Pewsheets

From the Rector…

Pewsheets

Although the earliest date possible for Easter is 22 March,m that last occurred in 1818 and won’t happen until 2285.  In 2008, Easter was on 23 March, and we’ll see that again (not!) in 2160.  By contrast, another 28 March Easter (as it is this year) is only 11 years away – although that’s just about within the time-frame that Archbishop Justin Welby hopes for an ecumenical agreement on a fixed Easter date.

Disagreements about the date of Easter in the early church led to the Council of Nicea (in 325AD) deciding that Easter should be on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox.  Why?  The full moon is linked to the Jewish festival of Passover – which was the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.  Eastern and Western churches still have different dates for Easter because the former use the Julian calendar to calculate the date, whereas the West moved to the Gregorian calendar following a papal decree in 1582 (although, not being keen to be too slavish to continental Europe – sound familiar? – the UK waited until September 1752 to change).

In England we actually have a (1928) Act of Parliament providing for Easter to be on the first Sunday after the second Saturday of April – but it has never been implemented.  All that is a long-winded way of observing that Easter is early this year so we only have one Sunday of “ordinary time” (green as the liturgical colour) between Candlemas and Lent.

So, from Wednesday, will you take the challenge of doing an act of generosity or kindness each day?  Go to www.40acts.org.uk  and join the movement.

Pewsheet for 24th January 2016

Pewsheets

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From the Curate…

Pewsheets

With today’s Gospel reading you could legitimately ask the question; ‘How on earth does turning water into wine reveal to us the Glory of God?’

Obviously, there is the quick answer that it demonstrates Jesus to be the best wedding guest ever and it dispels the arguments that as Christians we are not to party or celebrate. I suppose you could even argue the case to always invite the clergy to the reception in case lightning strikes twice!

Joking aside, today’s reading is one of the critical moments within the Gospel narrative.  One day when he was around thirty years old, Jesus and his friend showed up at a wedding. Weddings in Israel typically lasted seven days.  Families were known to invite large number of people, sometimes – entire villages  (with three daughters – I always thank God that this practice is no longer observed and I have often advocated bringing your own picnic as an alternative to the wedding reception!)  Refusal to come was an insult and there should be leftovers – so running out of wine was a serious faux pas.  When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother asked him to step in. His reply that his hour had not yet come – was ignored – mother’s always know best!  And then came the critical moment. As he acted and turned the water in wine, the host relaxed, the feast resumed, the crowd rejoiced – but a chain of events had been set in motion that would lead to a confrontation with enemies that would change the course of the world.  A clock had started ticking.

Jesus had spent 30 years preparing for this moment – he had prepared for it by always keeping his eyes on God and God’s purpose for his life as well as studying the scripture and praying – so that he was ready at a Wedding in Cana to start the clock ticking. A pattern of preparation we should all follow

Steve

Pewsheet for 10th January 2016 – the Baptism of Christ

Pewsheets

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Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

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Happy New Year to you all !

Pewsheets

A new year, new beginnings, a new life.

When a new year begins we often look back on the year gone-by to reflect on its joys, sadness, achievements, failings and then we make a resolution to improve, to move forward with determination to do better. That is my theory anyhow but at the end of 2016 will I, will you, look back again and wonder, what and why, or will we be really impressed with our achievements ?

In 2016 there are a lot of new things to plan, new ventures there for some of us, for me too, I hope and pray – but what and for whom? We cannot make the decisions on our own, we should not rush headlong into something; we need to pray, to think and to consider what God would want us to do. We do not know His plans but we do know He will show us the way, if we let Him in to our hearts and minds; we need to be still, quiet and listen for that still, small voice that is calling us, then we may have an idea.

Next week we will celebrate the Baptism of Christ and all over Christendom, including here in our Parish Eucharist, there will be new Christians baptised, born in to the family of God, not knowing what they will do with their lives but knowing it is a new beginning for them; just as a new calendar year is a new beginning for everyone, with all its joys and sorrows, all its uncertainties.

I pray that all of us may go forward with the Lord as our guiding light, helping, healing and leading us on the right path; showing us why things happen and how we can turn to Him for our strength and salvation.

Go forward, as I shall, with hope, joy, peace and love in my heart and mind, and attempt to work “ ‘to the greater glory of God’. ”

Joan Tick – (retiring) pew sheet compiler

Pewsheet for 27th December 2015 – the First Sunday of Christmas

Christmas, Pewsheets

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Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

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