Julie's Jottings for April 

We are coming into a season where we look not just at the resurrection of Jesus, but our own rising up to meet life and the challenges of our future, starting here and now.  The story of the resurrection of Jesus confronts the cruelty, brutality, injustice and violence which Jesus experienced on the cross, and many people still know.  His resurrection invites us to look away from self-interest, to the power of a love that does not die, but keeps on growing and is passed from one to another.  In the Church this makes us want to express our faith both in worship, and in building community.  We know that there are people in the village who may not come to church, but who share this belief in wanting to serve the common good, and love our neighbour.
The focus of our services this month is on building and developing community. We are looking at our own attitudes and choices to find ways that our actions and life might become the seeds of our highest hope for the whole community and not just ourselves. This month we appraise the life of the church as we look back to the past year, and forward to what is coming next.  We welcome views from the community.  Is there something that you would like to see happening at St Mary’s, or which you want us to do together? You would be welcome at out Annual Meeting on 14 April, or you can email me with ideas (revjulienorris@gmail.com).
Wishing you a peaceful Eastertide.                                                         Rev Julie Norris
                                

Reflection for the month - April

 There’s a long long trail a‘winding.

To the soldiers in the wretched trenches of World War One, the words of the ‘Long long trail’ song, written by Stoddard King, surely brought comfort and hope, a way out from the nightmares of war to the ‘land of their dreams’. Does anything ever change? How many desperate souls today, and not only those confronted with the terror of war, would most willingly exchange their all but hopeless plight for a land of dreams. Famine, fire, flood, poverty, homelessness, constantly add to the sum of human misery in one part of the world or another up to our very doorsteps.
 
‘Thy kingdom come’, are familiar words from the Lord’s Prayer, a kingdom where justice, love and mercy sustain an everlasting peace. The way to that Kingdom may well be long, but we have Jesus as a travelling companion and every one of us, often by just the smallest steps can help move us all along that way, that long long trail.  Jesus said ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ Following Him, following his example of love, mercy and justice for all is THE way.  It may well prove to be a long trail, we have after all been walking it for two thousand years.  There may be no end in sight, but we must never give up hope. Trust in God, and every day give thanks for our lives and all that we can do for others and share with them. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                        David Peacock