Richard Writes
Revd Richard Reade
Richard Writes
August 2011
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 Dear Friends May 2012 Alleluia! Christ is risen! This month we continue, in the Churches calendar, to celebrate Eastertide up to the twin feasts of the Ascension (17th) and Pentecost (27th). The Church building has been gloriously bedecked in flowers to complement the white and gold of the hangings emphasising the idea of new life and celebration following the relative austerity of Lent. For the world around us Easter is chocolate and bunnies which can come off the shop shelves now till Boxing Day (or at least that’s how it feels!) – the world concentrates its Easter focus on a day of chocolate gorging and nothing else. For the Christian community Easter day is the beginning of a season of celebration. I’ve recently finished a book by Dr. Paula Gooder, a New Testament scholar, called “This Risen existence” (Highly recommended!), in which she makes the point that in Church life we spend the six weeks of Lent preparing for, and building up to the great events of Holy Week and Easter, but once they’ve arrived we don’t appear to carry on the reflection of what resurrection means. Eastertide becomes a bit of a let-down instead of an ongoing celebration and exploration of the hope to which we’re called and the life transforming nature of the Resurrection events. Dr. Gooder writes, “The death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit all come together as a seamless whole. The progression is simple but vital. Jesus’ death and resurrection transform us and allow us to become the people that God wants us to be, but the ascension and Pentecost are equally important..... The resurrection offers us transformation in Christ, the ascension gives us the motivation to act and Pentecost the ability to do it.” [P.Gooder, ‘This Risen Existence’, Canterbury Press, 2009, p.15] These weeks of Eastertide enable us to reflect on the significance of the resurrection appearances and their implication for the journey of discipleship. Eastertide is also a time for us to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit who will equip us and empower us to engage in mission, reaching out to the community with the Good News of God’s saving love in Christ Jesus. I encourage you to make full use of this season and to join together at Sunday worship to give thanks and praise to our Creator, Saviour God, and to re-commit yourselves in His loving service. Alleluia! Christ is risen! Every blessing. Richard |
