What a wonderful and warm welcome Barbara,Isaac have received here at St Thomas and St Hilda's! I was so very moved during my licensing service with the welcome by members of the church and community, by the vibrant worship and of course that led by our wonderful Gospel choir. No wonder Bishop Smitha (who was also on form!) said that she didn't want to go home. The service will always be a special memory in our hearts.
What kind of new Vicar have you been landed with? Well, one with a passion for Jesus and for God's Word (and my hope and daily prayer is that as we journey together, we will grow an even greater passion for Jesus and a greater love for His life saving Word!)
You have landed a vicar who looks for every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus: (and my hope and prayer is that we together will build on the wonderful ways we do this here at St Thomas, increasing our desire to draw others to God's amazing, all saving grace).
Further, you have a vicar who believes that Jesus heals today (and we will look for ways to continue ministering healing and enabling growth in the use of gifts of the Spirit).
He loves to worship -exuberantly! (and together,we will strive to ensure our learning and worship, whether in the main service, at Superstars, at YBs, whether in the church building, or outside - in school, a nursing home, maybe in a café, or out on the streets, remains relevant as we engage and experience a deep encounter with our living God). I also hold a high regard for the Eucharist as we receive the bread and wine - a most significant and moving symbol of Jesus's body broken for you - and his blood, shed for you!
Holy Week:The first week in April is Holy Week, surely the most holy of weeks in our Christian calendar. Can I encourage you, if at all possible, to join us in the services listed for this week. Our act of remembrance at the Passover Sedar meal and Good Friday service will lead to the foot of the cross, where Jesus suffered the most excruciating pain and death, so that we may be free from the consequence of our wrongdoings and sin. Could I perhaps further invite you to join me (in the quietness of your own homes) to encounter Jesus in his last days as we daily prayerfully read, throughout the week, the passion of Christ, as expressed in John's Gospel:
- Holy Monday (Anointing at Bethany):John 12:1-11
- Holy Tuesday (Prediction of Death):John 12:20-36
- Holy Wednesday (Judas' Plot & Jesus' Departure): John 12:37-50
- Maundy Thursday (The Last Supper):John 13:1-35 (includes foot washing and new commandment)
- Good Friday (Passion and Crucifixion): John 18:1-19;42
- Holy Saturday (Jesus in the Tomb): John 19:38-42
As a past vicar once said to me, 'there is no resurrection without the crucifixion' - we need to first visit the sweat, tears and agony in the garden of Gethsemane and the brutality of the Cross at Calvary before we can fully experience the glory and joy of Easter.
Praying for you all that you have a most God blessed Easter.
With love in Christ, Neil.