Easter Dawn A (5th April 2026)

 

 

Bible readings: Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6,Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10

About the images:
Top Left and Lower Right
This is the little suburban lake we use for our dawn service. This is my photo and permission is given for it to be used for worship and related activities.
Top Right:
This is the brake drum fire we use to cook the bread on at our dawn service.  It leaves no mess in a suburban park. This is my photo and permission is given for it to be used for worship and related activities.

Middle Left: Making bread, cooking fish.

Middle Right: Another excellent free image form Church Galleries - see my link column at left.  This site is one of the few I gladly subscribe to; however, the site is down at present.

Lower Left:  The Sea of Galilee: this is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.   

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Note:
Most of the resources here come from services from other years. This is such an intimate service linked so much to what we are seeing and experiencing around us that I feel it is unnecessary to change much from year to year. I usually only change the bible reading, the meditation and the reflection - the rest stays as is.

Location:
Have this service near a lake or beach if possible - if you live inland, then choose a high point - if you live inland on a plain then find a nice river - if you live inland on a plain in a desert (much of Australia) then you will have plenty of beautiful places to choose from.

Poem/Meditation: I'd had Enough
By Ruth Burgess in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 79 (pictured at left).

Taize Service: Breakfast With Jesus

Found in Worship Feast: 20 Great Services in the Spirit of Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 28

Good Friday A (3rd April 2026)

 

Bible Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9, John 18:1-19:42

About the images:
Upper Left and Right and Lower Right: These images are free from the Hermano Leon site which you can find via my links at left. This is a really great lectionary based clip art site.
Middle Left: This image is free from the Image Bank site which you can find via my link at left.
Middle Right: This is a free image from the Cerezo Barredo site.  It is a little hard to navigate if you are an English speaker but he has lovely sketches such as this one accessed at the bottom of his web page sorted by lectionary year. 
Lower Left: This is a photo of the pit under the church of St Peter  Gallicantu in Jerusalem.  The plaque on the wall says:  "Excavations in 1889 uncovered 3 Byzantine crosses engraved in the orifice at the top, 7 red and 4 black oxide crosses on the walls, and the silhouette of a praying figure on the lower south wall. These findings, along with the ruins of a church and a significant number of mosaics, coins and religious objects, testify to the presence of a 5^th-century church. Prompted by the dungeon like appearance of the pit and prompted by its proximity to Caiaphas’ palace—thought to have been located in this general area—the Byzantines recalled here Jesus imprisonment overnight as he awaited trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin"

Bottom Left and Right: These are free images from the Sundaygraphx site - see my link column to the left. 

Start the service:
by projecting images from Jesus life to music. I used about 20 images and backed them with 'In Mcdonalds" by Burial on his album, Untrue (pictured at left).

Poem: The Pain of Peter
Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Norman Habel and Pro Hart, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0727017586, page 32. (pictured at right). As the title suggests, this goes with the gospel reading.

Poem: The Politics of Pilate
Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Norman Habel and Pro Hart, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0727017586, page 34 (pictured at right). As the title suggests, this goes with the gospel reading.

Listening Song: Thief
By Third Day on their album, Third Day (pictured at left). This is a song about the men on the cross with Jesus.

Listening Song: Walk Him Along
by Leigh Newton - download found at www.leighnewton.com This is basically a crucifixion song.

Drama: The Signal
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 82 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: Stages on the Way

Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 44 (pictured at right).These stages represent different aspects of Jesus' journey towards the cross as seen by a variety of bystanders.

Reading: They went Out and Followed Him
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 130 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Meditation: Voices From the Crowd
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 144 (pictured above right). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: Laying Our Burdens Down
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 163 (pictured above right). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: The Colours of Good Friday
Found in Multi-Sensory Seasons by Wendy Raynor and Annie Slade, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271757, page 29 (pictured at right). I used the George McLeod quote and put the words with images to the music of Novio by Moby on his album, Songs.

Useful music for praying/meditating:
Albinoni: Adagio in G Minor
Bach: Air on a G String
Moby: Novio
Part: Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten
Vivaldi: Largo from Flautino Concerto in C Major.

Also:

A Chapter of Resources for Good Friday: 

By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 165-206 (pictured at left). 

For Children and Families: God is Wise

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SUVictoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5 (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading. 

For Children and Families: God is for Everyone

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SUVictoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5 (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading. 

For Children and Families: God is Faithful

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SUVictoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5 (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading. 

Drama: Bad Friday
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151v1, page 84 (pictured above right). This has been written for the gospel reading.

Beautiful Illustrations of John's Gospel  connected to the Australian Outback

Found in The Gospel According to John Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Tien Wah Press, Singapore, 2013, ISBN 9780646912462, page 54-59 (pictured at left).

Poem and Painting: The Anguish of Judas

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 30 (pictured above right). These are based on the John reading. 

Poem and Painting: The Pain of Peter

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 32 (pictured above right). These are based on the John reading. 

Poem and Painting: The Politics of Pilate

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 34 (pictured above right). These are based on the John reading. 

Poem and Painting: A Chant for Killing

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 36 (pictured above right). These are based on the John reading. 

Poem and Painting: She's Hot on the Hill

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 38 (pictured above right). These are based on the John reading. 

Poem and Painting: I am a Mother

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 40 (pictured above right). These are based on the John reading. 

Poem and Painting: The Lament of Nicodemus

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 42 (pictured above right). These are based on the John reading. 

Activity: Broken Hearts

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 18 Pictured at left). This is based on the Psalm reading.

Maundy Thursday ABC (2nd April 2026)

 

 

 

Bible Readings: Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14, Psalm 116: 1-2, 12-19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13: 1-7, 31b-35 

(the same readings are used for Year A, Year B and Year C).

About the Images:

Upper Left and Right and Middle Left:  These three images come from the free Heartlight site.  See my link column at left. 

Middle Right: This is my image so you are free to use it for worship and related activities.  It has been carved in olive wood by a craftsman in Bethlehem in Palestine.  If you would like one, please contact https://starbazaar.bethbc.edu/ .  I love mine. It sits in my office where I can always see it to remind me of what real leadership is all about. 

Lower Left: This is a free image from the now defunct Imagebank site.

Lower Right: This image comes from the free Hermano Leon sitewhich also appears to be no longer working.

Bottom Left: This is a free image from the now defunct Imagebank site. 

Introductory Activity:                                                                                                 Have a small laminated footwashing picture for each person to hold throughout the service and take home afterwards. some of the images above would work well or visit www.paulajolly.com for a couple of great pencil sketches on this theme. Please abide by all copyright rules.

Response Activity:                                                                                                     This works well as a change from foot washing or when there are congregational members who have mobility difficulties. It also takes a while to do so have some meditative music playing in the background.  Pass a peeled onion around and talk about how raw onions leave a nasty reminder behind. As each person takes a turn to hold the onion ask them to think of a disappointment, a hurt or an action that they have suffered or caused.  Then pass a box of scented disposable towelettes around and ask each person to wash the hands of the person on their right. As they do so, ask them to pray for that person asking God to remove the pain or disappointment or hurt in that person's life. I am fairly sure this is my idea but lots of other people have had e a similar idea and there are numerous variations on this theme. 

Just to be a little different  at any time                                                                     I sometimes use the Matthew readings which lead up to Jesus' arrest - so our concentration was on the Last Supper rather than the foot washing.  We sat in a circle and remembered the foot washing story by serving each other communion poured from a communal jug/pitcher/bottle. We used a little more food than just the bread and reflected on betrayal and denial, grief and desertion and how each of these can be overcome by companionship and community. 

Also:

A Chapter of Resources for Maundy Thursday: 

By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 154-163 (pictured at left). 

For Children and Families: God is for Everyone

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SUVictoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5 (pictured at right) . This is based on the gospel reading. 

Drama: Love One another
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151v1, page 32 (pictured at left). This has been written for the gospel reading.

Drama: I have set you an Example

Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verona Johnson (ed) Openbook, 2002, ISBN 0859109178 (v.3), page 64 (pictured at right) . This drama is based on the Gospel reading. 

Messy Communion

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 200ff (pictured at left). This is based on the 1 Corinthians reading.

Prayer 

By Kathryn J Campbell and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 66 (pictured at right). 

Listening Song: Psalm 116

By Sons of Korah on their album Light of Life, Wordsong, 1999 (pictured at left)

Activity: Bread Prayers

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 15 (pictured at right). This is based on the 1 Corinthians reading.