Dear Friends,
What a powerful and glorious Holy Week and Easter we have had again at S. Michael’s. It just got better and better. I saw again how the strong and dramatic liturgy of the season catches us up and takes us perhaps where we did not know we wanted to go. We are very grateful that so many of our community of faith put themselves out, not only to participate in the liturgy of the week, but also to do all those things that have enriched our celebration and made it so wonderful. Your generous contributions of time and energy have been a great gift to the whole community.
Easter continues in fact for fifty days, until Pentecost. During these Great Fifty Days, the Scripture readings explore the life that we have in Christ, as Christian communities and as disciples of Christ. Again, the catechumens Steven, Donee and Anthony lead us in this exploratory process in which we rediscover the depths of our sacramental and spiritual life.
Today, in the Gospel the encounter of the risen Jesus with Thomas is intended to address any sense of let-down there might be after all the excitement and wonder of the Easter celebration (today is not called Low Sunday for no reason!). The choir is having a well-earned break and the evening service will be Taizé Prayer.
Next Sunday, while still celebrating the festival, we offer and bless the gifts of the harvest. This is late in the season, but there is still much that we can bring in thanksgiving, and then pass on to the City Mission and the Community of the Sacred Name. Jenny Daniels will welcome assistance in preparing the church for the occasion. Thank you, Jenny and helpers, for all your work to bring this together.
The landscaping work continues on the north side of the church. The relaid lawns there and a new promenade path will eventually be complemented with some beds of roses and other flowers.
Looking ahead, the Annual General Meeting of Parishioners will be held in the hall on Sunday 2 May, after the Sung Mass. We look forward to hearing reports from all parish activities and groups. These reports are required soon so that they may be given to people to read before the meeting. They will help to give us all a good picture of the range of our parish life.
May God bless you all.Fr Peter Williams
