Easter at TNK -The Hill of Prayer

Spending Easter with the Sisters of the Church at the Hill of Prayer (TNK) has been a huge privilege. As an Associate of the Sisters, to be welcomed so warmly into the rhythm, devotion, and depth of their worship during the holiest week of the Christian year has been humbling.

Maundy Thursday – Arrival

I arrived on Maundy Thursday, in time to join the community for the Holy Eucharist and the moving act of foot washing. The quiet reverence, the gentle singing, and the shared service reminded me once again of the heart of this day: Christ’s call to love one another through humility and service.

That evening the chapel became the Easter Garden, where the Sisters kept watch through the night. Candles flickered, voices rose in prayer, and the stillness of the hill settled around us.

Good Friday – Walking the Way of the Cross in the Storm

Good Friday dawned with heavy rains of a tropical cyclone sweeping across Guadalcanal. Unable to make the traditional walk outdoors, the community held the Stations of the Cross inside the chapel. The storm outside only seemed to deepen the solemnity of the reflections.

Following this, we spent time meditating on the Seven Words from the Cross, each one unpacked with great care and spiritual insight. The veneration of the cross that followed was an opportunity for each person to come forward privately, prayerfully, offering both sorrow and hope.

In the evening, the Sisters prepared a symbolic Last Supper. Together we shared roasted lamb, hard-boiled eggs, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, lemon juice, and salted water, a sensory, grounded reminder of the Passover meal and the story that shapes our own redemption.

Easter Saturday – Waiting in Hope

On Easter Saturday the chapel, stripped bare, became a place of quiet waiting. We listened to the nine readings of the Easter Vigil, tracing the grand sweep of salvation history, from creation to resurrection. Later in the day everyone worked together to decorate the chapel once more, adorning it with flowers for the joyful celebration to come.

There is something deeply moving about seeing the transformation from stark emptiness to vibrant beauty. It felt symbolic of the transformation we all long for in our own lives.

Easter Morning – Light Breaking Through the Darkness

Before dawn on Easter morning, the community gathered outside in the dark. A bonfire was lit, the light of Christ breaking once again into the world. From this flame the Paschal candle was lit, glowing brightly as we processed into the chapel.

Over 100 people joined the Sisters for the first Eucharist of Easter. The singing, the decorating of the Easter tomb, the joy, the whole chapel seemed alive with the hope and triumph of resurrection.

A Week of Learning, Prayer, and Privilege

Throughout this time, Revd Sr Veronica, the Provincial Sister, shared reflections with the Novices on the significance of each moment of the Easter story. Listening to her teach so patiently and so passionately was inspiring, this is a community deeply rooted in prayer, formation, and service.

For me personally, being welcomed into this household of faith during Holy Week has been a blessing beyond words. The Sisters have opened their home, their worship, and their hearts to me. To walk through these Holy times with them, on this hill of prayer, in the midst of tropical storms and tropical blossoms, has deepened my faith and filled me with gratitude.

Christ is risen. Alleluia.

By Katie Drew, MMUK Executive Director