A 40-day journey through the prayer Jesus taught his followers - one which continues to shape the lives of Christians across the world.

Each day provides you with a short Bible reflection, an invitation to pray and a suggestion for responding to the vision of the Lord's Prayer itself.

We are inviting the whole Church to take 40 days this Easter season to explore this prayer in still deeper ways. Take time each day to be still, to offer to God the pain and suffering around us and within us, to reflect on each line of the prayer and to pray with others across the world the words our risen Lord has taught us.

This will be an Easter season like no other as the world endures the coronavirus pandemic. Each day we will pray the familiar words: Our Father, give us this day our daily bread, forgive us, deliver us from evil. We will pray them with a new and ever deeper understanding.

Archbishop Justin Welby      Archbishop John Sentamu

https://www.churchofengland.org/easterpilgrim

Luke 24: 1-12 - The Garden – Easter Morning

It was early one Sunday morning. I saw women going to the tomb where someone had been placed after death. As usual, the women were carrying spices to anoint the body.

Suddenly I heard a shriek which cut into the silence of the morning. The tomb was empty! I could see for myself – behind the women – it was open and empty. As the women were staring at the tomb, two people in dazzling white robes appeared. I could see the women were frightened – I was too! They bowed down in awe of the messengers. “He has risen from the dead,” the dazzling men said. The women, recovering from their shock, ran off – to tell their friends, I presume.

I followed them – they told a group of men and they didn’t believe the women (typical men!). one man ran off to the tomb to see if it was true. When he found the tomb empty, he went away puzzled. This suddenly wasn’t just any normal Sunday morning…this would change things forever.

Margaret B

Posted by St Paul's Carlton on Friday, 10 April 2020

John 19: 25 - Golgotha through the eyes of Mary Magdalene

How could it end this way? How can we carry on without Him? He is irreplaceable.

Wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, love – all the things He was – obliterated and counted as nothing, beaten and crucified alongside common criminals. Where were all those who shouted “Hosanna” just a few days ago? Do they realise what they have done?

My life was a mess, I deserved nothing of goodness, but He restored my dignity, gave me a new life.

A life giver, whose own life has been cruelly taken away.

It should have been me.

Margaret K

John 19: 23-27 - A mother’s grief

The spectators on the hill were jeering and hurling abuse. I wanted to protest that my son was innocent, that this was all a terrible mistake, but I couldn’t speak. Pain, like a sword, was piercing my heart.

Jesus was only 33 years-old, a wonderful, caring man. How could he deserve this?

We stood huddled in a group at the foot of His cross. The soldiers had moved away to play dice. The prize was my son’s robe.

I saw the wounds where the nails had been driven into His hands. I wanted to wipe away the blood just as I had done whenever Jesus hurt Himself as a child. I longed to put my arms around Him to comfort Him. But, this time, my son was out of my reach.

“Look after my mother, John,” Jesus gasped. Typical! He always thought of others before His own needs.

I turned away as tears streamed down my face.

Kathy

Posted by St Paul's Carlton on Thursday, 9 April 2020

Posted by St Paul's Carlton on Thursday, 9 April 2020

John 13: 6-10 - The Passover meal – Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.

When the Passover meal was about to be served, Jesus suddenly stood up and began to wash the feet of one disciple after another. I was astonished. That was a servant’s job! Jesus stands in front of me – the outspoken and impetuous one.

“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” I ask. “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but later you will”, Jesus says. “No! you will never wash my feet,” I blurt out. “Unless I do, you have no part in Me,” He replies.

I don’t understand but I know Jesus is talking about more than washing feet. I left my fishing business to follow Him. I have left my wife and family for these three years to travel around with Him. No part with Him! What does He mean? Then I look into His face, into His eyes and I see hurt, sadness and sorrow but, more powerful than that, I see overwhelming love. I see it in His face, I read it in His eyes – an amazing love beyond what I have ever known.

“Wash me, feet, hands, head…” but Jesus tells me, “Just your feet. You are clean but not everyone here is.”

I’m locked into that moment when I looked into His face and saw the depth of wonderful, amazing love those eyes held for me, a love that knows not only my past but my future and sees my heart. Oh! My heart says I want to be part of Him forever, to follow Him wherever and whatever. That supreme look of love will always change my life.

Christine S

Luke 22: 1-6 - Judas

You would call me a Nationalist. I had seen things as a child that made me want to kill every Roman I set my eyes on.

I suppose the Jewish nation I wanted, and was willing to fight for, and the Kingdom of God Jesus talked about were different things.

Jesus was a powerful speaker. With my contacts and His pulling power we could have been as great as the Maccabees, and returned Israel to its proper place. He could have persuaded the nation to rise up and fight.

But no, he wanted to change people from the inside – new hearts and “Love your enemies” – and riding on a donkey into Jerusalem made it clear He was on a peace mission.

It should have been a horse with attitude.

What He needs is a push, put in a position where He must show His power. I think a little word with the Chief Priest and his friends, might get me what I want – Israel in power like the old days.

Geoff

Matthew 21: 12-17 - The Temple

It’s so hot today and my condition is getting worse. Not far to go now. I am going to the Temple, hoping to see one of the Elders.

I’m here now, but it’s so noisy. People are selling their wares and shouting. Lots of money is changing hands. I can see the Elders standing around the edge…perhaps I can get to them this way.

WAIT… there is something happening over there! That man is turning tables over and shouting that this is a House of Prayer. I turn to someone standing near me, “Please, who is that man?”

He replies, “It is Jesus who we have heard performs miracles and spreads the word of God.”

I, too, have heard about this man.

The Temple is in chaos. My friend says Jesus is over there healing the sick. I strain my neck to try and see what’s happening and offer up a prayer for those sick people. I know what it is like to be ill.

But, WAIT…Jesus is now leaving those people and is heading my way…

Dorothy

John 12: 1-8 - A house in Bethany

I was so excited that Jesus had accepted our invitation to come to dinner. Our guests arrived, weary from their long journey and hungry. My sister, Martha, was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches to the meal, so I greeted them.

I chose to sit at Jesus’ feet as I listened to Him recounting His latest run-ins with the Sanhedrin. As I sat, I gently massaged His tired feet with some precious perfumed oil I had been saving, and it’s smell filled the whole house.

As I gazed into His kind eyes, my tears began to flow and I wiped them away with my hair – ignoring the stares of the men at my uncovered head.

I knew the oil was used to prepare a body for burial and, although I did not know that Jesus would soon be crucified, I had felt impelled to carry on. Judas muttered that I was wasting precious oil which could have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defended my actions saying that the poor will always be with us but we will not always have Him.

Marina

Mark 11: 1-11 – The procession to Jerusalem

I heard that Jesus and His disciples would be travelling to Jerusalem.

I rose early that morning and went to join the crowd who had started gathering. It was hot and dusty and people were getting very excited. Everyone looked very colourful in their best garments. I carried with me some reeds which I had cut from a field on the way.

In the distance I could hear singing and shouting and I pushed forward to get a better view. As the procession came closer, we placed our branches on the road and watched as Jesus, riding on a donkey, passed by.

People were waving palms and shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David” and “Hosanna in the highest.”

What a wonderful day! I had seen Jesus and will always remember Him.

I went home feeling blessed and very happy.

Averil

Here are some very poignant drawings by our organist, Lynne Faulkner. We will be using these each day of holy week with a reflection from scripture by a member of the congregation as a meditation.

Throughout this week, we are thinking of what leads up to the cross and what his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection means to us.

The enormity of the events and its final resolution are the basis of our faith and may bring us to saying sorry and then thankful praise. It can help some of us to have quiet music on whilst doing these prayers or others might prefer to do their meditation in silence.

Sunday Message from Wendy

Posted by St Paul's Carlton on Sunday, 5 April 2020