system was good as was the
singing and organist. Meg Murrant expressed her gratitude to everyone who
helped. Sue Bull manned the tent from which there was good feedback. Quite a
lot of people went in for prayer and all prayers were read out at an evening
service.
Thanks was expressed to the
Methodist Church for the refreshments they provided.
