Happy Easter everyone! And, following the decision to resume services in Church, I look forward greatly to seeing at least some of you back in Church over the coming month – even though we’re still not able to sing! I sincerely hope though that everyone has felt “in touch” with the Church over these last few months and that you have been enjoying and appreciating the online services, including Compline, and the wonderful Sunday Sheets put together by Margaret Cross and other members of the Ministry Team. Along with most other Churches we will be continuing with monthly online services – two per month in our case – and this is one very positive, and creative, aspect of the overall lockdown situation which we must not forget or diminish in importance. It has been a very difficult period for all of us, in lots of different ways, but in some respects I think that we’ve probably all emerged stronger and more committed and resilient in our faith. And those wonderfully encouraging words from St Paul have been ringing in my ears throughout this whole time: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.” We haven’t been able to meet together, to share hospitality with one another, to properly comfort one another, to rejoice with one another...........but we are still bound together so tightly with one another in and through the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

This understanding of our Christian faith has certainly helped me during these last few months, and over this whole year, and was very much in my heart and mind last month as we remembered and reflected on the last year on the National Day of Reflection. And now we enter the season of Easter – a time of such profound joy and hope for Christians across the world, some of whom are suffering greatly not only from the Pandemic but also from persecution and violence. So, to paraphrase St Paul, let us continue to run the race in fortitude and with courage, filled with faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love. Thank you for all your commitment, patience and love during these very trying months.

May God’s richest blessing be upon us all throughout this coming month.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

He is Risen indeed – Alleluia!

The Revd Alec Brown.