For the first time in the history of UK, the Gujarati Christians celebrated the Holy Week under the auspices of Gujarati Christian Fellowship United Kingdom (GCFUK). Special meetings were organised on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Approximately 80 Gujarati Christians from different parts of London, attended the Good Friday service with Holy Communion ministered by Rev Stanly Barker, Pastor of Ealing Road Methodist Church.

The meeting began with readings from The Holy Bible - Isaiah 53 and John 12: 12-19. Heflin Jani conducted the order of worship.

Initially, the choir led the congregation in a Spirit moving time of songs and worship and then Davidson Solanki brought the message for the day where he pondered on events of the seven days before the Easter Sunday - 1). beginning with the triumphant entry in to Jerusalem where the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus as they would welcome a king believing he was the Prophet-the Messiah, but still He foreseeing the happenings ahead weeps and cries for Jerusalem(Lamentations 2:13); 2). the event of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet and foretelling the betrayal happening to Him at the hands of ‘one who shares his bread’ referring to Judas and later Peter – hereby reflecting on our weak human nature AND above this God loving and choosing us just the way we are; 3). He being of the nature of a fully human apart from being a fully God the torment and distress He goes through in His times of betrayal, insults hurled at him by people of Jerusalem, the beatings of the Roman soldiers and the ultimate pain the rejection by the Father in heaven and His crucifixion.

Here, further reflecting on the day before crucifixion a glance is made on the happenings at the Upper Room where Jesus washes the feet of His disciples and speaks of one of them betraying him. Bringing the character of Judas into centre the congregation was made to confront and reflect on our lives and that of Judas’ and Peter’s being similar and not very different in way that though we know Jesus as our personal Saviour we many times flow away in currents and trends of this world denying and betraying Jesus not once but often many times leaving Him alone without us. Leaving this final impression with souls stirred and a reflective question to answer for ourselves – now knowing that in spite of our weak and sinful nature God willingly out of His abundant love for us paid the ultimate price of His Son’s blood to cleanse us, accept us and reconcile us to HIM - are we ready to repent and turn and align/re-align or commit/re-commit our lives to God?

With this heart, mind, and soul stirring message an alter call was made welcoming newly reconciled and recommitted souls to God’s family and the final benediction was made by Rev Barker marking the end of the meeting.