NEWS
From the Vicarage…….. April 2005
We have just celebrated once more
the Wonder and Joy of Easter Day but I wonder what if any effect it has had
on the majority of people? Was it just another holiday? Was it just eggs and
flowers? There is no doubt that we should enjoy ourselves but sometimes it
is good to ask the question Why?
During the Season of Lent I have been spending some time on Tuesday evenings
looking at the historical person of Jesus - the Jesus we see in the Gospels.
As I said on the last evening - the story of Jesus isn’t something which
is pure history - it is a story which is being told over and over again. Here
we are 2000 years after the time of Christ still speaking about what he has
done for us and we do this because all through those years, people have followed
the words he spoke after the resurrection - “Go and Tell”. If
we don’t tell, if we don’t share the Good News - the Gospel -
then others will not be able to share our Easter Joy because they won’t
know about it. We must not keep Jesus and his story to ourselves - others
may not believe but we must still tell the story. Sadly, much of modern society
doesn’t hear or want to accept the truth of Jesus Christ but that doesn’t
make it any less real - we have 2000 years as a foundation for our conviction
- how much longer does the world need!! So, we must never give in - remember
the resurrection story of the 2 disciples journeying along the road to Emmaus……
They lacked faith in the message they had heard concerning our Lord, they
were blind to the truth of the risen Lord, but eventually they understood
- a transition from faithlessness to faith - and they were able to recognize
that “The Lord is Risen indeed!”.
So I ask, please stop and listen to the message of Easter - in it we see that
Jesus has given to all of us the promise of new life in Him and a promise
of Eternal life. In the Resurrection, we see the great victory in all of mankind's
battle against the powers of darkness, grief and pain. The message of Easter
is that God does not forget or ignore you and, no matter where you stand,
still loves you and will forgive you, and can change you. To a world so often
weighed down by its problems we see in the message of Easter the REAL joy
and hope of God's love and care for each one of us.
I hope you will find time to think about the Glory of the Risen Christ in
your busy lives and that His Resurrection may fill your life with His love
and bring you closer to Him through this Easter Season.
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FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS
At Ashburton
| Baptism | ||
| 30th January | Denham Allan Thompson | |
| Funerals | ||
| 30th January | Joan Milborough Pierson Mowlam | Aged 88yrs. |
| 16th February | Alan John Kerslake | Aged 91yrs. |
| Cremation | at Exeter | |
| 8th February | Maurice Cliff | Aged 79yrs. |
HELP!
The good news is that we hope that
in a few months time we will be staring work on St. Andrew’s Church
Hall. At present the plans are with the Dartmoor National Park. When (we hope)
they are approved the contract will go out to Tender and it is planned that
we will begin work in the summer. BUT….This does mean that we will not
have a Parish Office during the time of the building. IS THERE ANYONE OUT
THERE WHO CAN HELP? We need to rent or borrow a room for about 4 months so
that we can continue the administration side of the Churches work - producing
the Magazine, weekly notice sheets, service sheets etc.
If you can help or know of any possibilities which may be of use to us, please
contact the Vicar (652506), or the Parish Office.
THE CHURCHYARDS of our CHURCHES
As most of you are aware, great emphasis is placed these days on Health and Safety and Risk Assessments and this applies to Churchyards just as much as anywhere else. I am writing this note to remind anyone who has a family headstone or monument in any of our Churchyards to make sure that it is safe and not likely to fall over, and to remind everyone that it is legally the responsibility of the family to maintain headstones etc. in good order. If we find that any headstone/monument is in a dangerous condition we will endeavour to contact the family but if we fail to do so we will lay the headstone/memorial flat in order to make it safe.
Vicar.
REVISION OF CHURCH ELECTORAL
ROLL
To attend the Annual parochial Church Meeting on April 20th,
you must be on the Electoral Roll. If already on it you need not re-apply,
but if not, get an application form from church or from Mrs Gill Sheridan,
Electoral Roll Officer, at the Parish Office. Closing date for applications:
27th March.
EDITORIAL
This month sees us through the last weeks of Lent, the trauma of Holy Week and into the greatest Christian festival of all - EASTER.
EASTER GREETINGS
to all our readers:-
The Lord is Risen!
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
It is, of course a busy season with many coffee mornings, etc., so please
support the many charitable events throughout the Benefice. We also have some
notices of new amenities available through Teignbridge and Exeter City Councils.
We need to get the April magazine printed earlier than usual, so please
do send in your material to reach the Editor before 13th March at the latest.
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