Dyffryn Clwyd

Well the time is almost upon us… the final stage of our Lenten journey as we cross the threshold into Holy Week…

But before we do there’s still a bit going on with confirmation class tonight and school Easter services on Friday as the kids break up for the holidays…

Then on Saturday at 4pm there’s a chance to come and pray the Stations of the Cross in Llanbedr Church.

Then on Sunday… I must admit I’m looking forward to it, since the day I arrived in Dyffryn Clwyd people told me of the grand affair that Palm Sunday was here, with all our churches truly coming together, processing form different places to join with a donkey in the centre of town for the Passion Gospel and then up to Llanfwrog to share the Eucharist together. Thanks to the Pandemic I have yet to experience this despite being here for 2 years! So I look forward to seeing everyone gathered from all our churches, it should be quite the occasion and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem than by us all finally being able to come together and hear our loud HOSANNA’S ring out across the vale. 

We begin at 9.30am in Llanfair, Llanrhydd & Llanbedr

10.30am In the Square in Ruthin 

Aiming to be in Llanfwrog by 11.15am

Our newsletter is a little different this week, as there will be a single booklet for our Palm Sunday journey with all the readings and hymns in it so we haven’t put the reading on the newsheet, instead the 2nd page details all that is happening across Holy Week and Easter Day… and it does need an entire page! There is something every day of the week, and something to suit everyone, from Seder Suppers, pilgrimage walks, family activities, dramatic presentations and of course the big liturgies of the Triduum, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I do hope you will try to attend as much as possible over the week, but if you can only make it to one thing, then make it a Good Friday service. It can be difficult to face standing at the foot of the cross, but to be a follower of Christ means going to that place of agony and despair because without it Easter Sunday has no meaning at all.

On Holy Saturday, as is the tradition in Dyffryn Clwyd, we will gather together in Llanfair at 8pm to hold the vigil and 1st Mass of Easter. Each church that makes up our mission area will be expected to bring their Pashcal Candle to be blessed and we light them together from the new Easter Fire and dip them in the font as a symbol of our unity in Christ. Last year this was done with only wardens as we were limited on space, but this year we will again be able to gather everyone as the family of faith. 

And then on to Sunday… and we begin the 50 days of Celebration!

Although on Easter Monday… there might be some tired clergy who barely make it out of bed…