Wednesday 23 April 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope that you were able to celebrate on Easter Sunday, and that you will continue to celebrate the joy of the Risen Lord throughout this Easter season. This coming Sunday, we will be reflecting on the Risen Jesus showing his wounds to Thomas, and Thomas' confession of faith: 'my Lord and my God.'

Pope Francis
No doubt we will all have heard about the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday. You may be interested to read tributes to him from Bishop Robert (our Diocesan Bishop), and from the Archbishop of York, on the Diocesan website here.
Pope Francis was an inspiring figure in his concern for the vulnerable, his work for peace, his commitment to simple living, and his teaching on our need to care for the environment. Some of us will remember reading some extracts from his book 'Laudato si' at our recent Earth Hour liturgy.

Service of Evening Prayer for Pope Francis
There will be an online Diocesan service to remember Pope Francis and give thanks for his Christian witness: TOMORROW, Thursday 24th April, 18:00
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81981390710?pwd=wCZSDux1jXCVxk2wxaGORsLCBaCZPQ.1
Everyone is welcome.

Sunday 4th May
David and I will be away, and James is on the Diocesan Nicaea trip. Archana will kindly lead a Service of the Word that Sunday. Many thanks to Archana.

Chrism Service Photos and Video
Pieter Perrett took some photos of the recent Chrism service at St Ursula's, which was led by our Suffragan Bishop, Bishop Andrew. If you would like to look at the photos, you can access them here.
Password: Chrism
There is also an article on the Diocesan website here.

I leave you with a poem which reflects on the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the Risen Jesus and the joy of Easter morning.

Easter Dawn
He blesses every love that weeps and grieves,
And now he blesses hers who stood and wept
And would not be consoled, or leave her love's
Last touching place, but watched as low light crept
Up from the east. A sound behind her stirs
A scatter of bright birdsong through the air.
She turns, but cannot focus through her tears,
Or recognize the Gardener standing there.
She hardly hears his gentle question, 'Why,
Why are you weeping?', or sees the play of light
That brightens as she chokes out her reply,
'They took my love away, my day is night.'
And when she hears her name, she hears Love say
The Word that turns her night, and ours, to Day.
Malcolm Guite

With love in Christ,
Helen