Easter Letter

Dear Friends,
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! So we sang on Saturday evening and Easter Sunday morning amidst the celebration of the Resurrection and the welcoming of four new members into the family of the Church. It was wonderful that so many came to welcome them, having made them and their families welcome at the services through Lent as they prepared for baptism. Samuel of course enjoyed the moment and attention as most babies do! It took courage for Amy (9 years) Michael ( 13 years) and Anna (14 years) to make that decision for themselves and to stand up and make their responses on these first steps of faith. It was awesome to hear the church's loud Amen after each of them was baptised, awesome and encouraging. People commented on how much they had found Lent and Holy Week holy and helpful, gentle and encouraging. That is what our Lord intended we should be with one another as we hold firm to his commands and walk in his ways.
There was much that I wanted to offer up to God through the weeks, thanksgivings for so many people and for so much that has happened, and some of that was gathered up on Maundy Thursday as I washed feet. There were the sorrows as well and I felt those most as we stripped the altar and sang the hymn of Gethsemane. I was so very moved when David and Philip carried the cross up on Good Friday, and when Laura and Philip willingly shared the prostration before the cross. Our young people taking steps in faith, and how we thank God for them. Good Friday is never a comfortable day, but the Cross wasn't comfortable! On Saturday we managed to hang the collage in church, whichhad been made on the Children's Day on Saturday April 7th, and this wonderfully told the story of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter ........and was my sermon on Easter Sunday!!!
On Saturday evening it was just good to celebrate! Lighting the new fire of Easter was easy - lighting the Paschal Candle from it less easy!!! Proclaiming the Light of Christ glorious, sharing our worship joyful, sharing fellowship, food and fireworks afterwards at the party was simply fun. Alleluia!
Through this we also shared our journey and fellowship. Ecumenical Lent Groups were very well received and we must build upon that. On Mothering Sunday we shared our parish breakfast with brothers and sisters from St Pius' Church with a wonderful Simnel Cake made by Anne Wood. We prayed that one day we might be one. On Easter Sunday we also celebrated with a beautiful Easter Cake made by Anne Wood and decorated by Olive Veitch. We also had Easter Eggs of course!
However we don't forget that for some, Good Friday is still a terrible reality; though they have the hope of Easter in their minds, they are unable to fully feel that in their hearts. Pray for those who knelt at the cross with their sorrow and struggle, that by our by our love and by our lives we may help them to Easter peace.
Much is happening and there is so much potential that will move us on: please continue to be faithful in prayer and worship that we may live in His Light and realise our potential as part of His Body on earth.

My love and prayers,
Rev. Linda

Summer's Letter

Dear Friends,
Flaming June has been and gone!! and still in my garden I am waiting for the sun to open up flowers and seeds that I have sown - and preferably before summer is over: Ah well, we live in hope!
Schools will be breaking up shortly and people taking summer breaks, so in the church we shall be cutting back on all but essential meetings until September, giving us an opportunity to recharge our batteries and letting go of our busyness. I hope I shall have a go at using the paints I have bought, though I don't promise to produce any masterpieces in this time: if I can illustrate my writings, I shall be content.
Later in the magazine you can read about our Building Project which is really taking shape now and will need us all to be involved and supportive; the plans are in the church porch and available for anyone to have a look at.
The Church Hall is also almost finished with new carpets down in the entrance and the toilets; in August there will be a 'painting of main hall and spring cleaning party'!!! ALL ARE WELCOME! Details of what is needed can be found in the magazine. There have been many willing hands in the hall re-decoration so far, and I'm so impressed I'm thinking of offering our services to Tone and Cherie for rather less than the quoted £850,00.00 they propose spending on the refurbishment of their home. We can't promise exotic wallpapers or made to measure furniture, but we do a good emulsioning and glossing paintwork job!! OK it is tongue in cheek, but I don't suppose I am the only one to be well and truly exasperated by the report.
During July and August I plan to take some extra time to simply 'be', spending time to be with family and friends, sharing picnics and barbecues, but also some quiet time with a day walking and praying my way around Holy Island, and some 'hot pen' walking - writing as I walk - literally and then reflecting upon that later. It will be my retreat in daily life and living. Later Norman and I will be taking time out in our annual holiday - where, we know not yet! Somewhere.
In all of this, God will be present with us all and encouraging us. I feel a tremendous peace, joy and excitement at this time - and they do go together! - a sense of anticipation and a real belief that we are on The Way. ( The first Christians were said to be following The Way, before they were called Christians ).
We are not jumping from the roof tops, nor do we think we know it all or have it all, after all we are on a journey, but I do believe we are building good foundations, not only in bricks and mortar, but in mission and ministry. Please do hold that in your daily prayers for we must remain firmly rooted in Christ and, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and giving thanks and glory to God our Father.

Autumn Letter 2002

Dear Friends, summer seems far away ..autumn mists are upon us, dark nights have drawn in as the clocks went back, leaves have turned those wonderful autumn colours and the conker season has come and gone along with the blackberries and other autumn fruits. My first day back in the parish after the holidays,was the first anniversary of the 11th September and all around the world there were commemorative services and moments of silence. The question asked in many broadsheets was,' How has the world changed since that event?' The answer seems to be that it has changed very little generally. However for the families and friends of those who died, life has changed for ever. There is much disturbing reading around the events of that day, the reactions and the responses. Yet deep down I think we all know that it is not enough to look at that day and beyond; we must go further back. There is no justification for people perpetrating such dreadful deeds, just as there can be no place in a civilised world for acts of terrorism. Yet history might just show seeds of injustice, anger and despair being sown in years gone by those who are seen to be civilised. Real challenges face all of us as we seek to be one world and one people, which isn't about all being the same, but about all having the same opportunities and all having hope of a life.
The church is faced with many challenges in our world today, and many people feel the church is irrelevant, or simply not for them (though they believe) or simply that life is too busy. Anyway where is God when the awful tragedies of our world occur? Why doesn't God DO something? After all God is omnipotent and creator of all. Why do such awful things happen? There are no easy answers, though many suggestions, some of which will touch upon the truth and some which will be the result of conjecture, anger and frustration.
However the reality of God's love for us is that it is freely offered and that we are given freedom of choice: freedom to accept the gift of God's love and grace in our lives and freedom to reject it; freedom to explore it fully in our lives and freedom to let it sit before us like an unopened gift. We are not puppets with strings pulled by an unseen puppet master; we are children of God given the dignity of free choice.
I firmly believe that God is doing something; God weeps with us, holds out his arms to us. More than that, God has revealed his tremendous love for us by sending his only Son to live amongst us as one of us; that Son, Jesus, dying on a cross of wood, and rising to new life so that we can see for ourselves that the power of God's love is greater than the power of evil. The resurrection is living proof that God's love is greater than the power of evil for out of sin and death there came new life. And God's love for us is so great that we are given the opportunity to share in that everlasting life and love. This is the light that shines in the midst of the darkness of tragedy. It cannot take away the awfulness or the sadness and grief of tragedy, pain and loss, but it does mean that they are not the last word. That is expressed in the word HOPE, without which life is meaningless.
Hope that the world can be a better place for all people; hope that people can change; hope that everyone will get involved in changing the world; hope that people everywhere will recognise that peace has to begin in their own hearts; hope that all people can learn to live together in peace.
There are no easy, simplistic answers to the complex questions of the world in which we live; but there ARE answers. Finding them needs a degree of humility and self awareness as much as awareness of others. That's often the hard part.
That's where we need God's grace and that's why we need to pray for the peace of the world. Prayer changes people ....and prayer can change the world.
My love and prayers,
Rev. Linda

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