Vicar

A letter from the Vicarage – Rev’d Andy Stand

Hi Everyone,

A few weeks ago, at just before 8 o’clock on a Saturday morning, I found myself driving over the Carrington Bridge towards Powick. It was just beginning to get light, and as has been the case on many occasions this winter, the flood plains under the bridge were pretty much completely underwater. In the distance the Malvern Hills were silhouetted against the sky line, their peaks poking through a low layer of cloud or mist evidently rising up off the flood waters. It was quite a sight – one which I tried to get James to pay attention to and appreciate and one which brought to mind two stories: the first, the story of Easter morning when Jesus’ women friends were making their way to his tomb early in the morning in order to finish their ritual burial rites; and the second, the story of Noah and the devastating flood that God brought about in that story, and the rainbow that appears as a gift from God – a symbol of God’s promise to never again destroy the earth so completely!

Both of those stories also brought to mind a piece of clip art that I have occasionally used in and around Holy Week and Easter. It is a picture of a cross and a rainbow – both symbols of hope and promise.

This month we will celebrate once again the great Festival of Easter, rejoicing in its great promise of new life and new birth; of God doing something amazing and spectacular. There will even be the opportunity for anyone who wishes to, to join our sunrise service at St. Martin’s when we can share together in seeing the new light of the new day emerging into being – please don’t be put off by the clocks changing that weekend and losing that hour in bed!

This month hopefully will also reveal more signs of Spring, though it does seem, at the time of writing that the trees and the flowers are well advanced in heralding the arrival of the season, even if the temperatures don’t feel that they are quite keeping up with the pace.

I wonder where are you looking to see those new signs of life, the promise of Easter and of Spring?

On occasion it can be quite difficult to discern, where that new life is; where that new life is coming from.

Some little while ago at Whittington, we asked you to fill out a survey concerning our life and worship as a church community. A small team of us have been looking at those responses and working with our Mission Accompanier, Alan Taylor, to try and discern the way ahead for our journey, together, as a worshipping community, with God.

The story of Holy Week and Easter is a story of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem with his disciples. It is a story of utter destruction, and the death of all the hopes and the promise that the disciples found in Jesus. It is a story of change and changes, of new life and new birth rising out of the desolation of Jesus’ death. It is the story of what came next – the creation of a new community, living in the light of Jesus’ resurrection; living new lives in the promise of God’s power and love.

God invited his disciples to join Him on that journey and empowered them to continue the work of his Kingdom after His ascension into heaven. Jesus gave them new life, new promise, new hope.

We believe that Jesus invites us all to join that journey, to experience His promise, to receive His hope.

Will you be part of that journey with us, whether at St. Mark’s or Whittington, this Easter. You will be very welcome.

Happy Easter when it comes.

Every blessing, Andy.

 

 

 

 

St. Philip & St. James Parish Church Whittington, Worcs. WR5 2RQ