Holy Week with the Launde Abbey Community

Holy Week at Launde Abbey: a retreat with the Launde community

Stay and pray as part of the Launde Abbey Community in Holy Week. 

Monday 14 April MC — Sunday 20 April Lunch

“Something strange is happening,” wrote Epiphanus of Cyprus in the fifth century; “there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. Christ has gone to search for our first parent, saying: Rise from the dead, for I am the Life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.”

For two millennia Christians have marked Holy Week by revisiting and reflecting on the momentous events of that ancient Passover: Jesus in the temple, the upper room, the garden, at Calvary, outside the opened tomb. During this year’s Holy Week, the Launde community will be following Luke’s telling of the story through prayer, worship, reading, meditation, silence and song. And we’d love you to join us.

We’re inviting you to come for as much or as little of the week as you can: perhaps just a single day of quiet, or two or three days of retreat, or for the whole week. Every day there will be worship and prayer in the Chapel, meals shared with members of the community, opportunities for pastoral conversations with community members, and plenty of time and space for silence and reflection. Some of the services will also be opened up to members of local rural churches to share our worship.

On Easter Sunday we’ll celebrate together at the start of the day and share breakfast; after that you’re welcome either to head home, or to join one of our local churches and come back to us for a hearty Sunday lunch.

The week will be structured around our shared services (those marked with an asterisk* are open to local residents):

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Monday (14 April): Cleansing: A House of Prayer for All

Luke 19.41—20.19

The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple (Mal 3.1)

8am Morning Prayer; 12pm *Midday Eucharist; 5pm Evening Prayer

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Tuesday (15 April): Controversy: The Wisdom of God

Luke 20.20—21.4

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Ps 118.22)

8am Morning Prayer; 12pm *Midday Eucharist; 5pm Evening Prayer

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Wednesday (16 April): Catastrophe: The Shape of Things to Come 

Luke 21.5-38

The time has come for the judgement to begin with the household of God (1 Pt 4.17)

8am Morning Prayer; 12pm *Midday Eucharist; 5pm Evening Prayer

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Maundy Thursday (17 April): Communion: Drawn into the Heart of God

Luke 22.1-23

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry (Jn 6.35)

8am Morning Prayer; 12pm *Midday Prayer with Anointing; 7.30pm *Maundy Thursday Eucharist

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Good Friday (18 April): Crucifixion: No Greater Love Than This

Luke 22.24—23.56

A man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity (Isa 53.3)

8am Morning Prayer; 12pm *The Midday Passion; 5pm Shared Silence

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Holy Saturday (19 April): Cave: Grief, Suspense and Expectation 

I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps 23.4)

 8 am Shared Silence; 12pm Shared Silence; 5 pm Shared Silence

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Easter Sunday (20 April): Celebration: In the Midst of Death, Life!

Luke 24.1-12

I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever (Rev. 1.18)

7.30am *Easter Eucharist

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Leaders: The Launde community (clergy and chaplains)

 

 

 

and more…

HOW TO BOOK

To book an overnight stay:

You can choose to stay for any number of nights throughout the week. When you click on the “Book Now” button, it will default to the full week, but you can select the specific dates you wish to book at the top of the page. Prices start from £150/night and include en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources. 

Click here to book your place on this retreat now:

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 To book for a day (10:00 am – 4:00 pm):

Please complete the form below to reserve your spot for a specific day. We will confirm your booking as soon as possible. Price per day: £46.00 –  this includes all retreat content, lunch, tea and coffee throughout the day.