The Great Easter Hope

On the morning of my mother's funeral, a good and wise friend said to me: "It is Friday, Sunday is coming". He was making reference to one of the great sermons, which he and I heard at the Christian Arts Festival, Greenbelt, many years ago. In summary, the sermon give by Tony Campolo reminds us of the great Easter hope.

I don't think any of us can ever fully comprehend the enormity of Good Friday. Not only the brutality and the indignity of Jesus' death, but with it the loss of all sense of hope and promise. Can you imagine what it must have felt like for those first disciples as they see Jesus die on the cross; the sense of terror, fear, distress and depair?

Then on Sunday, first the empty tomb, and then trying to work out what has happened. Then, whilst still puzzling as to what all this means, the joy of seeing Jesus! The wondr of the resurrection, of new life, knowing death is defeated. The triumph of love over death, God's glory, God's love and knowing that all Jesus had said and promised must be true!

We who believe, are given this great hope, that no matter how challenging life is, how close we are to despair, there is always hope. Hope in a God who loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world, to die for us on the cross. Hope in a God who can turn the sorrow of Good Friday into the joy of Easter Sunday. The sorrow of parting, into the joy of heaven!

Rev. Tony Rindl, Vicar of St. Leonard's

Easter Services

• Palm Sunday 10:00am Parish Communion
• Maundy Sunday With vigil from 7:00pm to 10:00pm
• Good Friday
  • 10:00am to 12 noon Messy Church
  • 2:00pm Hour by the Cross
• Holy Saturday 7:00pm Easter vigil - Service of Light
• Easter Sunday 10:00am Family Communion

Notices

St. Leonard's major fundraising event, the May Market, takes place on Saturday, May 17. Donations are needed for a range of stalls: Bottle tombola, Gift tombola, Bric-a-brac, Toys and Jigsaws. The organising committee are also seeking offers of cakes. Donations are to be placed in the boxes provided in church or handed to the appropriate stallholder.

Messy Church will be held in St. Leonard's on Friday, April 18th from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. Craft, Easter egg hunt, Easter story, food and FUN! Families welcome.

The AGM of the Marston Green Parish Hall is on Tuesday, April 8th at 7:15pm in the Elmdon Lounge.

St. Loenard's Rambling Club's AGM takes place on May 18th at 7:30pm in the Elmdon Lounge.