8.45am I’m up and out to church for the first of today’s services. We’ll be reading through the story of Jesus’ trial and execution, praying and singing a couple of hymns. After that, we’ll be gathering in Crosby Village with people from other churches for our walk of witness.

10.45am Service number 1 done. I was quite moved a couple of times. I was struck by how brutal the story is, especially when the legs of the criminals either side of Jesus were broken to speed up the process. It’s brutal in a way which is so far removed from our lives today.

I was also tearing up singing My Song Is Love Unknown. A couple of lines always get to me and here is one of them: why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite? He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight.

Anyway, time to go to Crosby and it looks like the weather will be kind to us!

11.45am the weather held off and the walk of witness was nice. I had a lovely chat to the local methodist minister who I’ve heard a lot about but was yet to meet. She’s great! I’m looking forward to getting to know her better.

Mum and Dad arrived with the kids, having come on from the Aintree walk of witness – what stars! I love having the kids with me. It’s mine and Sophia’s fifth year of doing the walk of witness together. My trusty pram has been on every one, I think, although of course Aidan has been in it the past two years.

Anyway, we’re having lunch together in one of my favourite spots before I head to church for the hour at the cross.

1.10pm Despite my best efforts to convince her to go home with Mum and Dad, Sophia has come to church with me. I’ve warned her that it will be very long, quiet and boring (for her – hopefully not for everybody else!). But she was adamant, and I’ll never tell her that she can’t come to church if she wants to. I’ve told her she can choose something from my snack drawer after the service if she’s good.

3.30pm Oh that was so special! Sophia set up the prayer stations with me. It took me twice as long as I had planned because I read and explained everything to her. But it was great to have that time with her one on one.

During the service, she sat next to me, sipping a cup of tea, eating an orange, reading a book and doing some writing.

She wrote a bit about her pal Ruben and then she wrote: Mi Mummy Sed at fees p cloc cheesus dId. My Mummy said at three O clock Jesus died.

She then had another go at writing Jesus, which is the picture at the top.

We also went together and did a couple of the prayer stations. Her favourite was sitting together and tasting the bread at the altar.

I really pray that all this time in church is more than scattering seeds, and that somewhere roots are beginning to grow. How wonderful it would be for both of them to find, develop and grow a faith that is truly their own.

5.30pm Tea time! My favourite meal of the season: my mother in law, Polly’s fish pie!

8.45pm Aidan is down and I had a little snooze as I settled him. I need to have a think about my sermon for next Sunday because I’m trying to take some time off next week. Let’s crack the laptop out and get it done!

8.50pm Oh wow, guess what?! It’s not me preaching next week, it’s our wonderful reader, Sue! What a Good Friday present, I don’t need to write another sermon!

10.45pm I’m in bed after a lovely time watching The Other Bennet Sister and chatting with Mum and Dad. I don’t know how we’d get though this week without our parents, I really don’t.

More tomorrow, when I’m hoping to have a bit of down time before the big day on Sunday!