May 9th, 2022Easter musings from St Andrews Creswick

St Andrews Uniting Church Creswick celebrated meaningful and thought-provoking worship services during Holy Week and Easter Day. Reverend Rosemary Carter led these services with input and planning from some congregation members.

The first worship was a Tenebrae service, remembering the final hours of Jesus’ life. We were each given a plate of sampled Passover food, a Seder Plate that gave meaning to the suffering and struggles of the Jewish people. The service concluded in darkness and silence.
The Good Friday service held at Clunes was a reflective service on the crucifixion. An Ecumenical walk followed by the Stations of the Cross concluded with hot cross buns to sustain us.
Easter Day started with a dawn service at 6.30am at St Georges Lake. We gathered around a welcoming fire, an empty cross and joy in our hearts as we shared a breakfast of fish just as the risen Jesus did with his friends.
The Easter Service back at St Andrews was a happy relaxed time, with a large group of visitors from Melbourne joining us in the Flowering of the Cross. Three women told of their surprise and excitement when they saw the empty tomb and knew the truth that Jesus had risen. The flowering of an old rugged cross symbolised new life and joy.

• Joan Sargeant and Shirley Symes