Abbey celebrates Easter!
19-04-2010 11:25
Easter Day at Wymondham Abbey marked the culmination of an incredibly busy Holy Week, with the Abbey full for all four services, with a good number of visitors, new faces, and families.
Despite concerns about the weather, a blustery Palm Sunday heralded a week of intense activity for the clergy, staff, and volunteers, with eucharists twice-daily on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Maundy Thursday brought the beginning of the 'Sacred Triduum' (Holy Three Days), with the Mass of the Last Supper, commemorating the Institution of the Eucharist by Christ with His disciples in the Upper Room, with a watch in front of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night. Good Friday included an ecumenical procession of witness through Wymondham, organised by Churches Together, with the Abbey holding the traditional Three Hours' Devotion in the afternoon. Holy Saturday was a day of preparation, with many volunteers putting in great effort to decorate the Abbey for Easter. In the evening, the Vigil and Service of Light at 8.30pm heralded the Resurrection of Christ, and after a solemn setting of the Easter song of Joy, the Exsultet, 'Alleluia!' was proclaimed with great joy and ceremony! An early start the next day, however, was necessary in order to fit in all the services for Easter Day itself.
Yet again, Holy Week and Easter was a great success, and suitably marked the most important festival of the Churches' year. Quite simply, this could not have been done without the many hours of preparation and work by the volunteers, staff, musicians, and ChurchWardens - thank you!