Ilkeston - Lay Your Burden Down
w/e 08 April 2007
All this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490

Ilkeston Area Council of Churches' Good Friday Walk of Witness this year took the form of a silent procession through the town to a solitary drum beat with drama and hymns at various stops on the way. The theme of the witness was "We will lay our burden down at the foot of the cross of Christ". Assembly before the procession took place in St Andrew's Methodist Church with a short act of worship.

Then it was outside for the first act of drama which depicted "The Foot Washing". This followed the singing of the first two verses of "From Heaven you came" (The Servant King) and then three symbolic "burdens" were placed at the foot of the cross during the first singing of "We will lay our burden down" which would be sung at each of the stops along the way up Bath Street.

The second stop on Bath Street was outside the Derbyshire Building Society where another two verses of The Servant King were followed by drama that this time showed "The Agony In The Garden". Three more "burdens" were placed at the foot of the cross before they were placed in the cage to be hauled behind the cross further up the hill to the next stop at Lloyds TSB.

The hymn outside the bank was "There is a Redeemer" and clicking this link to YouTube will open a new window showing a short video clip captured during the singing of the hymn. The drama portrayed here showed "The Arrest" of Jesus and the betrayal by Judas Iscariot and three more "burdens" including the said "Betrayal" were added to those already at the cross.

By the Old Fountain in the Market Place, we sang "My song is love unknown" and saw the "Trial Before Pilate" before three more "burdens" were deposited whilst "We Will Lay Our Burden Down" was again aired by the assembled congregation (YouTube video link).

The procession then proceeded around the Market Place to the Garden Of Remembrance by St Mary's Church. Click here for another short video. The hymn here was "There is a green hill" and the drama "The Crucifixion" but this time as the final "burdens were deposited the complete song "We will lay our burden down" was sung. As the witness neared its conclusion, a short address was followed by another hymn "When I Survey" and all those present were invited to lay their own cross and leave their burdens at the foot of the cross. When I Survey The Wondrous Cross video link This year's event concluded at the Green Spire URC a short distance away in Wharncliffe Road where final prayers were said and refreshments enjoyed in Christian fellowship with each other.

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