A very warm welcome to all
Psalm 118: “Blessed are those that fear the Lord.”
Easter Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 25: 6-9; Colossians 3: 1-4
Gospel: John 20: 1-8
In our Gospel today
Easter Sunday is the most joyous day in the Christian year. This is the day when we hear the story of the resurrection of Jesus read afresh. The tomb is empty! The risen Jesus is seen, touch and known. This is the day when we proclaim that death is not the end. All that confronts God, and which separates us from God – human self-centredness, sin and death itself – are overcome. Not only is it a day of joy but also a day of hope – hope for both the individual and the whole of creation before and beyond death.
Of all days, the guiding Scripture is the gospel. The other lectionary readings help us to focus on the resurrection of Jesus. They help us with the meaning, reason, effect and the ‘what happened next’ of the shocking fact that Jesus is risen from the dead.
Diocesan Library Books Sale
The Diocesan Library book sale days on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March were rather underwhelming in terms of visitors and volume of books purchased. We took in a total of £285 (of which £77 was for sales of books from St Mary’s Rectory) – so a grand total of £208 will be transferred to the Diocesan Office. Dr Nicola Mills is now looking at the options for further dispersal through other book sales, e.g., Christian Aid and/or through Oxfam. Material that is not sellable will probably go for pulping at some point. Many thanks to all that helped out on the book sale days and to those congregation members that provided baking.
The Bishop’s Lent Appeal
Donations to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal 2024 will be given to Al Ahli hospital in Gaza via the Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association. The Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza, owned and sacrificially supported over many years by the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Jerusalem, continues to serve the whole ‘family’ of human beings in Gaza. It provides a vital service in an increasingly desperate situation. If you would like to contribute, please give any cheques or cash to Lydia Ross, our Treasurer or a member of the Vestry.
Church Magazine
The Communications Group would like to canvas the congregations thoughts about our Magazine, which is currently published on a quarterly basis. Is this the best frequency for everyone? Is there anything else that you would like to see in it? Please provide your feedback to the editor, Nicola Mills, or anyone on the Vestry. The Easter Magazine will be published and available by the time you’re reading this on Sunday morning.
Easter egg Appeal
Our Easter Egg Collection has been a big success again this year. Sixty-three Easter eggs were delivered to Barnardo’s Carden Place on Wednesday afternoon. The receiving staff at Barnardo’s were very grateful and thank us very much for the generous donation. Many thanks to all congregation members to donated Easter eggs.
Photography Competition 2024
Our Photograph Competition for 2024 begins on Monday 1st April and runs to August 30th. Entries in the last few years have been really fantastic and many have made it into the St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral calendars. Please think about dusting off your 35 mm single lens reflex camera or just think about using your mobile ‘phone more artistically!
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 31st March 6am Easter Sunday Dawn Service of Light: Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Sunday 31st March 8am Easter Sunday Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Sunday 31st March 8:30am Easter Breakfast
Sunday 31st March 10am Easter Sunday Sung Eucharist with Baptism: Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Tuesday 2nd April No Morning Prayer
Wednesday 3rd April 10am Holy Communion: Revd Dr Ruth Green
Friday 5th April 6pm Compline: Marin Matsuzaka
Sunday 7th April No 8am Holy Communion
Sunday 7th April 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Kate Gibson
Next Sunday’s readings: Acts 4: 32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1: 1-2: 2
Gospel: John 20: 19-31
“If a grave is empty, is it a grave? I wonder how Jesus would answer that.”
(Craig D. Lounsbrough)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com