Late again!

Well it is as some folk keep reminding me ‘a busy time’. So Palm Sunday on the 1st April should be avoided at all cost.

Now I want to encourage those of you who have given some thing up for Lent – not long to go - and then the biggest party in the Christian Calendar – Easter. But first to foot washing and the Last Supper, which becomes the Lord’s Supper, Eucharist (Thanksgiving), Holy Communion, even Mass or more simply the Breaking of Bread. Then ‘Good Friday’, though what was good about it is only later worked out; and then the final waiting, Holy Saturday, a quiet day in which to go over the story. From Bethlehem to Nazareth via Egypt. Then a public ministry of teaching and preaching and healing in Galilee in the close company of friends. Finally to Jerusalem. It was madness, some of his friends tried to warn him off, but Jesus was determined. Palms and psalms, temple cleared for prayer, more teaching, time with friends at Bethany, Passover and then betrayal, denial, dark trials, Sanhedrin, Herod, Pilate, and Crucifixion and death for sure. What does this all mean? Who can make any sense of it? Then early next day, the garden to finish, what had been hurried on the Friday, to the tomb. But it stands empty, no body. Slowly the light dawns, women see it first, Jesus is not dead he is alive!

So having got that of my chest let me encourage you some more. In late May, the Riding Lights Theatre Company will be bringing it production “African Snow” to Birmingham. It is a very powerful drama telling the story around the Abolition of Slave Trading Bill 1807. Find out more on the Riding Light web page. Remember that you are all invited to Worcester Cathedral for a ‘Singfest’ on May 24 in the evening.

Now just a word about this EASTER faith. In celebrating the Empty Tomb, the witness of the first followers and the Church today, we proclaim that Christ is risen, the power of God’s love is set free in our world to make a world of difference. As I reflect on this great truth I can only tell the story and then live “as if”, day-by-day.  The invitation is to you too.

Easter blessings.

Yours in love,

Bill Anderson.