Ilkeston - Choices
w/e 16 April 2017
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
The Sunday before Easter of course was Palm Sunday and the service
at St Mary's began outside the main entrance with the congregation
holding aloft palm crosses.
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As well as the normal services there were others every day during
Holy Week with Compline on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, a Maundy
Thursday service and on Good Friday, Christians of all denominations
gathered in the church at the start of the annual Silent Walk
of Witness.
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After the service the congregation re-assembled in the Market
Place and before starting the walk, there was a reading, a dramatic
presentation and the hymn "There is a Green Hill" was
sung.
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The procession proceeded to Bath Street via the Lower Market
Place.
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There were several stops on the route and the first of these
was in the Lower Market Place where there was another reading,
dramatic presentation and the singing of the hymn "When
I Survey".
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Continuing slowly, the procession snaked down Bath Street in
silence apart from the beat of a solitary drum.
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The dramatic presentations were by Contagious, a youth led worship
group who put a modern day slant on the events of 2000 years
ago. Near the entrance to the Albion Centre the presentation
was followed by the singing of "Amazing Grace".
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The theme of this year's Walk of Witness was "Choices"
and placards illustrated the theme with words and symbols saying
"Love or Hate", "War or Peace", "Hope
or Fear" and "Happy or Sad". There were also others
imploring "Choose Jesus".
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The walk concluded at St Andrew's Methodist Church with another
dramatic performance by the youngsters. Although the crucifixion
is no laughing matter, the talented youngsters certainly brought
a smile to many a face with their enthusiastic performances.
The walk was brought to a close here with Sydney Carter's "I
danced in the morning" and then the walkers were invited
into St Andrew's for refreshments.
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The walkers were given another choice on Easter Day as there
was a Dawn Service in the ruins of Dale Abbey but as this was
at 6am we chose to go to the Holy Communion service later in
St Mary's.
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