Dear Friends in Christ,

It’s that wonderful time of year when Spring feels really tangible. After the cold and dark of winter we start to see sunshine and colour everywhere. The days are longer and brighter, and you can smell the new fragrances of Spring in the air.

We are celebrating Christ’s resurrection, the event that remade us as Easter people, a rebirth-the spring-of our own lives of faith. It is appropriate that we are doing so this coming Sunday in a Joint Benefice Service at St Marys to celebrate as a whole church community. Like Spring, this is a wonderful time, but also one of promise. Nature does not stay permanently in Spring. Spring is beautiful, but part of that beauty is its transitory nature. Christ's resurrection is our spiritual spring, but then it becomes the spiritual summer with his ascending to be once more with God and the gifting of the Holy Spirit. Our own spiritual spring leads onto our spiritual summer where we grow and develop.

Thomas, aka Doubting Thomas, represents an important part of this faith journey. He is not reprimanded for his question. Instead, Jesus responds and provides the answer he seeks. And he continues to do so when we also ask questions. God does not force blind, unexplored faith. Our journeys with faith are unique and are all the richer for their questions, their times of doubt and reflection. God welcomes our most honest and heartfelt questions and will provide an answer-even if it is not immediately or not in the way we expect. Thomas is our example, so instead of Doubting Thomas he can be Bold Thomas, Thoughtful Thomas, even Faithful Thomas.

Amen

This Sunday 27th April Second Sunday of Easter

8.00am Holy Communion - All Saints
10.00am Joint Benefice Service Holy Communion - St. Marys NB. NO 10.30am service at All Saints

The Week Ahead

Monday 28th 10.30am Tiny Tots - All Saints Community Hall
Wednesday 30th 9.00am Celtic Morning Prayer - All Saints
Thursday 1st May 10.00am Holy Communion - St. Marys
Friday 2nd 11.00am Living After Loss - St. Marys
Saturday 3rd 10.00am to 12noon Coffee Morning - All Saints
Saturday 3rd 12noon - to 1.30pm Saturday Lunches - St. Marys

Next Sunday 4th May Third Sunday of Easter

10.00am Creative Church - St. Marys
10.30am Holy Communion - All Saints
6.30pm Evensong - St. Marys

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen

Blessings Fr Kester de Oliveira