From the Vicarage

Dear Friends

I as write this article – Bank Holiday Monday after Easter day – I always find

this day a bit of an odd one. Easter is over and all the business of the last week

is complete, all the services have been completed and the booklets tidied away

till next year – it is a day to breathe, to stop for a moment. But actually, normally

for me, a day to catch up on what I should have done during Holy Week……

However, I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the various congrega-

tions for joining in the Easter journey this year. I think that all of the services

that we did were new to you – but I hope that those who came enjoyed the

experience, and will tell others to come and join in next year.

Thank you to everybody who made our church buildings so beautiful with flower

displays and much cleaning – you are amazing people, thank you.

If you did not manage to join in the services during Holy Week then I would

really like to encourage you to try next year to come along and see what it is all

about. After talking to several people over the Easter season I am wondering if

holding the services in an afternoon during Holy Week would be better for

people. I am also wondering about introducing a mid week Eucharist, say 10am

on a Wednesday – would you come to this service if it started? A mid week

service allows more time to be closer to God, it also means that I can normally

spend time with the congregation after the service as I do not have to rush off

to take another service somewhere else.

If you have thoughts either way then please do let me know.

All the church yards are looking splendid at the moment with the remains of

spring flowers, and many visitors have remarked to me on how well cared for

our church grounds and building are, so well done to everybody for all their

hard work to maintain the buildings and grounds, it really does matter, as first

impressions do count.

Easter is a time for new growth and a reminder to us all that Winter is passed

and Summer is ahead, it is a season to take stock of where we are and how we

as a Christian might grow in our own faith, and how we might share our faith

with other people.

One of my Bishops in Cornwall said that Christianity is a generational religion;

by that he meant that if we do not pass on our faith to the next generation then

Christianity, as we know it, will cease. We all have a duty to talk to people

about what we believe, to show to those around us by our actions that we are

trying to live out our life using Christian values. How then do we as four church-

es here in this idyllic Cheshire spot show the wider world what we believe?

I will leave you to ponder that question, and if you have any suggestions as to

what we should do, then please do let me know.

May I wish you all God’s Blessings for a joyous Eastertide.

Robert