Holy Week and Easter 2022

Holy Week

Holy Week is the name given to the week beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday. We offer services on each day of Holy week

We are delighted to announce that the Rev'd (Maj) Mark Bezerra Speeks will be our Holy Week preacher this year. Mark teaches Ethics at Shrivenham College; is a chaplain of the Honourable Artillery Company and is studying for a doctorate at Oxford University.

Palm Sunday 10th April

On Palm Sunday Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to crowds and cheers. The crowds waved palm branches and covered his path with them. Churches remember this with crosses made from palm leaves which we take home as a reminder. Please do join us for one of these services

• 09 15 St John the Baptist, Curbridge
• 09 15 St John the Evangelist, Hailey
• 09 15 St Kenelm’s, Minster Lovell
• 10 45 Holy Trinity, Witney
• 10 45 St Mary’s, Witney
• 16 00 Minster Lovell Hall
  

Monday to Wednesday during Holy Week

The Rev'd (Maj) Mark Bezerra Speeks will then be preaching at these Holy Week services

• Monday 11th April, 7 30pm at Holy Trinity, Witney
• Tuesday 12th April, 7 30pm at St Kenelm’s, Minster Lovell
• Wednesday 13th April, 7 30pm at St John the Evangelist, Hailey

Maundy Thursday 14th April

Maundy Thursday is the day when we remember Jesus sharing the Last Supper with his disciples before his death. Maundy Thursday gets its name from the Latin word mandare meaning to command. We remember Jesus' command: 'Love one another as I have loved you'.

At the Last Supper Jesus washed the disciples' feet. This is not only an important reminder of the nature of Jesus, who we serve, but also the kind of service we are meant to demonstrate in our love for one another.

Please join us at Saint Mary’s Witney on Maundy Thursday, 6.15pm supper with Bishop Gavin (please sign up with office@witneyparish.org.uk ) and Service presided at by the Bishop of Dorchester at 7.30pm.

Good Friday 15th April

Good Friday is the day when Christians remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Please join us for a service at St Mary’s starting at 2 00pm

Holy Saturday 16th April

The Easter Vigil is the first service of Easter and begins sometime on the evening of Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Day) at 8 00pm. The service will contain a number of readings from the Bible, and also an opportunity for all the participants to renew the promises made at their baptism. The Easter Vigil is usually a quiet and thoughtful service, but one full of joy.

Easter Sunday 17th April

We celebrate with these services

• 09 15 St John the Baptist, Curbridge
• 09 15 St John the Evangelist, Hailey
• 09 15 St Kenelm’s, Minster Lovell
• 10 45 Holy Trinity, Witney
• 10 45 S Mary’s, Witney

From Easter Day onwards

Easter Day marks the beginning of 50 days of celebrating Jesus' resurrection. The final 10 days begin on Ascension Day, Thursday 26 May where we celebrate Jesus' ascension into heaven. There is a 10 00 service at St John the Evangelist, Hailey

Finally, at the end of the 50 days, we celebrate Pentecost (sometimes called Whitsun) when Jesus' disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit.