EASTER DAY is always a joyful and holy time at St Chrysostom’s. This year we felt especially blessed by God.
We gathered in the darkness of Holy Saturday evening for our wonderful Easter Vigil. This year, once again, Fliss sang the Exsultet splendidly. We also had a special version of the Easter Sermon of St John Chrysostom, (with glitter) and we were delighted to welcome Fr Jirayr of the Armenian Church to participate in our worship. Fr Jirayr gave a gift of Communion bread baked and stamped according to Armenian tradition, and this was used at the Vigil mass.
What a feast we had afterwards. An enormous selection of food given by those attending. We were able to sample dishes from Nigeria, Pakistan, Jamaica, Iraq, Guyana … and England!
Grace, with her parents and godparents
On Easter Day we had a splendid congregation for Easter Day mass – church was full! Several had travelled long distances to come for Grace’s baptism. Grace is the daughter of Lucy (Fr Ian’s daughter) and Simon. (Click on the photo to enlarge).
The joyful mass echoed the praise of the night before, and many of our visitors commented on the welcome they received and the joy of the Mass.
As at the Vigil worshippers were invited to say ‘Happy Easter’ or ‘Christ is Risen’ in their native languages – and over Easter we were greeted in Yoruba, Ibo, Arabic, Urdu, Romanian, Armenian, Chinese, Malayan, Portuguese… and more. (And Luke finished the greetings by saying it in English 🙂 ).
In the evening of Easter Day we gathered for a quiet reflective service – Benediction and Maria Consolata. It was a peaceful ending to a joyful and holy day.
Alleluia. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
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