Holy Saturday has a unique quality that is said to reflect the entire time in which we live. With the trauma of Good Friday a reality and before the dawning of Easter, it is time of grief, emptiness and not knowing what the future holds. Much of human life is like this – individuals and whole communities can experience such loss and disorientation.

Inspired by the spirituality of the day and shaped by trauma-informed pastoral care, this collection of prayers and liturgies from Westcott House will be a pastoral companion for times when words are hard to find. It provides resources for creating safe, sensitive inclusive and contemplative worship spaces for individuals and congregations that respect and honour the complexity of individual experiences with trauma, and foster an environment of support, compassion, and witness. Flexible and adaptable, it offers a range of newly written and established options for each element of the service from gathering to final blessing.