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Easter always
corresponds with the season of spring. For Christians it is a great festival
of joy and celebration. We know that winter does not last forever (although
this year it seemed longer than ever) and the days gradually lengthen and
new growth and signs of life appear. In the same way Christians celebrate
the fact that death is not the end of our life ‘but death is swallowed up in
victory’. Sometimes against all the odds we discover our lives do have
meaning and a purpose, good has triumphed over evil, love has conquered fear
and life is stronger than death. This we know because of the passion, death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So convinced were the first Christians of
these things that they called Jesus Lord.
This
year we look forwards to Easter against a backcloth of great world tension
and difficulties. Karen Armstrong has written ‘Today all over the
world religious conservatives and secularists feel deeply threatened by one
another; they all fear the destruction of sacred fundamental values.
This lies at the heart of the conflict within the Anglican Communion,
between the Western world and Islam and it gives rise to the tensions in
Iraq and Iran and lies at the heart of the disputes between Israel and its
neighbours. It also fuels those who take part in acts of violence and
suicide bombers against innocent civilians.
Our
Easter hope is that after the most evil that the human race can inflict upon
itself the love and victory of Easter will bring a new life and new joy to
the world.
This
joyful faith is celebrated at Easter. The church with all its weaknesses,
tries to witness to the saving love of God shown to us' that whilst we were
still sinners Christ died for us' in order that we might live with God
forever.
Holy Week and Easter
services
I
set out the major services for Holy Week and Easter and full details of all
the services are in the calendar.
Palm Sunday
All of you who are able to walk to the church please meet at 09.00am at
Mostyn Road Gardens and from there process to the church.. The procession
will be a silent procession of witness carrying palms. We hope that we can
arrive at church around 09-30am to start our Palm Sunday Parish Eucharist.
Monday – Wednesday in Holy Week. On these days there will be matins at
9-00am and an evening Eucharist with a homily at 7-45pm
Maundy Thursday
On
this day there are two celebrations of the Eucharist. One is at 10-30am in
the morning which is the April corporate service for the Mothers Union, and
at 8-00pm there is a Sung Eucharist, The washing of the feet and the
stripping of the altar followed by a vigil until Midnight.
Good Friday
I will be leading the devotion on Good Friday
from 12-00pm until 2-00pm on ‘The Words from the Cross’. This will be
followed by ‘The Mass of the Pre-sanctified’ at 2-00pm.
Holy Saturday
The Easter Ceremonies and the lighting of the
Paschal Candle will take place at
8.00pm
on this day.
Easter Day
The services for Easter are altered this
year. The main act of worship will be ‘An All Age Eucharist’ at 10-00am.
Details of all other services are in the Diary.
Annual Church Meeting
This takes place on Sunday 2nd April at
11.00am in the hall. Nobody can do everything, everybody can do something.
Will you come and take your part in the church community and offer what you
can for God’s work and the extension of His Kingdom.
Auction of Promises
An example of the above adage ‘Nobody can do everything, everybody
can do something’ was almost disproved by Allan Morris who put in a huge
amount of work in organising, running, persuading others and auctioning the
promises made by others. This massive effort has raised over £3,100 for our
outward giving this year and we are most grateful for Allan’s vision and
skills in implementing the vision and seeing it through to this excellent
result. Our thanks to those who so ably assisted Allan and also those who
gave and purchased promises.
My
only wish would be that we could find more people who can be persuaded to
give of their time generously in helping with the task and mission of the
church.
Confirmation and Faith Perspectives
Those of you who came to Faith Perspectives or who came to the Confirmation
service on March 12th will know what good occasions these were. The newly
confirmed felt that they had been well prepared for their great day and also
were impressed by how many others came and shared with them in Faith
Perspectives. These new Christians were also impressed by the knowledge and
breadth of questions that were asked and answered in Faith Perspectives. I
believe we have all learnt a lot from this initiative.
Your
priest and friend
Tom
Leary
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