Remembering the Bigger Picture

Were you in Loughborough on Easter Monday last year to watch or help with the Bigger Picture? The churches in Loughborough worked together to create a world record breaking community picture and reach out to the town.

Easter Sunday: Jesus Christ is risen today

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Christ in the Centre 2009

Over the past six years, the Christ in the Centre production has reached out to the people of Leicester. The 2009 event starts at 10.30am in St. Peter's Square in the new Highcross Centre. The theme this year is The Cross, and this first section includes short scenes showing the lives of Christians who have followed Jesus - some with connections to Leicester like William Wilberforce and Lady Jane Grey.

These will be followed by a procession following the cross, along the pedestrianised High Street to Humberstone Gate, where the remaining events of this year's production will unfold on the main stage after about 11.15am. After several scenes of Jesus' ministry, linked to his words from the cross, the passion story will tell of Jesus' final hours from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem , the Last Supper, his arrest, trial and death on the cross, before we see his glorious resurrection and appearance to his followers.

• Timetable and route map
• Photos from 2008

The Bigger Picture

If you've driven through Loughborough recently you can't fail to have noticed the huge structure that appeared on the grounds of Emmanuel Church in Holy Week: The Bigger Picture. It is a Hope 2008 initiative where the churches in Loughborough worked together to create a world record breaking community picture and reach out to the town on Easter Monday.

Several thousand people were involved in colouring in around 500 panels with emulsion paint, including schools and community groups. Throughout the week the panels were slowly joined together like a jigsaw with the last piece completing the picture on Easter Monday. The project broke the world record for the largest ever painting by numbers picture!

Hot cross muffin buns

Inspired by seeing the recipe in the Radio Times, I made hot cross muffin buns yesterday. I saved some time by using the bread-maker but they were still a bit fiddly - definitely a recipe for Bank Holidays and days when you have more leisure time. I'll probably make them again next year but will make twelve smaller buns rather than nine rather large ones, and increase the quantity of mixed spice. However my substitution of dried cranberries for cherries worked well.

Easter Sunday: Hallelujah!

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
Let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

Thine be the glory, risen conqu’ring Son,
Endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death hast won

Christ in the Centre 2008