Instead of the usual way of the cross, there was this inter-denominational 'Walk of witness' this morning. It was a joint venture of the three churches in Chertsey: the Catholic, the Anglican and the Community Church.
Unlike the grand processions or even the simple ones I've been part of this was hardly a walk! From the Chertsey Abbey fields to Sainsbury and from there to St Peter's for the final service. We commenced with a hymn, an short reflection (3 mins) at Sainsbury and a hymn, then turned round towards St Peter's. At St Peter's there was a service, a 'long' (by any English standards) service about Adam and Christ. For once, the hymns were more lively and resounding.
For a combined service, the total of 100 people was too little. I guess most preferred to pray at home!! Anyway, most people kept chatting along the walk, which by the way was not more than 20 minutes. But there were quite a few elderly who struggled to walk, but walked all the way round. That was quite inspiring. I think this is the first time in my life that I've not participated in a community way of the cross - not that I didn't, there wasn't one! This walk of witness was the closest, for this year.
For that matter, I remembered the Procession Bah of Shillong. Lakhs of people walking in perfect silence, at times singing, praying ... all very devout and in a prayerful mood. Karunapuram and Kondadaba too there is the way of the cross and procession, but the former has mostly students who always know not what is going on, except that everyone is walking in lines. And as is the case with children, they have to have some fun while walking in lines!
Unlike the grand processions or even the simple ones I've been part of this was hardly a walk! From the Chertsey Abbey fields to Sainsbury and from there to St Peter's for the final service. We commenced with a hymn, an short reflection (3 mins) at Sainsbury and a hymn, then turned round towards St Peter's. At St Peter's there was a service, a 'long' (by any English standards) service about Adam and Christ. For once, the hymns were more lively and resounding.
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| St Peter's Church, Chertsey |
For that matter, I remembered the Procession Bah of Shillong. Lakhs of people walking in perfect silence, at times singing, praying ... all very devout and in a prayerful mood. Karunapuram and Kondadaba too there is the way of the cross and procession, but the former has mostly students who always know not what is going on, except that everyone is walking in lines. And as is the case with children, they have to have some fun while walking in lines!
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