Vicar's Message for Easter

 EASTER HOPE

Dear Friends

Last year I had the joy of choosing my favourite pieces of music for a fun evening where the parishes that I look after came together for my Des(s)ert Island Discs. The extra “s” is down to the fact that in amongst me being interviewed about my life and most loved pieces of music we indulged in puddings (hence the dessert) and prosecco while raising money for charity.

I found it very difficult to choose my preferred pieces of music which were reasonably wide-ranging including artists like Ken Dodd, Freddie Mercury and Abba as well as some more classical pieces. This year (on Saturday 26th September at 6.30pm) the Bishop of Truro, Rt Revd David Williams, will be joining us to choose and tell us about the pieces of music that he loves the most, I am sure that they will be more sophisticated than mine. Further details of this event will be in our magazine in future months and you are very welcome to come along to find out for yourselves!

Bishop David will also be joining us much before that on 2nd April at 7pm for our Maundy Thursday Communion at St Mary’s. That service for me is one of the most special ones of the year for it is where we remember the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples and the way in which he humbly served them in his washing of their feet.

At the end of the service we go and quietly sit at an altar which is adorned with flowers and where the blessed Sacrament is placed reminding us of the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was betrayed by Judas prior to his trail and crucifixion.

Often among the flowers that decorate our altar are daffodils and, if I was to be asked to choose my Desert Island Flower it would be the daffodil. For, as I contemplate the altar that speaks of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest and death the daffodil brings me hope. It is a bright and beautiful flower which comes in spring and is, for me, a sign of new life and hope – symbolizing for me the hope of the resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate on Easter Day.

As we approach Easter I pray that we may all find hope and celebrate Jesus return to life from the grave.

With grace, peace and every blessing

Paul

Revd Canon K Paul Arthur