Light of the world

Here are a few pictures from our Good Friday and Easter Sunday services.

Last year we did a series from Leviticus and one of the things that comes through from a lot of the OT ceremonies is how they appeal to all of the senses.

And I think that in some church traditions too many babies have been thrown out with too much bathwater. 

This Easter I thought I would make use of a wooden cross that I made a few years ago out of a long piece of decking. The cross piece swivels round 90 degrees to make it easier to transport when I want to use it in school assemblies etc.

The Christmas tree lights remind us that Jesus is the light of the world and their position on the cross links with the line from the hymn 'When I survey the wondrous cross' that says 'see from his head, his hands and feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down'.

During the service the lights were turned off and the lights and the material were removed and the cross was placed on the floor. By way of a response to the crucifixion we each literally nailed something we had written to the cross.

This may have been a thank you, or a sorry, or a hope or a dream. It may have been a prayer. But these were hammered into the cross. And so for a few minutes in the service there was the sound of hammering - and as people discovered: light taps with the hammer are no use if you want to get the nails into the wood. You need to take the hammer back and give the nail a really good blow to get it into the wood.

Later, after the service, and in preparation for Easter Sunday, each of the nails was removed. In the place of each nail mark a hole was drilled. Then the lights were fed through the holes from the back.

For those who were at both services, and who noticed the various connections between this cross and the how it was on Good Friday, I am sure this Easter Sunday image will have spoken to different people in different ways.

At it's most simple the lights were back on - Jesus is alive.

Then there is the visual reminder of how Jesus is able to take our weaknesses and our failings and shine through them.

Maybe you have some thoughts to add...