United Reformed Church in Cheltenham
Easter 2008

Prestbury 

The Parish Cross

As part of the Bishop of Gloucester's initiative to raise the profile of Easter, St Mary's and Prestbury URC   jointly raised  a Cross on Palm Sunday outside the URC in Deep Street where it could be seen by the many people passing along the busy street. Both Churches are extremely grateful to Mike Aldridge for making such a fine Cross 

The unfortunate weather curtailed our plans to walk in procession up Mill Street and down the High Street, but again the church was filled to capacity with members of our congregations for a brief service from Maz and Fr Daniel whilst the Cross was erected outside. When people left the church they were able to touch the Cross. This year the Cross will be even more visible in that it is floodlit at night.

The Cross on the move followed by Celebrate!

Touching the Cross on the way out
The Floodlit Cross and palms
 

On Good Friday we came together again to place the Crown of Thorns on the Cross.

On Easter Sunday the Cross was adorned with a Garland of Flowers to symbolise the Resurrection.

 

Prestbury St Mary’s Infants School Prayer Maze

Wednesday the 12th March might well be remembered as the day the races were cancelled but some of us will remember it for a different reason - the Easter Prayer Maze.

 On the Tuesday afternoon a group of people from the URC and St Mary’s CofE set up 5 prayer stations at St Mary’s church. Each station depicted a part of the Easter story starting with a Palm road, a table set for the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane , Good Friday represented by St Nicolas’ Christmas tree cross and Easter Sunday represented by a beautiful spring walk leading to the tomb.  

 The children went round the church in small groups of up to 6 children supported by a parent or teacher helper. Each prayer station was “manned” by someone from the Open the Book team or a School Governor.  The children had the opportunity to experience prayer through their senses by doing a number of different activities ranging from lying quietly and listening to bird song and music, making Playdoh crosses to lay at the foot of the cross, drawing pictures on pebbles and seeing and smelling the signs of new life.  

 Each child was offered a small Fairtrade Easter egg as they left the church to remind them that Jesus died so that we can have a fresh start through him.  A special thanks to all those who gave up their time to give the children an opportunity to meet with God through prayer.

Prayer Maze Comments - Y2 6 – 7 year olds

‘I felt really excited when we were asked to think about our hopes and dreams and then draw a picture on a stone. I drew a picture of me as a teacher because that’s what I hope to be’.

 ‘I liked sitting in the garden. It was very quiet and I felt peaceful inside. I could hear the birds singing and I thought this is what it must have been like when Jesus was there with his friends’.

 ‘The birds singing in the garden made me think about spring time and all the daffodils I saw on my way to church. I also thought about how happy everyone was when Jesus had risen on Easter Sunday’.

 ‘As I was making my cross out of Playdoh, I thought about some of the things that made me feel sad. Then I thought about the things which made me feel happy’.

 ‘I liked finding lots of Easter eggs and I also liked choosing an egg to eat at the end of our visit to church. Mine lasted all the way back to school and it was yummy’.