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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE FULLY ALIVE AT ST ALDHELM'S PARISH CHURCH, BRANKSOME on EASTER MORNING.
Way back in December, the Church was filled about 50 Christmas trees for the 5th Shining Branches Christmas tree festival. The biggest of them all was the Parish Christmas tree which last year was decorated by a local business and sponsor. This involved a multitude of different sized white wrapped and ribboned boxes. These boxes were kept aside and used by members of the parish during the 3 hour Good Friday vigil workshop led by Frances Hatch (artist and wife of the Parish Priest, Rev Stephen Batty). The young and not so young explored the theme: 'Fully Alive' which has been a focus in the Diocese of Salisbury and the subject of Fr Timothy Radcliffe's talks this Lent.
The Christmas tree, sawn and nailed together, became the cross of Jesus during Lent. On Easter morning it was transformed into the Easter Tree - abundant and fully alive with portraits of the living as well as the departed. This continuity was important. So too was the fact that the Christmas gifts were not wasted but transformed: the tree moved from being rooted in earth, covered in decorations at Christmas, stripped bare during Lent and finally transformed into fullness of life and vigour on Easter morning.
FULLY ALIVE: Children pose in front of the Fully Alive figures made during the Good Friday Vigil workshop.
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FULLY ALIVE TREE Children in front of the Easter tree covered with portraits of the living and departed using freshly painted wrapped parcels from the parish Christmas tree.
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FULLY ALIVE: TERRY BALLETT. Terry Ballett peeping from behind St Thomas made using parcels from the parish Christmas tree. The figure has now become part of our Stations of the Resurrection.
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GOOD FRIDAY TREE- made from parish Christmas tree
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A recent online article on Fr Timothy may be found here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5775574.ece
