Experience Easter in Wythenshawe! 

During Lent (in the second half of the spring term) we decided to put on Experience Easter as a Team Project, and invited five of the Wythenshawe Primary Schools to come and take part. 

Years five and six children, numbering over 250 in total, came to William Temple Church over a two week period, and were led through the most tumultuous and adventure-filled week of Jesus’ earthly life, from the events of Palm Sunday, through washing the disciples’ feet, the Last Supper, being alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, and leading up to Good Friday and the Resurrection. 

There were over twenty-five helpers involved over the fortnight from all the team churches; some who had never worked with children or done anything ‘up front’ in church before! 

All ‘mucked in’ and helped putting together the six displays in advance, and most got involved on the days, helping lead the different stations. 

It was really breathtaking to see so many people coming out of themselves and offering so much of themselves to the children. Some of the children were visibly moved by the whole experience. 

One school reported that some Year 5 boys who had been causing problems at school began to talk to the teachers about how they were feeling when they got back to school. This was a direct result of them opening up in their groups at Experience Easter!

We all feel Experience Easter has been extremely worthwhile, and one Team Vicar even said it was ‘by far the best piece of team ministry she had been involved with to date’! 

We aim to build on the positive relationships made with all the schools through this mission initiative in the very near future, and maybe even try something similar, like Experience Harvest or Pentecost!

For all of us, this has re-energised our experience of Lent, Holy Week and Easter; and, more to the point, it has renewed our zeal for the Gospel: and, for many, it has alsodeepened their personnl walk with the Lord.