Good Friday
Nestlings chirred in the bushes as a cross-carrier for the Priory Good Friday Walk of Witness, trotted from the Priory to the Walk’s start point by Malvern Parish School.
Past crimson floating fallen camellia blooms on Priory Park lake. At speed past other pedestrians, either surprised by or oblivious to her mission. Downhill, ever downhill she went, arriving at least 15 seconds before the first walkers began to gather. Numbers grew; friends old and new, visitors for Easter; all united by the starting prayer, then a more dignified procession uphill, gathering new pilgrim walkers as they walked.
Cross-carriers converged on the Priory churchyard from across Malvern for the Churches Together Act of Witness. Hundreds of Christians of all denominations sang, prayed and listened to the message of Good Friday and Easter. A sudden burst of wind whipped and swirled the churchyard trees, buffeting the microphones, giving a real sense of the Spirit moving.
The Priory Hot Cross Bun Team laid on the annual spread, with tea and coffee for all in the Lyttelton Rooms after the service. ‘Go in through the left door and out by the right’ the Vicar instructed before giving the final blessing, waving his arms enthusiastically.
Meanwhile in the Priory, the Three Trees of the Three Trees activity were moving from St Giles’ Chapel to the Nave, to star in the first hour of the Three Hours. As the Vicar read the Tale of the Three Trees, so the congregation first felt through the hay of the manger to find a ‘little Jesus’ each. They decorated and placed boats on the ‘lake’ with Jesus’ fishing boat and put their prayers on the cross. The Junior Choristers, accompanied by the Organ Scholar, sang ‘We you there when they crucified my Lord’ and the congregation were led in prayer by a family group. As the service ended, and the singers for the Second Hour arrived, so the trees were whisked back to St Giles’, their temporary home being evidenced only by a few wayward wisps of hay from the manger.
Sin and Love was the theme of the Second Hour, with profound Bible and poetry readings, supported by powerful singing from the Praise Group - a solo voice cutting through the shafts of sunlight streaming onto the ancient Priory walls ‘at the foot of the cross’. Visitors stopped. Sitting, unexpectedly to listen, to worship and be moved.
The Priory Singers led the music of the Final Hour, with Bible readings, prayers and hymns telling the Good Friday story. The final reading, from Mark’s Gospel ended - ‘He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb’. It must have seemed so final. Jesus’ death seemed to be The End.
‘Ecce quomodo moritur justus’ the choir sang ‘Behold how the righteous man dies’. The congregation left in silence, stepping out into the blustery Spring afternoon. To reflect, but not in sadness and despair as Jesus’ first followers had, but instead in hope; knowing that Good Friday was not The End.
The promise of the resurrection and joy of Easter Day draws closer.
