The Easter services are now available to download from the Online Services section.
May you all have a blessed and hope-ful Easter.
Matt
Calstone, Cherhill, Compton Bassett, Heddington, Yatesbury,
The Easter services are now available to download from the Online Services section.
May you all have a blessed and hope-ful Easter.
Matt
At Easter in 2005 whilst I was at Easter School in Salisbury as part of my Ordination training, I was privileged to hear the first airing of a new Oratorio entitled 'The Resurrection' by Simon McEnery; Words by Jeremy Davies. This is part of that work; the words I find deeply meaningful each Easter as I read them again. Easter Morning Alone in the garden of Eden, God spent himself crafting a race Yearning for some selfless creature, to show in reflection, his grace. Where justice and peace flowed like rivers, compassion like fruit on the trees He made his companions just like him,Like lovers he wanted to please. But right at the heart of creation God purposely fashioned a flaw Deliberately giving free choices to creatures demanding yet more. The outcome of such trusting goodness might have drawn love in return But pride lit the tinder of evil and God watched his universe burn. But God who is love does not waver, he will not abandon his own He follows them to the far country, though lonely, they’re never alone. His love like a mantle enfolds them, he brings them home time and again. He died on a cross on a Friday, enduring humanity’s pain. And then in a garden on Sunday when the world again started to turn God walks in the cool of the morning and waits for his children’s return. He wonders if they will recall him, remember him after this time; His hands, feet and side deeply wounded, his face still disfigured with grime And then like the dawn of creation a loved one returns to the scene; She seeks for the grave of her Master to weep where his body has been. He murmurs her name like the dew drops, she turns to him, falls at his feet Her love is the one thing he’s longed for, it heralds the cycle complete. Though the garden of Eden’s grown over with tumbleweed, bramble and briar The gardener returns as he promised, the phoenix is raised from the fire. The embers return to cold ashes; a new fire now bursts into flame A new Alleluia is sounded. For Jesus, old Adam’s new name
I’m sorry that I won’t be able to sort out a service for tonight to remember the Last Supper. There are plenty of services around which I hope you feel able to make use of.
However, Linda has put together a meditation (download here) which you could use tomorrow either on a walk or in your home, to help us think about the love of God which took Jesus to the cross. It would be great if you could join us in this.
The cross will be up on Cherhill Down between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Please use it to help you reflect, but it is not intended as a gathering point. If it is on or near a walk you would normally make, please do pause and think, but only briefly and by yourselves. Please do not make a special trip to visit it – it does not count as an essential trip. I hope that many of you can see it from near where you are, and that it helps you to know it is there.
With love
Matt (and Linda)
A reminder that services are now available via the “Online Services” page. However, if you prefer to download the video to watch offline, please use the links on this page.
This week there is just one service, but there is a pause partway through, so if you don’t want to stay for communion, please feel free to stop there.
If you would like the full service of Holy Communion, please click here. There is also an order of service to download and print available here, but everything you need is also on the screen.
If you struggle to hear my sermon, you can find a similar text here.
I hope you find something you can use.
With love, Matt
This Sunday coming – 5th April – is Palm Sunday.
Usually on Palm Sunday as you enter the church you would be given a palm cross to wave. That’s not really possible this year, so instead, I’m going to ask you to be creative. If you want to join in, please follow the instructions on this page. You will need a suitably-coloured sheet of paper or card. I’ll also go through the instructions for you on Sunday in case anyone cannot work out what to do.
Then be ready to wave it joyfully on Sunday.
Looking forward to “seeing” you then.
Matt