Easter Greetings
2009
Dear friends,
For some time now Easter Eggs and Chocolate Bunnies have been on the store shelves, stirring up childhood memories, and tantalizing us with the promise of Easter. Soon Easter Lilies will begin to appear, their tightly closed buds ready to bloom with the fragrance of heaven.
Meanwhile, the mood in the Church is the more quiet and reflective one of Lent. The colour of the Church hangings is purple to express the sombre and serious sentiment of the season. Lent is an annual opportunity to draw closer to God through more intentional prayer, self- examination, Bible Study, and church attendance. It is also a time to give more sacrificially. St Margaret's has a very strong ministry team, and your financial contribution enables us to serve the needs of church members, and also to reach out in caring ways to the world around us. When we heed the Churches call to do these things, Easter has much more meaning and depth for us; its joy is far more real and lasting. And best of all, our faith is renewed and strengthened. I suspect this is something most of us need in order to live well in these challenging and difficult times.
The height of the Lenten Season comes in Holy Week when we begin to engage in the great and unsettling drama of the Cross. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and is followed by Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Please make note of the times of these services, as listed below, and plan to attend. You will find your faith strengthened and your spiritual life enriched. Furthermore those Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies will be all the more delicious!
The Reverend Sid Maddock returns to St Margaret's on April 1st, and will continue as your Priest-in-Charge throughout the remainder of the Interim. On his behalf, and also on behalf of the Reverend Janet Mitchell, I wish each of you a blessed Lenten journey and joyful Easter.
Faithfully in Christ,,
The Reverend Elizabeth Morley
Interim-Priest-in-Charge for February and March