Easter Reflections from the Garden Tomb Jerusalem 2013
We were so delighted when we found we would be at the Garden Tomb for Easter. We had seen the services on the web, but there is nothing as good as being there.
Palm Sunday, however, came first! We are worshipping at the historic Anglican church in Jerusalem called Christ Church. The teaching is great, the organisation is 'interesting', but it is refreshing to be part of a liturgy we are unfamiliar with. So, when we arrived on Palm Sunday, we found we were locked out! Eventually the doors were opened and the leadership led us into the church waving huge palm branches, which, of course we cannot grow in England!! There was also a trumpeter playing Hosanna. We all entered the church singing 'Hosanna in the highest!' It was a memorable occasion. In the afternoon we went to see a procession of 1000's of Christian coming down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. Palm branches waiving and people singing as they came into the city.
Easter here at the Garden Tomb is the highlight of the year and the celebrations are meticulously planned. As our director says, 'Good organisation is invisible, but bad organisation is seen everywhere'.
On Tuesday evening of Easter week, our Director's wife Rosalind, took the Volunteer Fellowship through the biblical narrative of the Easter story. We started in the Garden Tomb bunker which is prepared in case of emergency. It contains everything needed for to live for 2 weeks if there were to be chemical bombs dropped on Jerusalem! We moved all through the Garden with our lamps and torches, stopping at one place for communion, then readings and worship songs that took us through the Easter story, finally arriving at the tomb where we sang 'All hail the Lamb' as we thanked God for the risen Christ. It was a special time for us.
Good Friday dawned and the garden welcomed all who would come and share with us. The service was led by Paul and Steve Bridge the Ass. Director preached a wonderful message entitled 'The Victorious Victim'.
This was the beginning of a day of quiet reflection. People came to have personal moments of meditation and prayer in a beautiful place, thinking of the huge sacrifice made by the Lord Jesus to bring us back into relationship with God. One of the last visitors was an AOG minister called Richard. He was so surprised to see us there, as are all the other AOG ministers that arrive.
Saturday brought a visit by a Korean group who, for me, brought the resurrection atmosphere into the Garden. The strains of the old Ron Kenoly song filled the air! Hallelujah! Jesus is alive, death has lost its victory and the grave has been denied, Jesus lives forever He's alive... I danced with them because Jesus is the conqueror!
Sunday came. I just had to peep into the tomb, it was 5.45!
I wrote on FB 'The tomb is empty!' 'Phew,' said one of my respondents, 'That's a relief.'
The rush of people into the Garden at 6.15 was so exciting! It wasn't long before it was full. Seeing so many people keen to celebrate the resurrection was glorious. And it went on all morning, 3000 people coming to worship the risen Lord in our Garden. The different services reflected the styles of worship and the cultures of the people who had come. It just gave us a glimpse of what heaven sees.
Finally, as the garden was emptying and we met the Korean worship leader again. 'Will you pray for us?' he asked. What a privilege to pray the blessing of God on the lives of 2 young people.
'And Lord these 2 junior seniors want your blessing on the rest of our days too'. Was it all worth only having 1 day off Easter week? What do you think? :)
We were so delighted when we found we would be at the Garden Tomb for Easter. We had seen the services on the web, but there is nothing as good as being there.
Easter here at the Garden Tomb is the highlight of the year and the celebrations are meticulously planned. As our director says, 'Good organisation is invisible, but bad organisation is seen everywhere'.
On Tuesday evening of Easter week, our Director's wife Rosalind, took the Volunteer Fellowship through the biblical narrative of the Easter story. We started in the Garden Tomb bunker which is prepared in case of emergency. It contains everything needed for to live for 2 weeks if there were to be chemical bombs dropped on Jerusalem! We moved all through the Garden with our lamps and torches, stopping at one place for communion, then readings and worship songs that took us through the Easter story, finally arriving at the tomb where we sang 'All hail the Lamb' as we thanked God for the risen Christ. It was a special time for us.
Good Friday dawned and the garden welcomed all who would come and share with us. The service was led by Paul and Steve Bridge the Ass. Director preached a wonderful message entitled 'The Victorious Victim'.
Saturday brought a visit by a Korean group who, for me, brought the resurrection atmosphere into the Garden. The strains of the old Ron Kenoly song filled the air! Hallelujah! Jesus is alive, death has lost its victory and the grave has been denied, Jesus lives forever He's alive... I danced with them because Jesus is the conqueror!
Sunday came. I just had to peep into the tomb, it was 5.45!
Finally, as the garden was emptying and we met the Korean worship leader again. 'Will you pray for us?' he asked. What a privilege to pray the blessing of God on the lives of 2 young people.
'And Lord these 2 junior seniors want your blessing on the rest of our days too'. Was it all worth only having 1 day off Easter week? What do you think? :)
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