HOW quickly time moves on! We have just celebrated the greatest and most important festival of all, the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Alleluia, he is risen!
The season of Easter is a great time to look back and reflect on all the blessings that we as a church community have been given. The Easter service was full of fantastic music and all credit to Rob and the choir who led our worship so beautifully both on Easter Day and through Holy Week.
The flowers, the lovely new banners all played a part in making Easter special. It is of course people that make a church through their commitment and dedication to use their gifts to the glory of God. It’s also the people who come to our services that say something about how God has blessed us in the work we have done and are doing for our congregation and community.
WHEN Mary and the other women walked together to anoint the body of Jesus, little did they know what to expect when they arrived at the tomb. No stone! No Jesus! Rather they found two angels who told them he was risen and to go and tell the others the good news. This encounter set off a series of events that eventually led to many others becoming witnesses to the resurrection.
I wonder what are the signs of the resurrection at St Hildeburgh’s? I wonder do local people witness us changing? Sometimes as we change it can feel much more like Good Friday as we become more open, more available more accepting and of course more loving.
James 1:17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
MY reflection over Holy Week has been to think of the cost of serving Christ in our generation. We are called to be a little more like Jesus who challenged some of the rules and practices of his day.
Jesus was about accepting all people, no matter what age, gender, colour or creed they were, all were welcome. In our church life we have to be flexible in all things and adapt our worship in a way that keeps our tradition but never excludes anyone. I know we have made changes and include a lot more modern worship songs but we also continue to celebrate and sing the old favourites. There is room for both and we must find that level of generosity in our hearts as we continue to be God’s people in our generation.
Luke 6-37-38: "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
As we continue through the season of Easter I would ask your prayers for all God’s people, for peace and justice in our world. To pray for the many initiatives of the past few years, especially our children’s work, the school and head teacher, Messy Church and all who help with Voyagers. Please pray for the Soup and Sandwich lunch and those who help; also our Bacon Butty morning, and our services for carers and nursing homes.
Finally, to pray for our ministry team and Parochial Church Council and all involved in the work of the Gospel.
Your friend, Rev’d PAUL
Eastertide 2016
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