Unity at the Cross

Every Good Friday evening, at 8pm, there is an ecumenical service here at the Abbey...called Unity at the Cross...except for the last few years, I have attended it most years. In fact, on many occasions, as different groups are invited to take the service, I have been part of it: performing a solo dramatic piece as Jesus' mother Mary; directing a piece of theatre, as part of Peter, the musical I co-wrote and directed, was performed one year; and another time I was leading the singing and music group...it was always a busy time of year, with rehearsals in the Abbey, and always a feeling of being humbled, a part of something much bigger than oneself...

Today I found myself reflecting on the fact that my lack of involvement with anything like that in recent years (other things took priority), I actually feel a bit removed from the events of Easter, and wanted to engage a bit more. I mentioned to DC about the service, as we often used to go together, and he was also thinking about going this year.

So it was, that he and I joined a few hundred people in the Abbey tonight - witnessing some Christian drama which could have been better and crap sound - so no change there then, and David wasn't anywhere near the mics....

I was pleased to be part of the service, to see a few familiar faces, people from many different churches, known to me through being in the cast of Peter...to go forward and light a candle and put it at the foot of the cross, and say prayers for people I know who may be ill, or distressed, or struggling..but to also join in praising God for the love in my life and the people in my life, and know that God lvoes me for who and what I am...

I did really well holding it all together, until we sang the words:

At the foot of the cross, there is healing for this nation,
There is rest for those who wait.
And the lvoe that we find is the hope of all creation,
We are stunned by what you gave.
We will wait at the cross, a hungery generation,
With our broken hearts and lives.
Will you hear? Will you hear? Will you fill our desperation?
Oh, God, let it be the time.

We will wait here at the cross, we will wait here at the cross,
We will wait here at the cross, we will wait here at the cross.

I wept and gave to God the desperation and awful sadness, grief and loss which caused me to be unable to go to work on Thursday morning, and has filled me most of this week...

I also sang one of my most favourite hymns, When I survey the wondrous cross, singing the tune and enjoying the deep harmony of the man next to me...took me back to Iona...

Love so amazing, so divine...demands my soul, my life, my all.