Well, actually, yes they can.
There were 14 people for our 8.00 p.m. Eucharist this evening, which is the greatest number in the 7 years I've been here, and 12 of them stayed for the hour-long Vigil afterwards until 10.00 p.m. I have never had more than 6 or 7 stay on, so tonight was a real blessing. We sat in the candlelight and listened to a superb recording of Roger Mayer's setting of some of the words of Julian of Norwich, recorded in Norwich Cathedral. Wonderful music and soaring voices, and the time passed very quickly.
I don't do an all-night Watch in the Garden, nor do we have a decorated Altar of Repose, but we sit in front of the Sacrament remaining from the Eucharist, replaced on the bare altar and surrounded by small lights. Simple and reflective, providing a chance to pause before the drama of tomorrow.
No blessing to finish, just the words of Scripture that bring us to the point of the arrival of Judas and the mob. "Get up. Let us go."
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