Category Archives: religion

Abingdon Passion Play – 12 days to go

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Abingdon Passion Play
On Palm Sunday at 2pm in the Abbey Gardens the Abingdon Passions Play will begin and run for about 2 hours.

The play needed a Donkey and one was found one thanks to an appeal and article in the Abingdon Herald.
Abingdon Passion Play
They needed Roman Soldiers and now some have been found thanks to the Can Do Martial Arts who will swap kimonos for tunics and armour.

There will be choirs and bands – lots of community groups will take part. There will be performers, and a crowd.

The crowd can start to mingle from 1pm on Palm Sunday when the Abbey Gardens will become Jerusalem and Abingdon -> Abingammergau. Each scene will take place in a different location within the Abbey Gardens: from Jesus’ triumphal entry on the donkey, his arrest and false trial, and finally his crucifixion and the resurrection. The crowd can follow the action as it unfolds.

In the case of heavy rainfall the performance will take place in St Helen’s Church.

Blessing of the Waters of the River Thames

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Blessing of the Waters
This morning St Helen’s Church began their 10:30 am service on St Helen’s Wharf. The service was the “Blessing of the Waters & festival of the Baptism of Christ”. The Blessing of the waters is an ancient tradition but this could be the first time it has been done beside the River Thames in Abingdon.
Blessing of the Waters
The service began with the congregation gathered on the wharf. They were then joined by the officiants and choir processing with the cross.
Blessing of the Waters
The Rector then greeted everybody… “Dear Friends in Christ, we gather today to celebrate the Baptism of Christ…”
Blessing of the Waters
After a hymn, some prayers, and bible readings, water was brought up from the River Thames and poured into the holy water bucket and then carried back to the church for the rest of the service.

Live Adventurously

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Live Adventurously
It is always good to see the Quakers in town. Today, just near the Market Place, their blue banner toned well.
Live Adventurously
They were giving out literature to let people know something about what they do.

Unlike most churches they have no formal hymns or prayers or sermons.  They have no priest or minister. During their meetings people sit mostly in silence. An hour of silence may sound impossible but it quickly passes.  It leads some to meditate. Others just unwind and see things differently for an hour.
Live Adventurously
Beside the bible they have a small book called ‘advice and queries’ with thoughts that The Quakers, or Friends, as they are also called, have found important over the years. One is … Live adventurously. When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community?

They meet at the Abbey Centre (aka The Health and Well Being Centre off Audlett Drive) on Sunday at 10:15 for about an hour.

Experience Easter

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Experience Easter
Between March 22nd – 25th, 500 people visited Trinity Church in Abingdon to Experience Easter. Along with a series of other activities, they wrote hopes and dreams on palm crosses.

The 500 children and adults that came into the church were transported thousands of miles and thousands of years back to Jerusalem at Passover. The event was staffed by over thirty volunteers from churches all over Abingdon and run by TrinityLearning.
Experience Easter
I know one person who has not been eating chocolate during lent. Easter Sunday will  be the day she can finally break the fast.  Two days to go.