Easter 2007

This Easter has been one of real contrasts, and perhaps because of the variety of the training situation, possibly quite unique.

On Palm Sunday we completed our final preaching placement at Clapton. We have really enjoyed this placement - a very chaotic, unpredictable inner city church, and God has shown us new things about what it means to lead His people. A lively upbeat all-age service, with lots of interaction - a good way to start Holy Week.

Holy Week itself at William Booth College has been very special these last two years. An enormous cross is suspended from the ceiling of the Assembly Hall, and we meet every morning for an hour's meditation, sat in a circle around the cross. Much to think about and, as always, within the WBC community we minister to each other - through drama, dance, music, readings, shared prayer and story.

Good Friday saw the usual two public meetings at the college, again around the cross in the Assembly Hall. A highlight for me and many others was a dance item that presented the events of Calvary in a way that is hard to describe in words, but helped make a significant connection. During the afternoon of Good Friday we went to the nearby Ruskin Park for an outreach event, working closely with some of the other local churches. The band played on the newly refurbished bandstage, a short worship service was held, a special children's ministry area was set up where children in the park could have fun, as well as be told the Easter story in a way that was accessible to them, and coffee and hot cross buns were given out to the public. Someone counted around 250 people at one point, and a number of people made their way to the evening meeting as a result. A fantastic opportunity, great to be part of it, and God really used the efforts of all involved. My time as college bandmaster will soon come to an end, and this event will remain in my memory as one of the most productive open air initiatives I have ever been part of.

Easter Saturday and Sunday is time away for most cadets - one of the few times we work in small teams around the country, and one of the only times we get to work with the other session. Lynley and I were part of a team that went to Forestdale, near Croydon, South London. On the Saturday morning we ran a children's event in the local playground, near to the school where the Forestdale corps worships. The corps had run a holiday club during the week and this was intended to provide some continuity for the holiday club children continuing their links with the corps into Easter Sunday. A very busy morning mostly led by Lynley with a variety of games and, of course, an Easter egg hunt.

Easter Sunday morning we were back at Forestdale to lead their Easter worship. A chaotic, interactive all-age service - informal but meaningful to be part of. The evening was a complete contrast, as some of us went on to Croydon Citadel to lead their evening worship. Croydon is more traditional, more formal and almost the other end of the spectrum to Forestdale. It was a privilege to be part of the team, and a privilege to preach at Croydon.

In all the contrast of a busy week, the central truths are the same. We preach Christ, and Him crucified... but He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!