NEWS
From the Team Rector……..April 2007
As I write this letter we are half
way through Lent but April 1st is Palm Sunday - the first day of Holy Week
when we will be remembering all that Jesus suffered for us, culminating in
the horror of the Crucifixion on Good Friday. Then, by the start of the second
week of the month we experience a great change in the life of the Church as
we move to celebrating once more the Wonder and Joy of Easter Day.
So often we are all too ready to grumble about our lives and moan if we suffer
some hardship. Yet I would ask you to spend just a little time thinking seriously
about Holy Week, maybe you might read the Gospel accounts of those last few
days in the life of Our Lord and see just what he went through for YOU and
for ME. There on that Hill of Crucifixion stands the stark cross with the
man Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, dying for US. Offering to each of us forgiveness
for what we might do or say that is wrong; offering us all a new way of life.
Yes, He suffered and Died for each one of us - I wonder if we deserve it??
Sadly, much of modern society doesn't hear or want to accept the truth of
all that Our Lord has done for us but that doesn't make it any less real.
Here we are some 2000 years later commemorating and celebrating which must
be a sign of our conviction and belief. We must never give in even if sometimes
we do doubt - remember the story of the 2 disciples journeying along the road
to Emmaus...... They lacked faith in the news that they had heard concerning
our Lord, they were blind to the truth of the resurrection of the Lord, but
eventually they understood - a transition from faithlessness to faith - and
they were able to recognize that "The Lord is Risen indeed!".
We know now of course that the story didn't end in disaster and I hope that
you will be able to celebrate the real meaning of Easter and the Resurrection.
Will you stop and listen to the message of Easter - It isn't just about eggs
and flowers and the first holiday season of the year. In the message of Easter
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
what you may have done or said, He 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
all of us.
I hope and pray that you are able to celebrate the Glory of the Risen Christ
and that His Resurrection may fill your life with His love and bring you closer
to Him.
FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS
At Ashburton
| Funeral | ||
| 28th February | Ivy Hrycyszyn | Aged 85yrs |
| 1st March | Beatrice Mary Hannah Crabb | Aged 87yrs |
| Burial of Ashes |
| 3rd March | Ivy Hrycyszyn |
THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETINGS are to be held on Wednesday 25th April at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Hall following a Service of Holy Communion in Church at 7.00 p.m.
It is at these Meetings we elect our Churchwardens for the coming year and the Members of the Parochial Church Council. We also accept the Reports on the affairs of the Parish, which are available in Church from the 1st April. This Meeting is for everyone who is interested in the life of the Parish of St. Andrew’s; it is your chance, if you are on the Electoral Roll, to play a part in the Elections, to have your say in the affairs of the Parish and to ask questions. Do come along and join the Meeting.
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ANNUAL VESTRY and PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING for ST. ANDREW’S, ASHBURTON with ST. PETER’S BUCKLAND-IN-THE-MOOR and BICKINGTON WEDNESDAY, 25th April, 2007
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EDITORIAL
We are now well towards that period of thought which is Lent. I hope all of us are gaining from the opportunity for contemplation and now beginning to look forward to the Easter Festival, that heralds the Glory of Christ's resurrection. For me this break of early Spring also leads me to think of the flourishing of bloom and blossom which signals Eastertide. Elsewhere in this issue we provide details of our Easter Week Services, please join with us as we remember the agony of Jesus' sacrifice for us on Good Friday followed by the celebration of His Great Victory over Death on Easter Sunday.
Happy Easter to all in Ashburton
and all our Readers
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