Dear Friends,

One of the things that I have been reflecting on is how the events of Easter changed the perspective of Jesus’ disciples.

Holy Week is an intense time when we walk with Jesus through the events of his final week on earth prior to his crucifixion. We think about His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. We see him confronting the moneychangers in the temple precincts and how he engages in debate with those who are curious about Him and what He is about. We get drawn into the atmosphere of the Last Supper and all that it represented as Jesus celebrated it with his disciples and we are moved when we see him wash his disciples’ feet. We feel the sting of betrayal as Jesus leads a posse of soldiers into the Garden of Gethsemane and Judas betrays his master with a kiss.

There are the harrowing events of Jesus’ trial and how he is mercilessly tortured and mocked by soldiers, before his agonising crucifixion and death. Sometimes we draw a line at that point, unable to deal with or process more of this intense sequence of events.

There is a remarkable twist however that changes everything. Three days after Jesus’ crucifixion when women go to anoint his body with spices, they discover the stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty. There is an angel or angels there depending on which Gospel account you read and. they are saying, “He is not here, He has risen just as He said He would.” What’s more, we are invited to share in his victory over the grave as His followers. Death has been defeated.

If you follow elite or high level sport as I do, results are everything. We see managers being sacked and demands being made for coaches’ resignations after a few defeats and you see confidence dropping among the players. They become afraid to play and express themselves in case they make a mistake and the opposition take advantage. When chances present themselves to attack or increase a lead, nervous teams tend to hang back and try to defend their lead. The opposition often sense that fear and try to sow seeds of doubt and secure different advantages that will dent the team’s confidence. It’s remarkable at times the way a coach can instil belief, give a team confidence and shape and structure and help them to manage the difficult periods of a game.

When I think of difficult seasons in my own life or in the lives of people I know and care about, Easter offers a transformational message. It tells us we are not alone in those seasons and while they will present challenge, difficulty and sometimes despair and great sadness, they will not have the final word. Jesus’ resurrection speaks of a new dawn, about light in the darkness and hope triumphing over despair. It’s a powerful message right now with our world in such a state of turmoil and unrest. In these confusing days, we allow Jesus to take us by the hand and to lead us forward, to reassure us that when the world is doing its worst, he is able to do more than we can ask or imagine.

We hope you can join us for some of our special services and celebrations over Holy Week, Easter and the weeks following.

Christ is risen, Alleluia!

With very best wishes.

Jonathan Pierce (Rector)

Telephone 02890 793822