An Easter People

Dear Friends in Christ,

It’s that wonderful time of year when Spring feels really tangible. After the cold and dark of winter we start to see sunshine and colour everywhere. The days are longer and brighter, and you can smell the new fragrances of Spring in the air.

We are celebrating Christ’s resurrection, the event that remade us as Easter people, a rebirth-the spring-of our own lives of faith. It is appropriate that we are doing so this coming Sunday in a Joint Benefice Service at St Marys to celebrate as a whole church community. Like Spring, this is a wonderful time, but also one of promise.

Nature does not stay permanently in Spring. Spring is beautiful, but part of that beauty is its transitory nature. Christ's resurrection is our spiritual spring, but then it becomes the spiritual summer with his ascending to be once more with God and the gifting of the Holy Spirit. Our own spiritual spring leads onto our spiritual summer where  we grow and develop, 

Thomas, aka Doubting Thomas, represents an important part of this faith journey. He is not reprimanded for his question. Instead, Jesus responds and provides the answer he seeks. And he continues to do so when we also ask questions. God does not force blind, unexplored faith. Our journeys with faith are unique and are all the richer for their questions, their times of doubt and reflection. God welcomes our most honest and heartfelt questions and will provide an answer-even if it is not immediately  or not in the way we expect. Thomas is our example, so instead of Doubting Thomas he can be Bold Thomas, Thoughtful Thomas, even Faithful Thomas.

This Sunday  27th April Second Sunday of Easter

8:00am	Holy Communion	All Saints
10:00am	Joint Benefice Holy Communion	St Marys (NB: No 10:30am service at All Saints)

The Week Ahead

Mon 28th	10:30am	Tiny Tots	All Saints
Wed 30th	9:00am	Celtic Morning Prayer	All Saints
Thu 1st	10:00am	Holy Communion	St Marys
Fri 2nd	11:00am	Living After Loss	St Marys
Sat 3rd	10:00am-12noon	Coffee Morning	All Saints
	12noon-1:30pm	Saturday Lunches	St Marys

Next Sunday 4th May Third Sunday of Easter

10:00am	Creative Church	St Marys
10:30am	Holy Communion	All Saints
6:30pm	Evensong	St Marys

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

be with us all

evermore.

Amen

Blessings     

Fr Kester de Oliveira

27th April 2025 Email Notice Sheet.pdf

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St Marys Notice Sheet Sunday 27th April 2025.pdf

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