Minister’s Message 30 March
Dear Friends
The word Lent is derived from the Old English word for springtime – 'lencten' – which relates to the 'lengthening' of days at this time of year. That of course is a gradual thing although we will notice it more this coming week since the clocks also go forward one hour this weekend for British Summer Time. It is not unusual to see someone arriving for church about 11.15 on this Sunday of the year and looking puzzled to see signs of the service already underway (just as we often welcome someone at choir practice on the equivalent Sunday in the autumn!) so don't let that be you!
Easter is late this year so although the clocks go forward this Sunday, it is only the fourth Sunday of Lent – the one that is observed traditionally as Mothering Sunday, originally the celebration of the fact that the Church nurtures us like a mother rather than the Mother's Day that our transatlantic cousins mark in May.
There are another three weeks to go until Easter. Next week, the fifth Sunday of Lent is observed as Passion Sunday when we begin to focus on the suffering of Christ for us, then the sixth Sunday of Lent is Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week when the biblical record gives us an almost blow by blow account of the final days of Jesus' life on earth. Only then do we reach Easter Day, the high holy-day when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the source and power of our Christian hope.
As the days lengthen and our hearts lighten to see the promise of springtime, let us also commit ourselves to walk the road to the Cross with Jesus, not jumping straight to Easter but really entering into the depth of Christ's suffering. Over the next three weeks may I encourage you to read from Luke chapter 19 where Jesus draws near to Jerusalem through to Luke chapter 24 where the resurrection is recounted and ponder the very heart of the Gospel story.
But first, put your clocks forward!
With all prayerful good wishes.
Alan
Rev A D Reid