The St Mark's Goes Global evening, on 22nd March, was a lot of fun with an amazing array of photos from locations around the world. What a well-travelled crowd our Church members are! The event also raised £303 for Christian Aid, plus Gift Aid. Thanks to everyone who took part. We were very pleased that the excellent Lent lunch at St Mark’s raised £331 - a total of over £600 in a single month. Thanks to everyone who made these events work.

St Mark’s School held their Easter Services at the Church on 31st March and 1st April. It was great to see parents and grandparents come along. As usual, each class contributed something to the service, and the Year 5 children wrote the prayers and read them during the KS2 service. Skye Crisp, a year 5 pupil, aged 9, wrote the amazing poem printed below, and read it at the service. What a talented young lady, and what a great school, nurturing this talent!

The Easter Story by Skye Crisp

Easter, a holiday of cheer, where children collect eggs that are near,

But, it’s not all eggs and bunnies, there is more to being silly and funny.

This story starts a long time ago, when you couldn’t walk with boots in the snow,

Where our hero came to a close, but wait! Don’t leave! Come stick in your nose.

Jesus had arrived in the town, with people praising, the great leader gave a frown,

Soon, Judas was making a horrible trade, the trade that would save when made.

Jesus knew of this cruel fate, but, he had a stable heart rate,

That evening he told his disciples that he would soon be in a terrible cycle.

“Death!?” said the disciples aloud, as Jesus gave food to the crowd,

“Yes”, said Jesus, “That is the cost”, he washed their feet, “Run, guide yourselves and don’t get lost”.

Then, it was the day, the day that Judas would betray,

Jesus was praying then was arrested, they knew to do this because Judas kissed him.

He was brought to trial, his disciples in denial,

The crowd screams, “PUT HIM TO DEATH!”, Jesus knew at that moment they had lost all faith.

Then, the priests smirked evilly, their eyes angry and fiery,

As Jesus with a thorn crown, dragged the cross around town.

They nailed him on the cross, crowds gathering with fruits to toss,

“Forgive them, Father”, Jesus gasped with his last breath, as he was taken by death.

With this, the sky turned dark, lightning and thunder that went bark! bark! bark!

The temple curtain tore in two, crowds going “Whooo!”.

They put Jesus in the tomb, they said “For things to respect you”,

A few days passed, the Death of Jesus in the past.

When some ladies came to visit, the stone had been shattered and hit,

An angel stood among the rocks, scaring them out of their socks!

“Don’t fret my dears”, the angel told them, Mary and the others tried to trust him,

“The one you seek is not here”, “When you find him, party! Drink beer!”

Being told this they quickly ran from the tomb, the disciples resting until Mary burst into the room,

“Jesus is alive!” they cried, bursting with much pride.

When Jesus came back, he taught more people, they sat down (some sitting in treacle!)

Then finally, the day came, he went to heaven, his tale known as fame.

The End.

As I write, we are preparing for Holy Week and Easter and for our St Mark’s Day celebration on 27th April. In addition to the Celebration! Service on that morning at 10am, we are also holding a Teddy Bear’s Picnic for children aged 2-6 on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

Rev David Richards - Resident Priest