Iona Dawn

Through Holy Week with the Iona Community

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• Publisher: Wild Goose Publications
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9781905010110
• eBook ISBN: 9781849521222
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Rituals & Practice

The dramatic events of the days leading up to Easter Sunday expressed through biblical readings and reflections provide an insightful guide to Holy Week.

We Walked on to Emmaus

WE WALKED ON TO EMMAUS

Luke 24:13–35

We walked on to Emmaus

with a man who came from nowhere

knowing nothing except that which he was told;

and his friendship was an excuse

for our telling of these tales,

which comforted us, though our hearts were cold.

We walked on to Emmaus

full of all the fondest memories

and our kindling of them made us feel more bold;

for the questions that he asked us

were bread to feed our thoughts,

and a comfort to us, though our hearts were cold.

We walked on to Emmaus

and we told him about Mary

giving some small hope to which our hearts could hold;

and we talked of resurrection

and the strange scene in the garden,

which comforted us, though our hearts were cold.

We walked on to Emmaus

and were shocked by his insistence

that all these things had been foreseen of old;

and the fire of his persistence

was bread which fed our souls:

a breaking fire which purged our hearts of cold.

John Davies

Fish

FISH

John 21:9–14

We found ourselves

sharing fish,

not by an open fire and a lake

but in a city basement

hours after the supper,

remembered original sacrament.

Flesh parted cleanly

(no blood or agony),

pink and delicious,

prepared by unseen hands,

detached from our concern,

a product for our use.

How easily we accept

the sacrifice of others;

cold nights at sea,

stretching timber,

nails tearing skin,

frayed ropes tightening.

In a simple meal

lies all the paradox

of a world consuming itself

head to tail

fish-eye swivelled

from scales falling unseen.

Yvonne Morland

Postcard from Billy

POSTCARD FROM BILLY

Hallo! Anyone there on Iona still remember me?

Sorry I haven't written sooner. I've been on the road. Visited Kieran in Glasgow; Sarah and Mags in Liverpool. I'm living with Martina now in London. London's a great city. I've seen Jesus quite a few times here. In men, in children, in a homeless woman I was talking to on the Strand – even in my own family. Martina and I started an Iona worship group. We meet once a week and do Amnesty International letter writing afterwards.

It was hard leaving Iona but I'm doing OK. I miss it though. I'II probably always come back – if not physically, in my mind, in my heart – to connect.

Well, I hope you are all in good health. If you're ever in London look us up. Keep in touch.

Peace,

Love,

Billy

P.S. Say hallo to the north beach for me.

The Cross Stands Empty

THE CROSS STANDS EMPTY

The cross stands empty

stark, against the sky.

Our worst fears and predictions

are torn aside like a veil from the face.

We cannot but be joyful

for our hearts leap within us.

Sing in praise of forgiving love,

the love God has for all humanity.

Blessed be God whose mercy surrounds us.

Blessed be Jesus, the core of our hearts' longing.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit, our joy and liberation.

Yvonne Morland

SOURCES

Monday – Extract from The Revised English Bible © Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press 1989. Used by permission.

Good Friday – ‘You Have Been Here Before’, words by John L Bell, © Wild Goose Resource Group, from Church Hymnary, 4th edition, Canterbury Press, 2005, ISBN 1853116130. Used by permission of John L Bell and the Wild Goose Resource Group.

Saturday – Office hymn for Holy Saturday from Stanbrook Abbey used by permission of Stanbrook Abbey.

Easter Sunday – Extract from The Revised English Bible © Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press 1989. Used by permission.

Scriptures quoted from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures quoted from The NRSV (inclusive version) version of the Bible from The New Testament and Psalms: An inclusive version, Oxford University Press, copyright 1995 Oxford University Press Inc.

Scriptures quoted from The Good News Bible published by The Bible Societies/Harper Collins Publishers Ltd., UK, © American Bible Society, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992.

Cover photograph © Joy Mead

THE IONA COMMUNITY IS

– An ecumenical movement of men and women from different walks of life and different traditions in the Christian church

– Committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to following where that leads, even into the unknown

– Engaged together, and with people of goodwill across the world, in acting, reflecting and praying for justice, peace and the integrity of creation

– Convinced that the inclusive community we seek must be embodied in the community we prac...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Palm Sunday
• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Maundy Thrusday
• Good Friday
• Holy Saturaday
• Easter Sunday
• On the Road