Something to celebrate

Dear friends,

The grave could not contain him. Injustice, torture, and judicial murder did not finish him. Blood, nails, and a broken body did not constrain him. Mary met him in the garden, the voice of the Lord cutting through her grief and loss. Peter met him on the beach, with the smell of fish on the fire, and a warm loaf. Thomas met him in the place of pain, finding faith in the wounded hands and feet. Paul met him in a blinding light, unhorsed. You and I meet him today, by the Spirit, in prayer, praise, sacrament, fellowship, revelation and wonder. The risen Christ walks among us, and calls us to share his new life.

Holy Week

Mon 25th, Tues 26th, Wed 27th March, at 7pm each day. Compline at St John’s Stoke Row with Revd Romey Poston. A quiet and reflective short service to hold the day before God in prayer.

Holy Wednesday, 27th March, 2pm. Checkendon School end of term service of Holy Communion, in Checkendon Church. Everybody welcome.

Maundy Thursday, 29th March. 7.30pm Team Service at St John’s Whitchurch Hill. The communion of the Last Supper begins our Easter worship.

Good Friday 30th March, 10.30am. All age Service in Checkendon School Hall.  Come to explore the Easter message in an informal and friendly activity based service….with hot cross buns too.

Easter Day, 31st March

9.30am Holy Communion at St John’s Stoke Row with the Canon Kevin Davies

11am. Easter Celebration (with communion) at St Peter and St Paul, Checkendon, with Canon Kevin Davies and Revd Romey Poston. Let us rejoice together!

From the Gardener

Many thanks to those of you who came last Saturday to spruce up St Peter & St Paul’s both inside and out. Back at the Rectory, a pair of greenfinches have been seen, and Mr Nuthatch has made a welcome return. The late narcissi are taking their time while the standard “daffs” are in their full glory. Tulips in the front bed are out, taking their chances against the deer; those in the tubs are just thinking about things a while longer. Full honours this week however go to the primroses, mostly self sown, in the flower border – blancmange shaped mounds, coloured in happy spring pastels, enjoying their moments in the sun, the pinks and dusky mauves partnering in divine symphony with the flush of the heather. Easter enthusiasm is infectious – pot sown broad beans have exploded into life, and, at six inches are clamouring to get out there, and get on with it. I had both new seed, and some left from last year, so “hedged” the old seed by planting one new and one old in each pot. In a lesson to me, every single old seed has germinated. The rhubarb is tall, and impatient. Versatile, yet much maligned, this freezes brilliantly for all year puddings, makes wonderful jam (add some stem ginger), chutney (with dates), or gin (yes, add gin). The variety here is “Early Victoria” which is vigorous enough to be mistaken for a main crop, but is ready usually in the first week of April. With food and water you’ll get a second flush later in the year too. The garden is not caught out by the change of clocks, having its own. We humans, however, can find ourselves out of sync with the world – don’t forget the said timepieces spring forward this coming Saturday, making Easter even earlier than it already is.

I wish you all an Easter full of joy, and hope. May God give you hearts of love, and gratitude.

Your Rector, Canon Kevin.

The fragrant Narcissus – “Sir Winston Churchill”.