The sweet smell of bread-making pervaded the last church service of 2012 in the North Bradford Circuit of the Methodist Church. For three hours the participants mixed, poured and kneaded flour, oil, yeast, honey, slat and water while singing, meditating, discussing and praying. The oil, for example, was olive oil from the Palestinian Occupied Territories. There was much merriment over the stickiness of the dough and over the carrying of water on the participant's heads from the kitchen to enact how water is brought for cooking in many areas of the world. Finally, the bread was cooked in a completely full oven and then eaten with a liberal spreading of Yorkshire butter and quince jam made from fruit out of Baildon Methodist Church garden. Everyone shared part of their loaves with others.
Today’s the day - everything is changed. Death’s cave is empty, save linen cloth as calling card for Love. That life has won, and hope’s made whole, thank God! Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed, Alleluia! Holy and risen Lord, we come to worship you on this special Easter Day. We thank you for all you have done for us. We lift our eyes to honour you, living Lord Jesus. You have overcome death; fill us with your joy and new life. Amen You might like to read, sing or listen to an Easter hymn. Perhaps Christ the Lord is risen today, or Low in the grave he lay (H&P 193/202, StF 298/305). This is perhaps the strangest Easter Sunday we have experienced in most of our lifetimes. Not able to gather as God’s people on this holiest of days. Not able to spend time with family and friends. Not able to visit dale or coast. Yet even as restrictions bite, we affirm God’s love in Christ Jesus, and seek to help each other hear the Easter message. We gather in ...
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