You
might be thinking that Easter is done and dusted for another year, now we can
look forward to summer holidays. Well,
it may have been the earliest Easter that you’ll ever experience, unless you
were born before 23 March 1913 or plan on living until 2228, but it certainly
isn’t over yet. Easter isn’t a Sunday - it is a week of Sundays - 7 Sunday - 50
days - that
continue until Pentecost - this year on May 11.
This
means that for the whole of Eastertide we will be celebrating with joy the
wonder of Christ’s resurrection. If you notice us singing “Easter” hymns in our
services we won’t have got the date wrong, we will simply be reliving our
wonder and joy week by week, just as the disciples must have done each time
they met Jesus in the weeks between his resurrection and ascension. After all
that agony of the crucifixion, was it really true that
he was alive again?
The
resurrection is in fact one of the best attested events of history, so many
people, not even believers, wrote about the amazing things that went on in
Palestine that it is very hard to find an argument against it. A journalist, Frank Morrison, set out to
disprove the “myth” of the resurrection and ended up writing a book “Who moved
the stone?” as a convinced Christian, certain that Jesus had risen. Val Grieve,
a law, student, an atheist and a communist had a similar experience and wrote
“Verdict on The Empty Tomb” to show from lawyer’s perspective that the evidence
for the resurrection is overwhelming. Just two among many
unable to resist the truth.
Rising
from the dead is the only thing that makes sense of Jesus’ life and death, and
it is the foundation for our hope of heaven - as
So
make sure you celebrate the resurrection for the whole of the Easter season
which includes his Ascension into heaven and his sending of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost. And when the Easter season officially ends - don’t even stop then.
We should celebrate every day of our lives for as
Signed
Di Lammas
BODY
LIFE
Some
prayers for an Easter People
Looking
at a cross
Lord
Jesus, as I look at the cross, I am reminded of how you suffered
for all humanity and took the weight of all my sins upon
yourself.
But
as I continue to look at the cross I see that it is empty.
I
rejoice in your mighty victory over sin and death.
You
are the Prince of Life. You are alive for evermore. Thank you. Amen.
Reading
Luke 24:13-35
In
the breaking of the bread, the disciples recognised Jesus,
help
me to see you in bread and wine.
In
the face of the poor waiting in a refugee camp,
help
me recognise your loving face.
In
the arms of the mother whose child has died,
help
me to see your comforting hands.
In
the mind of those who no longer recognise their loved ones,
help
me to see your presence.
In
the body of the man told he has six months to live,
help
me to perceive your loving arms.
In
the eyes of the woman whose life‑long partner has died,
help
me cry your tears.
Lord,
the hands you have are mine, help me to hold.
The
eyes you have are mine, help me to see.
The
tears you have are mine, help me to weep with those
who weep.
The
face you have is mine, help me to show your love.
Amen.
Praying
the words of a hymn by Michael Saward
Lord
of the cross of shame, set my cold heart aflame,
with love for you, my Saviour and my Master;
who on that lonely day bore all my sins away,
and saved me from the judgement and disaster.
Lord of the empty
tomb, born of a virgin’s womb,
triumphant
over death, it’s power defeated;
how
gladly now I sing, your praise, my risen King,
and
worship you, in heaven’s splendour seated.
Lord
of my life today, teach me to live and pray
as one who know the joy of sins forgiven;
so may I ever be, now and eternally,
united with the citizens of heaven. Amen
ANNUAL
PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETINGS
If
you are on the Electoral Roll of Hethersett, Little Melton or Great Melton
churches do book the date to attend your Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
Monday
14 April Hethersett - Church Hall 7.30pm
Monday
21 April Great Melton - High House Farm 7.30pm
Monday
28 April Little Melton - Village Hall 8.00pm
It’s
a great encouragement to the Churchwardens and Staff Team to have your support
when we meet to look back on the past year and seek fresh vision for the year
ahead. And please give some thought and prayer to the possibility of serving on
a Parochial Church Council. You may be able to make a big difference to the
life and witness of your church fellowship.
CHURCHES
TOGETHER
From
time to time the different churches hold a service to which members of
sister churches in Hethersett & District Churches Together are invited -
along with anyone else who wants to join in!
The next date is Sunday 13 April at 6.30pm and will be a service of Compline. (Compline is not a
milky drink but it is a great way to end the day!)
ASCENSION
DAY
May
begins with our celebration of Christ’s Ascension into heaven - so come along
and celebrate in St Remigius at 7.00pm when there will be a Sung Eucharist.
DEANERY
DOINGS
Following
the departure of our Rural Dean, Andrew Braddock, to
There
will be a Deanery Service in
May, the Day of Pentecost. All parishes in the deanery will be
presenting their Growth Plans which we have been working on as part of the
Diocesan challenge that we should all be Committed
to Growth. Everyone is invited to come and share in worship on this special
day.
THANK
YOU
To
everyone who worked to make our churches clean and beautiful with flowers for
our Easter worship, and to all who gave of their time and talents lead our
special times of worship during Holy Week and Easter with their singing, playing,
reading and ringing. Di Lammas