Prepare the space

Begin to introduce some of the imagery of Christ’s death and resurrection. If you will be making an Easter garden, you could have the tomb ready this week. Use flowers associated with funerals, for example white lilies. If you have a printed order of service, put a funeral-type border round it and entitle it ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep......’ (John 11.11). Ask your musicians(s) to play funereal music as people gather (for example, something from Fauré’s Requiem ) and create a more hushed than usual atmosphere by asking those setting up and welcoming to be very quiet and grave. Wear sombre clothes.