Getting real with Easter eggsIf you know the Easter story from the Bible, you will remember that the account of Easter Day itself began very early in the morning, whilst it was still dark. A few ladies were making their way to the tomb where they had watched Jesus buried a few days before. They came to make sure that Jesus was given dignity in his death. As they walked towards the grave it never occurred to them that day would be anything other than a day of sadness and grief: a day when their sense of hope – the hope they had placed in Jesus – would finally be demolished by the reality of death.And yet, within a few minutes their lives were turned upside down. The story tells how they found the grave opened and the body gone. Then they met Jesus again. Risen.The account of the resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith – and so central to my world-view, my spiritual life and even my day to day decision making. I accept, of course, that for many reading this piece the importance of the Easter events do not resonate and that the story remains just that – a story. The amazing thing though is that this ‘story’ has transformed the lives of countless millions of people over 2,000 years all around the world and is still changing people’s lives today as people claim to have encountered Jesus for themselves. You may or may not be one of them. If you would like to discover more about the Easter story, then there are churches and chapels that would be delighted to welcome you. But if that is not your scene – if you don’t want too do the church thing, and don’t accept the validity of the Bible account – I wonder if I can ask you to hold on to one possibility?Can you hold onto the possibility of change?Ours is an uncertain and often sad world, in which people are broken and despair is real. It was that kind of world that the women were living in that day on the way to the tomb. But in a moment everything changed for them. Hold on to that hope. The hope of a world transformed. The hope of a life turned around. A personal resurrection experience. For, even as it’s most basic level, that is the truth in the Easter story: despair turned to hope; sadness turned to joy; fear turned to courage; and death turned to life. And all of us could do with holding onto that! As we crack open our Easter eggs and remember the open tomb, our curiosity to look inside the Easter story a little more (rather like those women) can bring new life into the old pattern for us too. Happy Easter! Canon Lynda Barley (Interim Rural Dean)PLEASE NOTE. This and all other entries in 'News and Notices' are usually listed in order of date published or amended.
Writing this as February reaches its mid-way point, I realise that it will be read as February ends and March begins. This means that we will already be in Lent and Spring will be just around the corner. January felt like a very long and dark month, but it is already light by 7am and still light at 5.30pm. No doubt as you read this, the day will be a little longer and a little warmer again. My favourite time of year is arriving, which is when I sit with my new seeds and start the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers growing. It is a reminder that life is a cycle, with endings and beginnings, new growth and death and decay, which are all an essential part of creation.Lent is a time in which we focus closely on this cycle. Echoing both the wilderness 40 years of the first Hebrew people after their escape from slavery in Egypt, and Jesus’ 40 days in the desert being tempted by Satan, Lent is a period of 40 days in which we strive to clean up our lives and make ourselves the best version that we can be. As we rejoice that we to are free, we notice the temptation of the world around us. By deliberately giving up (or sometimes taking on) something that we will find challenging to lose (or tricky to keep up), we expose ourselves to temptation and grow stronger in our ability to resist it. Every time we are tempted to reach for that chocolate we said we wouldn’t eat, or skip that Bible study we said we would make time for every single day, we are reminded of just how easily humans give in to temptation. By praying for strength and resilience, we can refocus, restart, and get through what is, in comparison to the difficulties faced by millions around the globe, quite a simple self-imposed task. But the point is to help ourselves to draw closer to God through prayer daily. It is easy to overlook this aspect of Lent: it is a time of focussed prayer. When temptation tickles, pray pray pray! And then rejoice as you notice the effect.At the end of the 40 days, we approach Easter and the festival of great joy that brings. Holy Week is a rollercoaster emotional journey through darkness and despair, and out into light and joy on Easter morning. From the almost unbearable drama of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, where we watch with Jesus and his disciples as he is arrested and taken to be crucified, then sit during his last hour of life before his death on the cross; to the silence and stillness of Saturday as Jesus lay in the tomb and the disciples hid in terror; to the confusion mixed with rejoicing on Sunday as Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb and met the Risen Lord, it is well worth marking every moment of this powerful and uplifting drama. Services across Launceston and our villages will chart each step and allow you an opportunity to join in with the story.After Easter, I will be taking a two month sabbatical, during which time I will be focussing on completing the paperwork required for the end of my curacy training. I will be returning to services in July, hopefully all signed off. During May and June, there may be a few alterations to services so please forgive us if you need to travel to a different church to receive communion or attend prayers. You are very welcome at all of our churches, and it will offer a chance to meet others and join in prayer with new friends. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support, which James and I value very much.Sending blessings to everyone for a prayerful Lent and blessed, joyful Easter,Rev’d JessPLEASE NOTE. This and all other entries in 'News and Notices' are usually listed in order of date published or amended.
Planet MarsJust a Thought - DoubtDo you have doubts about your Christian beliefs? Who doesn't, I wonder? There is so much disbelief in our world today that it is difficult not to be tainted by it.Whichever way you turn in our modern lives, we see and hear disbelief - be it in books, films, TV, radio, theatre, our workplace and more.Please don't confuse 'doubt' with 'disbelief'. Disbelief is something which is completely at odds with the truth. It is very often completely unfounded; a state of mind brought about by ignorance. I was once accosted by a man who said that the whole of religious belief was a "load of mumbo jumbo" (words to that effect!) but I suspect he had hardly, if ever, given a moment's thought to what it's all about.Of course, we are not alone in having doubts. Thomas the Apostle was very unsure about whether or not he was standing face to face with Jesus after the crucifixion until he was shown the wounds inflicted on the cross.I have a lot of respect for Thomas. He was brave enough to air his doubts and ask the question that was "bugging" him. How many of us would have done the same in similar circumstances? In fact, it is the answer Jesus gave to his question which has given us one of the most graphic images of His resurrection and the profound expression of faith, "My Lord and my God", made by Thomas after seeing those ghastly wounds.Just look at what religion has given us over the ages. Beautiful buildings, paintings, sculpture and books, the great religious orders of the World encompassing billions of believers across many parts of the Globe. All created by and encompassing thinking men and women with a belief in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Surely they are not wrong!I think doubt is a healthy encouragement to find out more. To study in greater depth, to find out if you have just reasons for that doubt. So, with religion, the first source of knowledge to turn to would, of course, be the Bible. But there are also numerous religious scholars who have published most readable accounts and opinions and yes, proofs, enough to quell most doubts!So please don't be over concerned if doubts creep in from time to time. Just make sure that you don't put them aside and be left to smoulder.Thank you for reading this.KenPLEASE NOTE. This and all other entries in 'News and Notices' are usually listed in order of date published or amended.
Although no-one has reported seeing any Angels in the sky above North Petherwin this Christmas, we do have sightings of Angel displays in windows, up a tree, on a rather prickly Holly bush and even on a gate post!Our thanks to everyone who put together an Angel and to those who supplied a photo or two of their display.A collage of these pictures is attached and you can easily view it by clicking the download button.PLEASE NOTE. This and all other entries in 'News and Notices' are usually listed in order of date published or amended.
