I’m a fan of Victorian novels and Dickens is undoubtedly by favourite Victorian novelist, but my favourite novel of all time is ‘Les Miserables’ by Victor Hugo. Many people know the story from the songs of the popular musical. It is the story of a man who has reached upmost wretchedness and despair who is saved and gradually restored to fullness of life by the kind actions of a priest. Similarly, in Dickens' ‘A tale of two Cities’, there is a phrase – indeed a password - by which people are ‘recalled to life’. That is precisely what has happened and will happen again this Sunday as we remember the Easter story, whereby Jesus recalls us to life by his resurrection.Whatever despair or wretchedness we may be going through, his act of sacrifice on the cross and his rising from the tomb gives us hope, a fresh start and life in abundance.Revd Liz
The first Palm Sunday must have been a celebration of chaos, noise, colour and anticipation as Jesus enters Jerusalem to the adulation of a cheering crowd. I always think our ordered gatherings and attempts at exuberant celebration of this event must fall significantly short of the unfettered original, but try we must! The importance of the entry is that all too soon the cheering fades until we are left with the loneliness of Maundy Thursday’s watch and the reflective desolation of Good Friday before the joy arrives.Please come and join in. Mark out the services you plan to come to as together we keep this week. Think and pray about those you will invite to share in our devotions and prepare for the joy of Easter.Fr Simon
As we celebrate Mothering Sunday with flowers and simnel cake and give thanks for those who have been mothers to us, our gospel reading from John reminds us that everything associated with motherhood can bring as much pain as it does joy. Mary stands at the foot of the cross watching her son enduring an agonising death. But, even in his pain, Jesus finds a way to give Mary a new family relationship of love and support. We pray for families, that the Holy Spirit will dwell among them and nurture them also in love.Revd Liz
Our Gospel this week (Luke 13.1-9) is all about God not giving up on people when it looks like their lives are condemned failure or sin or whatever it may be. On Wednesday of last week, I had the honour of attending a private view of a new exhibition put on by The Lived Experience Collective at the Primeyarc Gallery in the Market Gates shopping centre. The artists are all formerly homeless people. And I had a chance to talk with a few of them. They are incredible people! People who have struggled with perhaps some of the most difficult problems any person can struggle with – who have been cast out on the streets and condemned – but who have managed to transform their lives with the help of those who would not give up on them.I left full of hope, the hope of the Gospel that calls all of us to repentance and new life!Rev Richard
