I missed out being involved in the Good Friday evening service/presentation at St Stephen's this year. Not for the first time, but this year I was invited to WA for a month (Feb-March), & then for a brief visit to Queensland, especially for Maundy Thursday at Grace College (Rothwell, in Brisbane). But I got back in time to be part of the congregation in a very special service on Good Friday. It included Leigh Newton's terrific song 'Walk him along', the burial song for Jesus.
I thought I'd have a go at writing something that would play much the same role for next year, or some other time in the future. Got onto the idea of a Pavane, which is a slow funeral dance. It can have some specific beat patterns (slow, quick quick slow ...). Haven't tried writing in quite this way before, but it's never too late. And I like what came out. Also along the way I looked at the brief accounts of Jesus' burial in the gospels, & came to focus on Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus. Once again, outsiders feature, the 11 disciples are nowhere to be seen, so Jesus is buried by 2 members of the Sanhedrin.
Joseph of Arimathea, boldly to Pilate he went
asked for the body of Jesus, time now to fold up this tent
slowly they walked, not much to say, now this life is gone
once in the night, Nicodemus came with his mind on a quest
now he had come bringing spices fit for a king laid to rest
quickly they worked, dark coming on, soon their work was done
life seemed to end with his dying - even the wind was still
can’t understand, sick of trying - carry him down that hill
carry him down that hill
now Nicodemus & Joseph, secret disciples no more
while some denied and deserted, brave was the clothing they wore
wrapped up his life, held him a while, then they laid him down
words they forgot he had spoken, dreaming beyond their reach
wonder of bread to be broken, fish on an Easter beach
fish on an Easter beach
