Varied Easter programme planned
Easter is a very important time in the Christian calendar and this year it will be recognised in a variety of ways in Golden Bay.
On Palm Sunday, 5 April, a recording of Bach’s St Matthew Passion will play in the Sacred Heart Catholic church in Takaka. The event is the brainchild of local Bach-fiend Charles Naylor, and it grew out of an enthusiastically received U3A lecture he presented.
“The St Matthew Passion is one of the world’s greatest artistic and religious achievements,” said Charles. “It was written for two choirs, several soloists and an orchestra, so we’re unlikely to hear a live performance in Golden Bay. A recording played on good sound equipment in a great venue is the next best thing.”
Charles said that Father Edmund had “enthusiastically agreed” to the idea of the Palm Sunday performance, which begins at 2pm on 5 April. A voluntary donation of at least $5 a head is being requested to cover costs.
The Anglican, Brethren, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic churches of Takaka and Collingwood have invited everyone to join in a “Journey Through Easter” to be held between 9 and 12 April. “This will be a combination of services and gatherings that will follow, in formal and informal situations, the events of the first Easter,” said combined churches spokesperson Bob Reid.
The journey begins with a Passover meal followed by a Eucharist at Collingwood on the Thursday evening, and a Maundy Thursday service with foot-washing in the Presbyterian Church at 7.30pm. There will be a multi-media service in the Takaka Anglican Church at 10am, recalling the events of Good Friday. This will be followed by the raising of the cross on the Village Green.
A “Celebrating Life” event will be held on Takaka’s Village Green between 3pm and 5pm on Easter Sunday, 12 April.
As part of the lead-up to the event, artists are invited to join in the Easter Paint-Fest on the previous day, Saturday. Between 10am and 3pm on that day artists have the chance to create individual works in a shared space. It is hoped that finished works will be donated for the next day’s silent auction, the proceeds of which will be shared between World Vision and the Golden Bay Community Workers. There will also be a short puppet presentation, entitled Jerusalem Dragnet, a local band with several items, and a youth drama, followed by a barbecue at 5pm.
“If it’s wet we’ll use the Anglican facilities over the road from the Green,” said Mr Reid.
Neil Wilson
