Both churches celebrated Good Friday today. It was indeed a good Friday.

Each church started with its own celebration in church; Kemsing had an all-age service, at which we thought of the wonder of the great exchange. Jesus took our sin on himself, so that the barrier between us and God might be removed forever. Woodlands had a service of readings and prayers. People from both churches then met at the cross on Green Hill for an open-air service. The Bible reading here was the closing verses of Isaiah 53, where we learn what the death of Jesus achieved: Lots of people have their sins forgiven, lots of people made right with God, Jesus became the greatest man ever to have lived.

We then had planned to have hot cross buns in Kemsing Church Hall. Not easily deterred, we moved this 20 yards to the east. Hot cross buns were warmed at the back of the church; tea, coffee and squash was served; people enjoyed one another's company in the April sunshine - sitting on benches in the churchyard or standing on the recently cut grass.

Good Friday closed for us with our 90 minute service of service and reflection in Kemsing Church. The vicar and our 3 readers led short meditations around 4 of Jesus' sayings from the cross; the choir sang items (mostly from Mendelssohn); there were 4 congregational hymns, and some prayers and responsive anthems for us to join in together. Throughout were short periods of silence to give each person space to pray and to reflect.

It was a good Good Friday. Do join us on Easter Day!